Rebuild of the 110 gal. - DSB

[Ereefic]

I'm thinking of rebuilding the 110 SPS tank with a DSB of about 5"-6" of CaribSea Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand. Is this a good choice of sand or is there something better for a DSB? I would like to use a 'made/packaged for aquarium' substrate, even if it's going to cost me more.

The plan is to put a horizontal overflow that will span almost the whole length of the tank, leaving just enough room on both sides for an 'up and over' closed loop intake/output. I will most likely bury the output piping in the sand with outputs sticking up from the bottom.

While I liked the BB when it was running, I didn't have anywhere near enough flow. And it would cost a small fortune to get the right equipment to get the flow needed, and i'm not willing to 'bite the bullet' at this time. Maybe in the future.

 

[NoSchwag]

Sorry to hear it. I'm sure your tank will look just as good with a sand bed regardless.


I'm curious, what makes you think you don't have enough flow?

 

[Ereefic]

The way it was originally set up, some of the rocks were directly on the bottom and alot of crap accumulated behind/under even with some larger seio's blowing the bottom. After reaquascaping and raising all the rock off the bottom and removing the warped 1/4" HDPE bottom (which had a large amount of crap under it), something went haywire and I started loosing corals left and right after a few days. I pulled the plug and got rid of all the healhty corals, figuring they were just going to die eventually if they stayed in there.

So right now, it's sitting here empty and i'm just thinking about how I want to go with it next.

If I set it up with a DSB, it will run for several months to give the DSB some time to mature before stocking with fish and corals. Fish load on this tank will be light (not like the 3 tangs, trigger like before), with only a handful of smaller fish.

I've had pretty good luck with DSB's before and have seen many beautiful SPS tank with DSB's (on here and in person) and can't see a reason I can't make it work. So i'm open to suggestions.

 

[MiddletonMark]

Well, despite torturing it with a DSB ... you get a piece of this one back when it's time:

Among others ...
---
Seems like a good plan. Esp giving it time to mature, stocking light.
The overflow seems like an interesting idea ... though a lot of time to make one that looks sweet.

 

[wrassie86]

Re: Rebuild of the 110 gal. - DSB

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6641217#post6641217 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ereefic
I'm thinking of rebuilding the 110 SPS tank with a DSB of about 5"-6" of CaribSea Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand. Is this a good choice of sand or is there something better for a DSB? I would like to use a 'made/packaged for aquarium' substrate, even if it's going to cost me more.

Is that the 1.5-2.0 sand grain size? if so i think it is to big of a grain size.Unless maybe mixed with the Oolitic sand also.
I dont know on the last dsb i set up i used the special grade and thought it traped alot.But i also used alot of different sand grain sizes.Of coarse as far as i'm concerend that dsb failed or after a year just was not up to par.
Just dont let the white playsand at Kmart lure you in.I think using 100#'s of that sand is why it failed.But that was a small amount compared to the real reef sands i was using.

 

[Project Reef]

If you're going to do a DSB a few things are essential for SPS tanks:

1) Insane amount of flow. Almost as much as BB. Yes you will get some sand storms, yes you will get mounds in certain areas and nearly barebottom in other sections, but it will STILL function properly. If you don't see sand particles moving or being kicked up every now and then, than you don't have enough flow.
2) Fine sugar sized sand (Carib Sea's Aragamax Select is a great choice)
3) Kalkwasser/RO/DI to top off all evaporated water.
4) Oversized Skimmer.
5) Minimal rock/sand contact, create as many open areas as possible.
6) Cukes, Brittle/Serpent Stars, "Nassarius" snails, Cerith snails.
7) Once again: Lots of flow, and properly adminstered Kalkwasser/ro/di mix for all top off water. A kalkreactor/litermeter combo would be a good investment.

 

[Ereefic]

Thank Project Reef.

Well, I am not planning 'insane amount of flow' yet i'm planning to have good flow blowing across the DSB, but not enough to disturb it.

Aragamax sounds like a good choice, i'll look into that.

Kalk will be all top off water, as well as a Cal. reactor, if kalk ain't enough.

MR-2 skimmer with PCX-55 (total tank volume will be around 130 gal.)

Rock work will be open and no rocks will be sitting on the sand.

Thoughts?