DSB or not?

Newms118 · 10/03/2013, 08:01 PM

Still wondering if a DSB is necessary for a FOWLR tank setup thatll be reef later on. Was thinking about just adding about an inch or 2 of live sand to my 65 gallon tank and dont want to deal with having to clean the sand so much when im doing maintenance. I figured i could keem more live sand with live rock in the refugium in my sump.

Calappidae · 10/03/2013, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newms118

Still wondering if a DSB is necessary for a FOWLR tank setup thatll be reef later on. Was thinking about just adding about an inch or 2 of live sand to my 65 gallon tank and dont want to deal with having to clean the sand so much when im doing maintenance. I figured i could keem more live sand with live rock in the refugium in my sump.

Noobish question but... define DSB please?

SUMIXAM · 10/03/2013, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calappidae

Noobish question but... define DSB please?

Deep Sand Bed

Calappidae · 10/03/2013, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SUMIXAM

Deep Sand Bed

Thank you.

Deep sand bed are only nessecary if you plan on burrowing animals like gobies, nassarius, sand sifter stars, and horseshoe crabs to name a few. Otherwise its just trickier to keep clean.

I would go 1 inch in the refugium, and the DT. Then in the refugium go nuts with live rock and macro. I personally have a 2 inch bed in my two current setups mainly for nassarius and burrowing animals.

Chronicj7 · 10/03/2013, 10:03 PM

I have a sand sifting starfish and a few nassarius snails that thrive in my 1 inch sand bed. I think DSB's are a pain down the road.

oscarinw · 10/03/2013, 10:05 PM

I believe you are considering the idea for nitrate management. There really isn't consensus on this. Some people prefer the miracle mud media for the sump. I have a DSB and it's hard to tell but I had an issue with nitrates and it's now down to almost 0. However, I also removed the bio-balls from my system and have been consistent with water changes so it's hard to say what helped and what didn't.
By the way, for it to be an actual Deep Sand Bed it has to be between 4-7 inches of sand. Only then you can expect to achieve the nitrifying benefits of a DSB.
Good luck with things!

wilsonline · 10/04/2013, 12:04 AM

There really isn't consensus on this.[2]
I like the oolite.
you may also add bio filtration media in the sump. Siporax (sera), Matrix (Seachem), rsb (more sand), miracle mud, etc. and the sand is good for some animals that live in it. I like to see this kind of life. it's an other world.

Fizz71 · 10/04/2013, 06:51 AM

I personally will never go back to a DSB...an RDSB on the other hand I like which is what I'm running right now. I have a 100g sump with a good 10in (overkill I know) of a combination of aragonite and silica based sand (because aragonite is friggin' expensive). I know if I ever get worried about a DBS crash I can just throw it all out and start over without touching the DT.

The problem with a DSB in the DT (besides not being able to touch it without messing the display) is that sand shifts and can cause BIG holes or waves in the sand, not to mention it's ugly. Here is my old 105g that I ran with a DSB:

..keep in mind the other 2 to 3 inches of the DSB are off the bottom of the photo!

Bottom line is I don't hear of too many people setting up DSBs anymore. Even RDSBs like mine aren't as common because of the fear of a crash. An inch or 2 of sand in the DT is all you need for cool sand based critters like nassarius snails and gobies.

ca1ore · 10/04/2013, 07:18 AM

I would echo the appeal of a remote DSB (RDSB). DSBs can work really well, but they can also be problematic, so running one in a way that it can easily be removed form the system is a good idea.

Two inches of a medium grain sand (Caribsea special reef floor sand) is sufficient for the majority of sand dwelling animals.

10/03/2013, 08:01 PM	#1
Newms118 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 364	DSB or not? Still wondering if a DSB is necessary for a FOWLR tank setup thatll be reef later on. Was thinking about just adding about an inch or 2 of live sand to my 65 gallon tank and dont want to deal with having to clean the sand so much when im doing maintenance. I figured i could keem more live sand with live rock in the refugium in my sump.

10/03/2013, 10:03 PM	#5
Chronicj7 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 353	I have a sand sifting starfish and a few nassarius snails that thrive in my 1 inch sand bed. I think DSB's are a pain down the road. __________________ __________________ 40b SPS dominated 2x AI Sol Blue 2x mp10 W es Zeovit Method

10/04/2013, 06:51 AM	#8
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	I personally will never go back to a DSB...an RDSB on the other hand I like which is what I'm running right now. I have a 100g sump with a good 10in (overkill I know) of a combination of aragonite and silica based sand (because aragonite is friggin' expensive). I know if I ever get worried about a DBS crash I can just throw it all out and start over without touching the DT. The problem with a DSB in the DT (besides not being able to touch it without messing the display) is that sand shifts and can cause BIG holes or waves in the sand, not to mention it's ugly. Here is my old 105g that I ran with a DSB: ..keep in mind the other 2 to 3 inches of the DSB are off the bottom of the photo! Bottom line is I don't hear of too many people setting up DSBs anymore. Even RDSBs like mine aren't as common because of the fear of a crash. An inch or 2 of sand in the DT is all you need for cool sand based critters like nassarius snails and gobies. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

10/03/2013, 10:05 PM	#6
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	I believe you are considering the idea for nitrate management. There really isn't consensus on this. Some people prefer the miracle mud media for the sump. I have a DSB and it's hard to tell but I had an issue with nitrates and it's now down to almost 0. However, I also removed the bio-balls from my system and have been consistent with water changes so it's hard to say what helped and what didn't. By the way, for it to be an actual Deep Sand Bed it has to be between 4-7 inches of sand. Only then you can expect to achieve the nitrifying benefits of a DSB. Good luck with things!

10/04/2013, 12:04 AM	#7
wilsonline Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 63	There really isn't consensus on this.[2] I like the oolite. you may also add bio filtration media in the sump. Siporax (sera), Matrix (Seachem), rsb (more sand), miracle mud, etc. and the sand is good for some animals that live in it. I like to see this kind of life. it's an other world.

10/04/2013, 07:18 AM	#9
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I would echo the appeal of a remote DSB (RDSB). DSBs can work really well, but they can also be problematic, so running one in a way that it can easily be removed form the system is a good idea. Two inches of a medium grain sand (Caribsea special reef floor sand) is sufficient for the majority of sand dwelling animals.