Interesting DSB/ Fuge question

[gabbagabbawill]

I never hear about anyone using the corner overflows for a fuge or a "remote DSB".... I've been thinking about doing this though and have a couple of thoughts.

Since the overflows are the entire height of the aquarium, and there is nothing but plumbing in there (and a heater on one side) I have thought about putting a DSB in behind the overflow.

Tank is a 120Gal, drilled w/ two corner overflows...

I already have a sump/fuge w/ a DSB and run DSB in the main tank... So, inside the overflows, I want to try something different. I'm thinking of a very deep, very coarse sand bed mixed w/ some rubble for an amphipod growout area... I don't have fish stocked yet, but I want to keep a 6 line wrasse and mandarin, as well as some gobies... I would prefer for them to have as many pods to snack on as possible, as when I have kept these fish in the past, that is what they love and keeps them well fed and happy...

What sort of things should I be concerned with considering that this area will be filled with sand/ rubble? Obviously, it won't work if the overflow stirs the sand TOO much... also, should I be concerned with it becoming a nitrate hot spot?

Thanks for your input!

Will

 

[CMurph]

I'll take a stab...lol.

There won't be enough surface area to function as an actual DSB.

Not sure, but I don't think it'd work to well.

I'm a newbie...be gentle.

:rollface:

 

[gabbagabbawill]

OK, that makes sense about not using it as a DSB b/c surface area is not that great... but what about as a pod 'fuge?

 

[CMurph]

I'm not sure...something tells me that it'd be too deep and create a non-livable space for pods...

 

[gabbagabbawill]

that's the point of very coarse crushed coral sand and rubble mix... not talking about a super-fine sugar sand used here...

 

[ctenophors rule]

that is a good idea, imo.

you can get those lights that are water proof, and dip them in the tank to provide even ligting for chaetomorpha.

or use some of the stringy ulva that can grow like 5 feet in length, but only 2 inches wide. (estimates mind you, but that is a good species to use in that situation)

 

[Plankt0s]

I would think that ulva would be a bad idea but chaetomorpha will be ok. I dont know if risking the potential nitrate factory (with the big aragonite) will be worth a few more pods when you could get just as many more pods using DT's. I too at one time thought of trying to make a amphipod and copepod matrix using crushed coral but didn't do it because of the potential for trapping too much detritus and fouling my water. Another thing to consider is that as soon as your water goes into your overflow it should be leaving the tank and going into a filter sock (cleaned frequently) so if you were able to get that matrix to produce pods they would just get washed down into your sump and filtered out.

 

[gabbagabbawill]

all good points to consider, thanks!

 

[wrassie86]

I have a 120g and when i last added sand to my tank alittle less than a 1/4 inch settled at the bottom of the over flows.i was going to clean it out.but i noticed that there was several pods running around also nasserus snails had moved in and my overflows bottoms are the cleanest they have ever been.i'm used to seeing alot of dirt settled on the bottom (had the tank for about 4 yrs)now its just clean white sand.The critters are keeping them pretty clean.
I cant say that i would add more sand than what is there because it seems petty good.
with all that said i went ahead and made some covers for the tops of the overflows to block light from entering from the MH to encourge more sponge growth.
Not sure if this is good or bad but there is some white sponges starting to grow.

 

[Ohiomom]

1) sponges are always good

2) if you inhibit the flow drastically in the overflow you are asking for trouble with waste and nitrates. Not to mention the stress it would put on your pumps as a whole pulling it through the sand. That is if I understand your idea correctly. I would however give the chaeto a go..

3) the idea of a dsb is to leave it alone undisturbed to colonize bacteria to help with nitrates and such..not sure if a constant flow through it would allow for that..

Just my 2 cents..

 

[gabbagabbawill]

I'm looking more for a pod farm instead of a DSB... already have chaeto in the refugium, so I don't need another spot for it... I like the idea of a small amount of sand in the bottom... but I'm just taking it one step further.

My overflows are gravity fed to the sump, and there are plenty of places for sand/ gravel to fall out should it make it down the tube before it reaches the return pump.

 

[sgolden]

i have done both...had a dsb in the overflow in my 135...i cant say it did much good or bad...and grew plenty of pods/snails and worms/sponges with rubble...in time it will collect sludge but i never worried about it..definitely works better without a sock

 

[adtravels]

putting algae in there is asking for a blocked durso me thinks.