bb vs dsb

oysterxfast5 · 10/10/2007, 08:08 PM

Probably wasting your time but i like a straight up answer instead of reading forever.
Why Bare bottom over deep sand bed?
isn't the sand bed essentially a giant biological filter.

fishdoc11 · 10/10/2007, 08:14 PM

Your not going to get a good answer IMO. The ONLY way to sort it out is to do a bit of reading

There are a million ways to run a reef tank and the best one for you is the one that works best for you.......hard to tell what that is without a bit of research.
Chris

oysterxfast5 · 10/10/2007, 08:16 PM

I don't have a problem with mine. It has only been going for 10 months+ and my parameters are mostly in check, Havening a battle with nitrates. sand bed is only 1.5-2 inches deep.

m2434 · 10/10/2007, 08:49 PM

Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Those who have sand will argue for sand, those who have BB will argue for bare bottom. There had been much debate about this... Personally I like BB if there is a LOT of flow and otherwise prefer sand, but thats just my .02.

oysterxfast5 · 10/10/2007, 08:54 PM

Never had bare bottom and don't have super high flow so i guess i think dsb is better but then again i have no experience with bb so i have no right to argue about it.

faded1004 · 10/10/2007, 11:13 PM

yea, i agree. sand is nice, but i do see some benefits to bare bottom, with the right flow, everythign will stay suspended. but, mainly love the white sand. i like it white and deep. : )

spike78 · 10/10/2007, 11:55 PM

http://ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm

This info helped me make my decision. I found the book helpful too...

mxett · 10/10/2007, 11:59 PM

Why not both? BB in display with a dsb refugium or rdsb in a bucket next to the sump?

Then you get the best of both worlds: Nitrate reduction plus the ability to maximize flow in the display, plus, if using a filter sock, the ability to keep the rdsb clean.

AND, if your rdsb should ever go 'bad'

you just take it off-line and start another.

Infact, (just thought of this so may be silly) you could have one rdsb running and after 2 years or so, start another next to it. Leave them both running for a couple of months (to allow the new one to work, then take the older one out. Then you could keep constant nitrate filtration that shouldn't go bad.

AS was already mentioned, there are many ways

oysterxfast5 · 10/11/2007, 04:54 AM

I dont think my ywg would like me too much if i took his home away thought. But running the sand in the fuge has crossed my mind before. Getting ready to go to school so i will read that when i get home.

oysterxfast5 · 10/11/2007, 01:53 PM

thanks for the info. I am setting up a new tank here in a month or two and was wondering what to do so i think i am just going to get some fine sand.

ActinopteryGuy · 10/11/2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by spike78
http://ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm

This info helped me make my decision. I found the book helpful too...

Interesting article. I am a huge fan of sand. I do not have a 'true' dsb since its about 2"-3" but I never mess with the sand and the tank has been super stable for well over a year now.
I have been thinking about going bb, replacing the sand bed or adding to it. I am going to stick with it and add to it.

Chibils · 10/11/2007, 02:30 PM

The biggest reason for running a dsb is because sps like far too much flow. 15-45x turnover is usually recommended (I've seen numbers all over that range) and it just blows sand around everywhere.

ActinopteryGuy · 10/11/2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chibils
The biggest reason for running a dsb is because sps like far too much flow. 15-45x turnover is usually recommended (I've seen numbers all over that range) and it just blows sand around everywhere.

Im confused, did you mean reason for not running a DSB?
I have 30x turnover and my sand stays put, but I have a mix of sizes.

10/10/2007, 08:08 PM	#1
oysterxfast5 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Coldwater, MI Posts: 583	bb vs dsb Probably wasting your time but i like a straight up answer instead of reading forever. Why Bare bottom over deep sand bed? isn't the sand bed essentially a giant biological filter.

10/10/2007, 08:14 PM	#2
fishdoc11 catch and release Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Old Hickory,TN Posts: 13,237	Your not going to get a good answer IMO. The ONLY way to sort it out is to do a bit of reading There are a million ways to run a reef tank and the best one for you is the one that works best for you.......hard to tell what that is without a bit of research. Chris __________________ "Try to learn something about everything and everything about something" -- Thomas H. Huxley Current Tank Info: 70 gallon mixed reef

10/11/2007, 02:30 PM	#12
Chibils halide loyalist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sugar Hill, GA Posts: 2,213	The biggest reason for running a dsb is because sps like far too much flow. 15-45x turnover is usually recommended (I've seen numbers all over that range) and it just blows sand around everywhere. __________________ always learning Current Tank Info: 75G new world cichlid, 25G reef in planning

10/10/2007, 08:16 PM	#3
oysterxfast5 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Coldwater, MI Posts: 583	I don't have a problem with mine. It has only been going for 10 months+ and my parameters are mostly in check, Havening a battle with nitrates. sand bed is only 1.5-2 inches deep.

10/10/2007, 08:49 PM	#4
m2434 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,171	Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Those who have sand will argue for sand, those who have BB will argue for bare bottom. There had been much debate about this... Personally I like BB if there is a LOT of flow and otherwise prefer sand, but thats just my .02.

10/10/2007, 08:54 PM	#5
oysterxfast5 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Coldwater, MI Posts: 583	Never had bare bottom and don't have super high flow so i guess i think dsb is better but then again i have no experience with bb so i have no right to argue about it.

10/10/2007, 11:13 PM	#6
faded1004 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: cypress, ca Posts: 2,445	yea, i agree. sand is nice, but i do see some benefits to bare bottom, with the right flow, everythign will stay suspended. but, mainly love the white sand. i like it white and deep. : )

10/10/2007, 11:55 PM	#7
spike78 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 420	http://ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm This info helped me make my decision. I found the book helpful too...

10/10/2007, 11:59 PM	#8
mxett Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 384	Why not both? BB in display with a dsb refugium or rdsb in a bucket next to the sump? Then you get the best of both worlds: Nitrate reduction plus the ability to maximize flow in the display, plus, if using a filter sock, the ability to keep the rdsb clean. AND, if your rdsb should ever go 'bad' you just take it off-line and start another. Infact, (just thought of this so may be silly) you could have one rdsb running and after 2 years or so, start another next to it. Leave them both running for a couple of months (to allow the new one to work, then take the older one out. Then you could keep constant nitrate filtration that shouldn't go bad. AS was already mentioned, there are many ways

10/11/2007, 04:54 AM	#9
oysterxfast5 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Coldwater, MI Posts: 583	I dont think my ywg would like me too much if i took his home away thought. But running the sand in the fuge has crossed my mind before. Getting ready to go to school so i will read that when i get home.

10/11/2007, 01:53 PM	#10
oysterxfast5 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Coldwater, MI Posts: 583	thanks for the info. I am setting up a new tank here in a month or two and was wondering what to do so i think i am just going to get some fine sand.