Smart to add RDSB in a refugium?

xenon · 02/17/2008, 01:17 PM

I dont have room for a RDSB on my new setup so I was thinking about adding a 6" DSB in my refuge.

Would I run into any problems with algae?

xenon · 02/17/2008, 05:08 PM

Is this a difficult question?

Tang Salad · 02/17/2008, 05:56 PM

No, not a difficult question. The refugium is a great place for a DSB; that's where I've always put mine so as not to take up valuable tank space with 6 inches of dirty looking sand.

xenon · 02/17/2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tang Salad
No, not a difficult question. The refugium is a great place for a DSB; that's where I've always put mine so as not to take up valuable tank space with 6 inches of dirty looking sand.

How do you maintain the DSB without disturbing it?

I would imagine detritus and algae would be an issue if you did not have a cleanup crew in your refugium.

Tang Salad · 02/17/2008, 07:33 PM

You don't need to do anything to maintain a DSB.

xenon · 02/17/2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tang Salad
You don't need to do anything to maintain a DSB.

Are you serious?

Tang Salad · 02/17/2008, 08:15 PM

Yes.

JJ21 · 02/17/2008, 08:32 PM

as ron popeil would say "Set it, and forget it!"â„¢

Tang Salad · 02/17/2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JJ21
as ron popeil would say "Set it, and forget it!"�

I think Calfo and Fenner do also.

Still not sure why xenon laughed at me though...

DamnPepShrimp · 02/17/2008, 08:42 PM

Maybe he didn't think it was that easy? My display tank is BB and I don't have any sand in my fuge right now. I figured it would be easier to add then to remove. It seems the whole sand issue is 50/50. From my experience, it causes a lot of algae blooms and seems to do more harm then good. I run BB and the fuge, currently no skimmer and my water params are all great. I have a octo NW 200 skimmer just sitting next to the tank, haven't finalized the sump yet for it, but I have no fish, just corals so that's another reason why no skimmer. Seems the algae does the work in the refugium, the only thing I miss about sand is the look.

xenon · 02/17/2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tang Salad

I think Calfo and Fenner do also.

Still not sure why xenon laughed at me though...

HAHA!

Sorry for laughing, I was just shocked by your answer.

Here is what Anthony Calfo thinks about RDSB in a refugium.

Quote:

The reason for no RDSB witht eh refugium to some extent is the same reason why no DSB in the display. Some of the principal benefits to the RDSB are that unlike a refugium or display, the RDSB needs no light, suffers no diatom or other nuisance algae growth, needs no bioturbators or sand sifting, has very little water volume over the sand surface and thus needs very little water flow (this less electricty0 to keep solids in suspension, etc.

Thanks kindly

Anthony Calfo

http://forum.marinedepot.com/FindPost24034.aspx

FranktheTankTx · 02/17/2008, 09:36 PM

I don't see any problems with a DSB in your refugium. I'm planning to go BB on my 36g corner w/ a 16g display refugium w/ 4" DSB. I'll include a few pieces of LR and some chaeto. I'm going to grow some zoo's and xenia, and put a damsel in there for color.

Oh, and since it's a display, I'll be adding a clean up crew to my refugium too! It's almost going to be a nano tank hooked up to my BB tank that benefits it.

xenon · 02/17/2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FranktheTankTx
I don't see any problems with a DSB in your refugium. I'm planning to go BB on my 36g corner w/ a 16g display refugium w/ 4" DSB. I'll include a few pieces of LR and some chaeto. I'm going to grow some zoo's and xenia, and put a damsel in there for color.

Oh, and since it's a display, I'll be adding a clean up crew to my refugium too! It's almost going to be a nano tank hooked up to my BB tank that benefits it.

I love that idea but having fish in there kinda defeats the purpose of a refuge.

I am thinking a 5100k-6700k light over a DSB with no cleanup crew would be an algae factory in no time.

JJ21 · 02/17/2008, 10:40 PM

i think you would want some sort of a clean up crew in there to take care of detritus that gets pulled down .

xenon · 02/17/2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JJ21
i think you would want some sort of a clean up crew in there to take care of detritus that gets pulled down .

I was thinking the same thing but "Tang Salad" says there is none required.

