Suggestions on DSB?

[T Diddy]

I've had my display tank up and running for a few weeks now. It is in a dedicated fishroom, and I am trying to plan out an expansion for a refugium and frag tank. My idea was to incorporate a low flow raceway over a DSB across the back of a 30 Gallon long which will serve as the refugium. The refugium will empty into another 30 long frag tank, and then into the sump downstream from my skimmer. Both the refugium and frag tank will have separate returns so that I can control flow.

Please comment on the advantages and disadvantages of having a DSB without regard to water flow. I need some feedback on incorporating the DSB. Is it a good idea or not?

 

[T Diddy]

anyone?

 

[T Diddy]

Bueller??

 

[T Diddy]

Bueller?

 

[T Diddy]

This is disappointing...I find it hard to believe that noone knows anything about a deep sand bed.

 

[aleonn]

I believe there's a good thread about remote DSB's under "Advanced Topics." I pasted the link below. From what I remember, there was some relevant commentary on water flow. I'd chime in, but I have no experience with DSB's, sorry.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=896352

 

[divewsharks]

DSB's if properly setup/maintained are normally very good at their job (housing anaerobic nitrifying bacteria) and having them remote from your DT has proven to be a better proposition as by doing this, you normally have the ability to take it offline/bypass if something should go wrong. So by having yours in a separate 30G as long as you can re-route water and bypass it if needed, should work out fine.

 

[T Diddy]

I believe there's a good thread about remote DSB's under "Advanced Topics." I pasted the link below. From what I remember, there was some relevant commentary on water flow. I'd chime in, but I have no experience with DSB's, sorry.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=896352

Thanks for the reply aleonn,

I was beginning to think that I was the only person on this forum...I'll check out the link

 

[aleonn]

Hope the link helps. I'm thinking about a similar setup as well.

 

[das75]

Why you planning one. Not knocking them (had a DSB on my old 75g for years, liked the look, no problems and when sold the tank, sand was fine), but I'm BB on my current setup a only just a hand full of times in the last 5 years got a trace of nitrate as normally zero.

Basically what I'm saying is for nitrate reduction can get by without.

 

[T Diddy]

DSB's if properly setup/maintained are normally very good at their job (housing anaerobic nitrifying bacteria) and having them remote from your DT has proven to be a better proposition as by doing this, you normally have the ability to take it offline/bypass if something should go wrong. So by having yours in a separate 30G as long as you can re-route water and bypass it if needed, should work out fine.

I agree that the idea of a remote DSB is an attribute. The plan is to install a glass baffle the height of the tank so the sandbed would be about 10" deep all the way across the back. I suppose I am most concerned now about the light issue. This DSB will be running along the back side of the 33 Long, while the majority of the tank space will be devoted to refugium with low flow running over the sandbed. Will the light on the refugium portion of the tank have an adverse effect on the DSB?

 

[Pickupman66]

at this point in my reefkeeping career, I have found there are many ways to do things. DSB has falled out of popularity as methods like carbon dosing have arisen.

BUt if you are going that route, make sure it has enough flow across the top to keep detritus from building up and I believe the magic depth is somewhere like 10"?