SSB vrs DSB
- Thread starter TomDe
- Start date
LittlePuff
New member
What fish and critters do you have?
affableamerican
New member
I was always under the impression, from the DSB guys, that the surface area of the DSB was critical. Is a 30g big enough to benefit from a DSB?
Sports Girl
In Memoriam
I currently have a DSB (about 3-4") in my 60 gallon, but when I upgrade, I will be doing a slightly shallower bed (maybe around 2"). It has provided good filtration, but I am constantly worrying about and checking for dead spots (none so far).
stereomandan
Premium Member
I don't like a DSB in the display tank. I use a ssb in the display, and dsb or plenum in the sump.
Dan
Dan
badpacket
Premium Member
I believe the common belief is/was a couple years ago, that a SSB is not deep enough to support anoxic zones which convert nitrate to nitrogeneous gas.
I think the end result was the SSB simply maximzed Ni to Na conversion, and thats where it stops.
Just went DSB-Free on my 72, and not sure how to conteract rising Na now, since I can't get the sump with extra rocks going for a while. We'll see if vodka works as well now as it dead on my dead 6+ year DSB in the old tank.
I think the end result was the SSB simply maximzed Ni to Na conversion, and thats where it stops.
Just went DSB-Free on my 72, and not sure how to conteract rising Na now, since I can't get the sump with extra rocks going for a while. We'll see if vodka works as well now as it dead on my dead 6+ year DSB in the old tank.
travisurfer
New member
According to what I remember from Calfo's book:
dsb's are great for short term in reducing ammonia, trites, and trates but overtime gas deposits develop. in time these deposits will begin to surface and cause large scale damage to the tank overrall. they are especially unsuccessfull due to the bed having edges(tank glass).
ssb's still process some ammonia and nitrites except they can be stirred up and cleaned with no ill effects. much better choice imo.
dsb's are great for short term in reducing ammonia, trites, and trates but overtime gas deposits develop. in time these deposits will begin to surface and cause large scale damage to the tank overrall. they are especially unsuccessfull due to the bed having edges(tank glass).
ssb's still process some ammonia and nitrites except they can be stirred up and cleaned with no ill effects. much better choice imo.
badpacket
Premium Member
sjm817, I agree. The starboard is purpeing up slowly but I may try a 1/2" SSB once I get the sump going.
Travis, I like how Anthony thinks, however I don't know too many people who actually experienced that. If this were in fact a prime problem of DSB's, I would have expected to hear of this much more often in the DSB-Bareback wars on RC.
_Not_ saying Anthony is wrong, just that in the innumerable threads on DSB's I don't recall it popping up much at all. Does a DSB everntually get 'full' and cease functioning? Not positive, but it seems logical. I think PaulB or someone has had a DSB for 20+ years or so without issue, so there are exceptions apparently.
Travis, I like how Anthony thinks, however I don't know too many people who actually experienced that. If this were in fact a prime problem of DSB's, I would have expected to hear of this much more often in the DSB-Bareback wars on RC.
_Not_ saying Anthony is wrong, just that in the innumerable threads on DSB's I don't recall it popping up much at all. Does a DSB everntually get 'full' and cease functioning? Not positive, but it seems logical. I think PaulB or someone has had a DSB for 20+ years or so without issue, so there are exceptions apparently.
Anemonebuff
New member
I cut down my DSB from 4"-6" down to 2"-4" and the tank looks even better IMO. My nitrates are still negligible.
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