Mr31415
Active member
http://www.ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm
I need to know - can I trust the conclusions the author made in this article?
I need to know - can I trust the conclusions the author made in this article?
Is this article considered accurate?
- Thread starter Mr31415
- Start date
kau_cinta_ku
New member
I read that artical a while ago and the answer is yes. besides the fact Ron Shimek is very knowledgable there are alot of ppl using this method with great results.
fishysteve
New member
I think he wrote an article in this months CORAL Magazine about sand bed filters. It was very interesting reading.
Mr31415
Active member
I guess it depends on whether you do it correctly. You will see that people say many things. I know that for a long time some people misunderstood the original operation of a DSB and regularly stirred it to get rid of detritus etc. This is absolutely wrong thing to do on a DSB - hence you cause more problems than if it was left alone.
So certain combination of effects can cause a DSB to fail. I have one in my main tank and it is working fine (thus far)
So certain combination of effects can cause a DSB to fail. I have one in my main tank and it is working fine (thus far)
AZDesertRat
In Memoriam
My DSB is 4 years old and going strong, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
cd77
Premium Member
That is the guide I'm going by, and reading that article is the very reason I chose to go the DSB route with my first marine tank. After hours of searching forums, one of the things I found most impressive was how he dispelled some of the myths associated with "crashes caused by deep sea beds"
One common thing I read frequently (mostly on other forums) is that people should regularly siphon upper (top inch) portions of their DSB to stir up and remove detritus. After reading that article and another one of his at http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-06/rs/feature/index.php it seems to me to be a terrible thing to do.
One thing that another reefer advised me to do when I first started my DSB was to wait a while before adding a CUC and other livestock to let the microfauna populate without predation. Seems logical to me, though I still plan to recharge the sand bed at least once a year with a detritivore kit as advised by Shimek.
Good stuff
One common thing I read frequently (mostly on other forums) is that people should regularly siphon upper (top inch) portions of their DSB to stir up and remove detritus. After reading that article and another one of his at http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-06/rs/feature/index.php it seems to me to be a terrible thing to do.
One thing that another reefer advised me to do when I first started my DSB was to wait a while before adding a CUC and other livestock to let the microfauna populate without predation. Seems logical to me, though I still plan to recharge the sand bed at least once a year with a detritivore kit as advised by Shimek.
Good stuff
HippieSmell
Occupy Reef Central
If you run a DSB, have a LOT of flow to keep the sand swept clean. Dunes will likely develop, but you'll have a much healthier and longer lasting system. A good skimmer is helpful as well, which is contrary to some DSB methodologies.
Playa-1
In Memoriam
I would definately take to heart what this well educated man with lots of experience has to say.
However, I'm setting up a 90 and will not be putting in mud or DSB.
I'm hoping to get by with a good Protein Skimmer , Lr, and some Chaeto in the fuge. If I have trouble I will consider adding mud or DSB at that time.
However, I'm setting up a 90 and will not be putting in mud or DSB.
I'm hoping to get by with a good Protein Skimmer , Lr, and some Chaeto in the fuge. If I have trouble I will consider adding mud or DSB at that time.
HBtank
Premium Member
I have a DSB in the display, a DSB in my fuge, rubble zones in my fuge and tank, and my tank would give a BB user a heart attack.
My tank is thriving and has never had one detectable test of nitrates EVER.
I have always found the whole assumption of "detrius buildup" to be pretty silly. Somehow after a couple years detrius will finally buildup and crash a tank? Excuse me? How long do people think it takes for detrius to decay? Seriously... Some hobbiests seem to think that it actually persists for years, much less the reality of days to weeks...
There is always a constant level in my tank, and the pod/bristle worm/stars etc. population continuously takes care of it, feeding fish and corals naturally and keeping my tank balanced. People have broken down tanks and found some in their sand an freaked out.. I have never understood that.. of course it does. Thats your DSB's lunch. Let it sit in a bucket for a week and you real realize just how alive the DSB was...
I think good skimming as well as flow are important.. Flow is essential for any reef tank, period. Your sand and rocks are always the main filter, your flow gives them their power and keeps everything moving. IMO giving flow to a tank is the single most important thing you can do.
Skimming helps removes the constant release of detrius. Not only directly from the fish, but also the waste from from the populations of critters breaking down fish waste and excess food. I visualize it much like a BB tank user might, though my pods and other recyclers are the ones keeping it "suspeneded" (instead of flow) as DOC's, just in a different way. Theya re also locking it up as biomass and are being consumed and locked up by other things like coral and fish...
I also like refugiums. Just a good place for even more pods and macro algae for export. I try and have a very complex refugium, with rock rubble, macro, cryptic zones, a DSB all to promote pods and detrius processing by focusing on diversity.
IMO its about creating a balanced and inherently stable circle of detrius breakdown with the end export coming from skimmers, water changes and macro algae, at least in my tank. IMO it creates a natural buffer for the tank to hiccups and promotes diversity. Diversity is essential to the health of any ecosystem, especially ones in little glass boxes.
My tank is thriving and has never had one detectable test of nitrates EVER.
I have always found the whole assumption of "detrius buildup" to be pretty silly. Somehow after a couple years detrius will finally buildup and crash a tank? Excuse me? How long do people think it takes for detrius to decay? Seriously... Some hobbiests seem to think that it actually persists for years, much less the reality of days to weeks...
There is always a constant level in my tank, and the pod/bristle worm/stars etc. population continuously takes care of it, feeding fish and corals naturally and keeping my tank balanced. People have broken down tanks and found some in their sand an freaked out.. I have never understood that.. of course it does. Thats your DSB's lunch. Let it sit in a bucket for a week and you real realize just how alive the DSB was...
I think good skimming as well as flow are important.. Flow is essential for any reef tank, period. Your sand and rocks are always the main filter, your flow gives them their power and keeps everything moving. IMO giving flow to a tank is the single most important thing you can do.
Skimming helps removes the constant release of detrius. Not only directly from the fish, but also the waste from from the populations of critters breaking down fish waste and excess food. I visualize it much like a BB tank user might, though my pods and other recyclers are the ones keeping it "suspeneded" (instead of flow) as DOC's, just in a different way. Theya re also locking it up as biomass and are being consumed and locked up by other things like coral and fish...
I also like refugiums. Just a good place for even more pods and macro algae for export. I try and have a very complex refugium, with rock rubble, macro, cryptic zones, a DSB all to promote pods and detrius processing by focusing on diversity.
IMO its about creating a balanced and inherently stable circle of detrius breakdown with the end export coming from skimmers, water changes and macro algae, at least in my tank. IMO it creates a natural buffer for the tank to hiccups and promotes diversity. Diversity is essential to the health of any ecosystem, especially ones in little glass boxes.
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