DSB ?'s

Paco1l1d · 02/09/2009, 12:47 PM

So im looking to changing my inch of sand to a little over 4 inches, tried the whole barebottom thing just wasn't for me, just a few questions. Anyone know how the particle size effects the ability of bacteria to process the nitrate, and stop the build up of detritus? Is two square foot footprint enough to support 85 gallons? With the sand in my tank already with very mature rock in a pretty mature system, is it really necessary to add live sand? I live in an area pretty far from any ocean and anything shipped here ends up pretty much dead but I still want a bunch of little critters living in the sand for it to do its job.

kraze3 · 02/09/2009, 12:58 PM

You can add reg sand, doent have to be live. your sand will make it live.

Ever thought of doing a remote DSB instead?

tkeracer619 · 02/09/2009, 01:00 PM

You can use dry. Just mix it in with your current sand bed. It will be populated in no time.

Sugar sized sand blows around a lot until it gets full of bacteria. Special reef grade is the most popular choice.

Paco1l1d · 02/09/2009, 01:39 PM

Kraze3 yeah I would really like to. Just dont have the room for it if I could do that I would have a MUCH larger sump, a refugium, and a prop tank haha. space is an issue though unfortunately.
tkeracer: is there a particular particle size you would recommend I would like it as fine as I can but I do have a lot of flow.
anyone recommend putting a return deep in the sand to stop dead areas from building up? stirring is not really an option with a deep of tank as I have or would that add to much oxygen to the deeper areas and stop the build up of bacteria I am trying to grow?

Rouselb · 02/09/2009, 04:48 PM

If you are going to do a DSB you should consider a RDSB. You want to add oolite sand, a minimum of 4" deep and uniform. Dont use a light on it, just pass water over it.

Do you have high nitrates? There are other ways to take care of excess nutrients. I use a large skimmer, skim wet, use carbon to polish the water, use Rowaphos for PO4.

You might just consider adding some GFO and some macro algae.

Paco1l1d · 02/09/2009, 05:32 PM

GFO? and like I said before I dont have much room so a refugium is out of the picture unless I want the macro growing in the display tank

Rouselb · 02/09/2009, 06:59 PM

You dont need to run a fuge. I removed my RDSB and now i just skim wet and use Rowaphos and carbon. No issues.

I like Rowaphos more, but any GFO would help. Info on GFO can be found here:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Carbon...phate-Remover-(GFO)-High-Capacity-GFO/c109_8_89/p432/2-pounds-(907-Grams)-High-Capacity-Granular-Ferric-Oxide/product_info.html

Paco1l1d · 02/13/2009, 12:28 AM

not really a nitrate issue only at 2 ppm, my phosphates are a little high though 20ppm ordered a Rowaphos filter today though

02/09/2009, 12:47 PM	#1
Paco1l1d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: mars Posts: 321	DSB ?'s So im looking to changing my inch of sand to a little over 4 inches, tried the whole barebottom thing just wasn't for me, just a few questions. Anyone know how the particle size effects the ability of bacteria to process the nitrate, and stop the build up of detritus? Is two square foot footprint enough to support 85 gallons? With the sand in my tank already with very mature rock in a pretty mature system, is it really necessary to add live sand? I live in an area pretty far from any ocean and anything shipped here ends up pretty much dead but I still want a bunch of little critters living in the sand for it to do its job. __________________ <'}}}}}>< Current Tank Info: 90 starfire cube colorful stick tank, 5 gallon fuge, 10 gal sump

02/09/2009, 01:00 PM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	You can use dry. Just mix it in with your current sand bed. It will be populated in no time. Sugar sized sand blows around a lot until it gets full of bacteria. Special reef grade is the most popular choice. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/09/2009, 01:39 PM	#4
Paco1l1d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: mars Posts: 321	Kraze3 yeah I would really like to. Just dont have the room for it if I could do that I would have a MUCH larger sump, a refugium, and a prop tank haha. space is an issue though unfortunately. tkeracer: is there a particular particle size you would recommend I would like it as fine as I can but I do have a lot of flow. anyone recommend putting a return deep in the sand to stop dead areas from building up? stirring is not really an option with a deep of tank as I have or would that add to much oxygen to the deeper areas and stop the build up of bacteria I am trying to grow? __________________ <'}}}}}>< Current Tank Info: 90 starfire cube colorful stick tank, 5 gallon fuge, 10 gal sump

02/09/2009, 04:48 PM	#5
Rouselb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Detroit Michigan Posts: 1,238	If you are going to do a DSB you should consider a RDSB. You want to add oolite sand, a minimum of 4" deep and uniform. Dont use a light on it, just pass water over it. Do you have high nitrates? There are other ways to take care of excess nutrients. I use a large skimmer, skim wet, use carbon to polish the water, use Rowaphos for PO4. You might just consider adding some GFO and some macro algae. __________________ Larry Current Tank Info: 425g Mixed Reef, (6) Orphek LED mods, (4) MP60s, (2) Bubble King SM250 Skimmer, LMIII for Dose & ATO

02/09/2009, 05:32 PM	#6
Paco1l1d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: mars Posts: 321	GFO? and like I said before I dont have much room so a refugium is out of the picture unless I want the macro growing in the display tank __________________ <'}}}}}>< Current Tank Info: 90 starfire cube colorful stick tank, 5 gallon fuge, 10 gal sump

02/09/2009, 12:58 PM	#2
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	You can add reg sand, doent have to be live. your sand will make it live. Ever thought of doing a remote DSB instead?

02/09/2009, 06:59 PM	#7
Rouselb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Detroit Michigan Posts: 1,238	You dont need to run a fuge. I removed my RDSB and now i just skim wet and use Rowaphos and carbon. No issues. I like Rowaphos more, but any GFO would help. Info on GFO can be found here: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Carbon...phate-Remover-(GFO)-High-Capacity-GFO/c109_8_89/p432/2-pounds-(907-Grams)-High-Capacity-Granular-Ferric-Oxide/product_info.html __________________ Larry Current Tank Info: 425g Mixed Reef, (6) Orphek LED mods, (4) MP60s, (2) Bubble King SM250 Skimmer, LMIII for Dose & ATO

02/13/2009, 12:28 AM	#8
Paco1l1d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: mars Posts: 321	not really a nitrate issue only at 2 ppm, my phosphates are a little high though 20ppm ordered a Rowaphos filter today though __________________ <'}}}}}>< Current Tank Info: 90 starfire cube colorful stick tank, 5 gallon fuge, 10 gal sump