Observations during removal of my dsb

PENNYWISE · 11/12/2007, 12:05 PM

I thought someone might be interested in this:
I'm converting from a 54gal corner to a 92 corner. In order to do this, I had to relocate my 54 to above my sump in the basement while I prepare for the 92 (new carpeting installed...etc).
The dsb was about 3 yrs old and about 4" deep in most spots. I was astonished to find not much odor or black/brown yuk under the live rock/mixed with the sand? I was sure I would discover the worst smell ever as I scooped out the sand. It was surprisingly clean other than right under the lr and even then it wasn't that bad?? I'm beginning to think my plan to go to starboard/bb is not neccessary??

Aquarist007 · 11/12/2007, 12:21 PM

I not suprised by what others have posted here. It would seem like problems show up after along time in dsb of about 6-8 inches.

4 inches seems to be ideal for less problems , harboring fish and inverts that need it and being an effective biological filter.

I still wouldn't use it however--its had its useful time---one cup is all I would use to seed the new tank.

PENNYWISE · 11/12/2007, 12:39 PM

I thought at best it would smell aweful as I was scooping it all out, but it didn't!! I don't overfeed so maybe that helped.

PENNYWISE · 11/12/2007, 12:42 PM

I also noticed I seem to be pulling more stuff out of the tank with my skimmer. I was able to increase the waterflow without the worry of a sandstorm.

HBtank · 11/12/2007, 01:01 PM

Almost all of the stuff you read about DSB's is myth.

This whole idea of "time" just perpetuates it. It created a situation where if anything happenes in any tank with a DSB, the DSB is blamed. It is all quite silly.

rigleautomotive · 11/12/2007, 01:19 PM

i removed a 4 inch dsb,mostly florida live sand with some dry arogonite over 4 water changes,about a months time , and here were my observations.the bed was in a 180 gallon tank with a heavy bio load.first let me say this is the second time i did this in 12 years.i have been torn between BB and sand for most of that time.the sands lower level was pretty brown.lt colored the bucket quite brown as it was siphoned off.more importantly my corals,which i thought looked good before,looked better each time i removed more of the bed.after a month i had 90 percent of it out and i have to say my colors are better along with polyp extension.some of my browner acros are getting some green and blue highlights.so for me ,long term ,no sand.JMO

HBtank · 11/12/2007, 01:43 PM

You might have actually increased nutrient levels... By removing a denitrator. Anyways, positive results but possibly not for the reason many would initially think.

Nutrient levels and color coloration has its own myths that seem to have been turned on its head in recent years.

The term "nutrient poor" is now pretty common these days and poor coloration seems to go along with it.

11/12/2007, 12:05 PM	#1
PENNYWISE Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Derry, Maine Posts: 164	Observations during removal of my dsb I thought someone might be interested in this: I'm converting from a 54gal corner to a 92 corner. In order to do this, I had to relocate my 54 to above my sump in the basement while I prepare for the 92 (new carpeting installed...etc). The dsb was about 3 yrs old and about 4" deep in most spots. I was astonished to find not much odor or black/brown yuk under the live rock/mixed with the sand? I was sure I would discover the worst smell ever as I scooped out the sand. It was surprisingly clean other than right under the lr and even then it wasn't that bad?? I'm beginning to think my plan to go to starboard/bb is not neccessary??

11/12/2007, 12:21 PM	#2
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	I not suprised by what others have posted here. It would seem like problems show up after along time in dsb of about 6-8 inches. 4 inches seems to be ideal for less problems , harboring fish and inverts that need it and being an effective biological filter. I still wouldn't use it however--its had its useful time---one cup is all I would use to seed the new tank. __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

11/12/2007, 01:01 PM	#5
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	Almost all of the stuff you read about DSB's is myth. This whole idea of "time" just perpetuates it. It created a situation where if anything happenes in any tank with a DSB, the DSB is blamed. It is all quite silly. __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA

11/12/2007, 01:19 PM	#6
rigleautomotive Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northeast Pennsylvania Posts: 3,705	i removed a 4 inch dsb,mostly florida live sand with some dry arogonite over 4 water changes,about a months time , and here were my observations.the bed was in a 180 gallon tank with a heavy bio load.first let me say this is the second time i did this in 12 years.i have been torn between BB and sand for most of that time.the sands lower level was pretty brown.lt colored the bucket quite brown as it was siphoned off.more importantly my corals,which i thought looked good before,looked better each time i removed more of the bed.after a month i had 90 percent of it out and i have to say my colors are better along with polyp extension.some of my browner acros are getting some green and blue highlights.so for me ,long term ,no sand.JMO __________________ Dan Rigle President, * Reef Conservation Society TOTM December 2010 Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012 Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992

11/12/2007, 01:43 PM	#7
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	You might have actually increased nutrient levels... By removing a denitrator. Anyways, positive results but possibly not for the reason many would initially think. Nutrient levels and color coloration has its own myths that seem to have been turned on its head in recent years. The term "nutrient poor" is now pretty common these days and poor coloration seems to go along with it. __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA Last edited by HBtank; 11/12/2007 at 02:02 PM.

11/12/2007, 12:39 PM	#3
PENNYWISE Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Derry, Maine Posts: 164	I thought at best it would smell aweful as I was scooping it all out, but it didn't!! I don't overfeed so maybe that helped.

11/12/2007, 12:42 PM	#4
PENNYWISE Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Derry, Maine Posts: 164	I also noticed I seem to be pulling more stuff out of the tank with my skimmer. I was able to increase the waterflow without the worry of a sandstorm.