Tang Salad · 02/17/2008, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xenon
I was thinking the same thing but "Tang Salad" says there is none required.

I think there may be some language/communication issues here...

When I said there isn't any maintenance required, I meant no maintenance by you, the reefkeeper. I didn't consider the work of a cleanup crew to be 'maintenance'.

Further, I think you may be mixing up the terms, as a RDSB isn't really 'Remote' anymore if it's in the refugium. If it's in the refugium, then it's just a DSB. Does that make sense?

Tang Salad · 02/17/2008, 11:13 PM

Sorry, DP.

Tang Salad · 02/17/2008, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xenon
I am thinking a 5100k-6700k light over a DSB with no cleanup crew would be an algae factory in no time.

I would suggest having some macroalgae (like Chaetomorpha) on top of the DSB. Otherwise, there is no reason to light the DSB. The Chaeto plus the DSB will make for a nice refugium.

Just my .02

xenon · 02/17/2008, 11:38 PM

That makes a whole lot more sense.

I figured that if the DSB is not in the display tank, then its remote.

What type of cleanup crew would I need for an 18" x 12" refugioum with 6" DSB?

02/17/2008, 01:17 PM	#1
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	Smart to add RDSB in a refugium? I dont have room for a RDSB on my new setup so I was thinking about adding a 6" DSB in my refuge. Would I run into any problems with algae?

02/17/2008, 05:56 PM	#3
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	No, not a difficult question. The refugium is a great place for a DSB; that's where I've always put mine so as not to take up valuable tank space with 6 inches of dirty looking sand. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

02/17/2008, 07:33 PM	#5
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	You don't need to do anything to maintain a DSB. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

02/17/2008, 08:15 PM	#7
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Yes. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

02/17/2008, 08:32 PM	#8
JJ21 Registered Member. Join Date: May 2007 Location: Blue Bell, PA Posts: 533	as ron popeil would say "Set it, and forget it!"â„¢ __________________ JJ "I get to go to lots of overseas places, like Canada." -Britney Spears Rehab is for quitters. I like the smell of a particularly ripe fart (only if it is mine).~BrianD Current Tank Info: 29 gallon biocube, LPS dominated.

02/17/2008, 05:08 PM	#2
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	Is this a difficult question?

02/17/2008, 08:42 PM	#10
DamnPepShrimp Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 5,152	Maybe he didn't think it was that easy? My display tank is BB and I don't have any sand in my fuge right now. I figured it would be easier to add then to remove. It seems the whole sand issue is 50/50. From my experience, it causes a lot of algae blooms and seems to do more harm then good. I run BB and the fuge, currently no skimmer and my water params are all great. I have a octo NW 200 skimmer just sitting next to the tank, haven't finalized the sump yet for it, but I have no fish, just corals so that's another reason why no skimmer. Seems the algae does the work in the refugium, the only thing I miss about sand is the look.

02/17/2008, 09:36 PM	#12
FranktheTankTx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 2,306	I don't see any problems with a DSB in your refugium. I'm planning to go BB on my 36g corner w/ a 16g display refugium w/ 4" DSB. I'll include a few pieces of LR and some chaeto. I'm going to grow some zoo's and xenia, and put a damsel in there for color. Oh, and since it's a display, I'll be adding a clean up crew to my refugium too! It's almost going to be a nano tank hooked up to my BB tank that benefits it. __________________ Frank the Tank "What, I thought we were in the trust tree... in the nest? Are we not?" Current Tank Info: Custom Rimless 60g (30.5"x24.5"x18.5")

02/17/2008, 10:40 PM	#14
JJ21 Registered Member. Join Date: May 2007 Location: Blue Bell, PA Posts: 533	i think you would want some sort of a clean up crew in there to take care of detritus that gets pulled down . __________________ JJ "I get to go to lots of overseas places, like Canada." -Britney Spears Rehab is for quitters. I like the smell of a particularly ripe fart (only if it is mine).~BrianD Current Tank Info: 29 gallon biocube, LPS dominated.

02/17/2008, 11:13 PM	#17
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Sorry, DP. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

02/17/2008, 11:38 PM	#19
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	That makes a whole lot more sense. I figured that if the DSB is not in the display tank, then its remote. What type of cleanup crew would I need for an 18" x 12" refugioum with 6" DSB?