Dsb ?
- Thread starter SFish
- Start date
anthonys51
New member
i use one. i have the tank running for 9 moths. no nitrates or phosphates to speak of. i barely run gfo in a 57 gallon tank, i have 3 antheis, 2 clowns, a fairy wrasse, a doty back and a kole tang. i feed 3 times a day and my corals 2 times a week. i like the natural look and think it provides a benefit. i do have 2 fighting couch and a cumcumber to help with the sand bed and maybe 25 nass snails. maybe in 4 years when my tank crashes i will feel differently, but its been working for me
lllesley
New member
I used to run a DSB in my DT and sump. Nitrates always undetectable and phos low.
About 7 months ago upgraded to a 380g and decided to not have a DSB in the DT and have a provision for one in the sump but start off without one.
7 months later, nitrates always undetectable and phos below 0.03.
I love the shallow sand bed it allows me to keep it clean with a vac every few months and I have used the extra space in the sump for extra live rock and chateau. Tank is stable and I wouldn't go back to one now.
About 7 months ago upgraded to a 380g and decided to not have a DSB in the DT and have a provision for one in the sump but start off without one.
7 months later, nitrates always undetectable and phos below 0.03.
I love the shallow sand bed it allows me to keep it clean with a vac every few months and I have used the extra space in the sump for extra live rock and chateau. Tank is stable and I wouldn't go back to one now.
ericarenee
New member
I had one to crash after about 5 years.. Was the most nasty thing i ever smelled....
I have my Refugium Sand bed in containers . every 6 months i pull one container of sand and rinse it well in RO/DI Salt water and put it back. there are 3 of them ... So I will not Crash because of DSB Again..
I See more and more people going to deep buckets inside there sump ....
lllesley
New member
What a great idea that is ! Never heard of that before.
Can I ask have you tried without one ?
Would be very interested in finding out if it really plays a major part because I certainly have noticed no difference in removing mine from DT and Sump.
anthonys51
New member
i was told by a guy i respected either go deep or bare. the inch ones don't do any of the benefits of a deep but can trap just as much dirt. so i went deep. but ill let you know if 5 years
ericarenee
New member
The way i have it setup to remove the sand bed i pay pass my Fuge out of Circulation (due to cloudy water) move the Algae.. (Mostly Blade Caulerpa )that i feed the tangs. Pull out of of the 3 4x17x20 inch plexiglass boxes i made and rinse...
Before i installed this i was Like most struggling with High Nutrients .. But
I Build this fuge tank with a ATS (algae turf scrubber in the end) . And put the plants in.... There are also some mangrove plants in there...
I do know the more mature my Fuge gets the less the ats growth and skim from my skimmer.. I have also REMOVED all mechanical filter pad... Water is not as clean but pod snail and other populations have exploded..
I someday want all Natural with no Skimmer..
So I am now planing out adding another fuge.. This time i am going to cut a 55 gallon Drum long way.. Build a stand for them and put egg crate and more Caulurpa in one and Chato in the other.. Will not cost nothing but the Lighting....
I use cheap 20w led Flood Lights 1 per 12x12 area they are like 6.00 each...
There will be a DSB Under the eggcrate in the rounded bottom...
CStrickland
New member
There's a long thread called something like "dsb in a bucket" and you can also Google "remote dsb" as well. Ericas right that you don't see as many in the display anymore. I like my shallow sand, easy to clean and it looks better to me than a bare bottom.
Ron Reefman
Active member
I have a DSB in my sump/Refugium/DSB. So it is a 45g section of the sump and it has an 8" deep sand bed. I think it works well, but I wouldn't run a deep sand bed in the DT. If you ever need to work on it, it's a giant mess with all the other stuff you have on top of it.
So I have a 2" sand bed in the DT which is for looks and for the critters that like to have sand. I raised 90% of my LR above the sand by making an egg crate rack that sits on 3" tll PVC pipe legs. I hide the egg crate by adding some smaller LR around the edges of the rack. I think it gives my critters more places to hide or play and it improves the flow in the tank (under the rocks and above the sand).
So I have a 2" sand bed in the DT which is for looks and for the critters that like to have sand. I raised 90% of my LR above the sand by making an egg crate rack that sits on 3" tll PVC pipe legs. I hide the egg crate by adding some smaller LR around the edges of the rack. I think it gives my critters more places to hide or play and it improves the flow in the tank (under the rocks and above the sand).
