DSB or No DSB

[Tobman]

I am a little confused about the choice of substrates, even after reading hte Substrate Sticky thread.

As I understand it, the function of a DSB as a filtration mechanism is to allow the development of anoxic bacteria that can convert nitrate to nitrogen gas.

So without a DSB, do you still get enough anoxic bacteria for a reef tank (i.e., in the LR) to get rid of the nirate? I gather the macroalgae in a refugium will also consume the nitrate.

So are LR and macroalgae enough? If so, why include a DSB?

 

[Avi]

A DSB, IMO, is something that's optional and not at all necessary. If you have a significant amount of live rock (somewhere around a pound or more per gallon of water,) macro-algae growing in your tank or in the sump/refugium, an effective protein skimmer, and you practice good water maintenance, you really can do without the DSB and not look back.