RDSB Cell Replacement

[Brian Prestwood]

I have a remote deep sand bed that contains six removable sections. In other words, I can remove and replace 1/6 of the remote deep sand bed without disturbing the rest.

I did this because my last tank with an in-tank DSB became unsustainable after five years (a common problem).

I'm trying to figure out what the replacement cycle should be. In other words replace 100% every N years. For example, If I replace one cell every six months then I'll have a 3 year 100% cycle period.

Three years seems like a good period. Has anyone done this?

See the sump pics in my 160 room divider gallery.

 

[H20ENG]

Thats a good idea. I've seen it done with coarse mesh bags of sand laid in the sump, then rotated out every year or so. Sorry I cant give you a definitive time period for changing them.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Got pics or a diagram?

 

[Brian Prestwood]

There are pics of the sumps with the cells in them in my 160 Room Divider gallery. You can see the cells because I covered them up with rubble. I've since taken the rubble out. The original cells were just 3" dia tube length stood up on end and filled with sand. I'm replacing the tubes with cubes as I replace the sand. The cubes are easier to inspect and replace.

I've been reading the RDSB in a bucket thread. Very interesting stuff.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8556910#post8556910 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brian Prestwood
You can see the cells because I covered them up with rubble.

Did you mean you can't see the cells? Because I don't see them. Got any pics from after you removed the rubble? I'm haveing a hard time understanding what you're describeing

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Pito

Sorry, I don't have any pics that show the cells. My daughter broke my digital. I'll publish more pics after I get another.

You can see the sand in the sumps. I filled that area of the sump with 7" tall tupperware containers before dumping the sand in. When I take one out the sand in the other containers isn't affected.

If I were doing the same thing with RDSBs in a bucket I'd set up three or more small ones instead of one large one. As they age take one offline, replace the sand, and bring it back online. You should be able to continue indefinately this way.