Reefugium...Sand, Mud or nothing?

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8413162#post8413162 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by D Ro Supafly
I'll also have "cleaner clams" in this tank, in addition to the ones I have in the display tank already.

Speaking of clams, put a couple of these in your tank, and you never have to worry about nitrates:

(yes, that's a 10+" derasa in a 5g bucket)

 

[D Ro Supafly]

I like my "cleaner clams" a bit better... they are a lot less expensive than a derasa, so I don't mind when somebody in the tank decides they want an aphrodisiac!

On the other hand, it takes a lot more of them to do the job of a 10" derasa, bucket or not :-o

 

[jeffbrig]

What is a cleaner clam, exactly?

 

[D Ro Supafly]

Well, the most recent batch of cleaner clams are littleneck clams. $5.39 per dozen, Publix. Live ones make great filter feeding "cleaners" while dead ones are food for invertebrates.

 

[Ryanqk]

where have you been able to get live cleaner clams? do they just take in nitrates? never heard of this....

 

[bawla47]

hey mel, if your trying to shoot to using sand as a means of lowering nitrates, then youll need ATLEAST a 4-6" sand bed.


they are several aenerobic layers that form at these depths, that simply do not from a SSB. unless it is extremely fine such as mineral mud. a SSB will help a BIT, holding beneficial bacteria for your tank, but it wouldnt be a huge impact. itll serve better as a home for pods however.

alot of people have been adding a RDSB(remoteDSB) to there systems, with great results. usually its a container such as a 5 gallon bucket, that has a pretty high flowrate through it.

i would just try and shoot for heavy skimming, and a refugium, and you should be fine.

anyhow hths clarify SB's a bit for you.

 

[REDDAWG43]

Thanks a lot Bawla

 

[nyvp]

I thought it had a low flow rate so it just rolls over the top of the sand with out disturbing it

 

[Husky_1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8411980#post8411980 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fish2reef
My DSB is in a 30 Gallon sump it has three layers first a 1/2 shelf of egg crate covered with mesh basically void space, second 4" of sand covered with mesh so nothing will disturb it and third top layer 1" inch of sand, some live rock and chaeto. If any detritus accumulates it would be on the top and you would deal with it just the same as a shallow bed there is a lot of information on this method and the advantages I got my design about four years ago from GARF and has worked great on my system. Research, ask questions and experiment to find out what works for your system.

I was under the impression that if you wanted to Nitrate export, this was the only method with a DSB. I did not think just having 4-5" of sand did much because of little critters disturbing the anaerobic bacteria...