DSB or not?

[AtlanticBlue]

I have enough sand to do a DEEEEP sand bed in my 180. 5 to 6 inches and have some left over. What is the deepest sand bed YOU'D setup?

What is considered to be 'deep' anyways?

How deep is your sand bed? And for all you DSB folks out there, how old is the sand bed and do you have any problems with it over time?

 

[Logzor]

I have read that there is risk with a DSB (when it gets stirred up). The consensus seems to be, from what I have read, that a remote DSB is a better option.

If it is for aesthetic reasons then that changes things.

 

[Davidl919]

I consider anything above 3 inches a dsb. I have one that is about 4 inches and I use sand sifting starfish and nassirus snails they do a pretty good job. My remote sand bed is 6. Most guys I know in this hobby that had no dsb when I got mine eventually switched back to dsb.

 

[demonsp]

I think anything above 4 inches. A DSB is a no brainer,as its your best bio filter. But if not done right then can only cause problems.

If you have the basics in place, Flow , water quality , CUC and patiants or not overstocking to fast , and amount of LR and LR placement ( not packing in and leaving room for water flow around rock and lost of SB area for CUC to reach) then its no problem.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/bldsbdiscussion.htm

 

[AtlanticBlue]

Hey demonsp...nice link you gave me - Thanks!

So am I correct in thinking that as long as you have enough sand stirrers, your dsb can literally be as big as you want?

 

[demonsp]

Your SB is just another tool used for control. By its self useless but with your other tools like LR and equipment and stock and maintance cant perform its best. If your tank slacks for any reason and you have controll then its not a problem. If you have a consistant problem and then add another problem on top if this then it can go bad real fast.

The more control you have the easier and more fulfilling your experiance will be. My reef tank is the best seat in the house , and this gives me more reason to keep the CONTROL.

 

[roktsintst]

You need to return my PM Atlantic Blue!