90 gallon with restriction?

orcafood · 02/10/2008, 06:42 PM

I have a 90 gallon tank with a 5 in DSB. So is it really just basically a 75 gallon tank?

I am wondering because I have a one spot foxface in the tank, he is about 5 in right now, but with such a deep sand bed will he get the room he needs? There is a about 100 lbs of live rock also.

BLKTANG · 02/10/2008, 06:46 PM

here you go.

http://reef.diesyst.com/volcalc/volcalc.html

orcafood · 02/10/2008, 07:00 PM

So would you reccomend getting rid of the DSB or not?

When I purchased the tank the guy I baught it from already had the DSB, and said it was very beneficial. I think there is a plenum under the sand also.

Swanwillow · 02/10/2008, 07:16 PM

umm, well, theres a fairly large debate on to DSB or not.

Since its there, I'd SLOWLY take it out. Vacuum the top layer of sand when your doing water changes.

xenon · 02/10/2008, 07:18 PM

RDSB is getting more popular.

I prefer to have 1" sand bed in the display and 60lb of aragonite sand in a 5g RDSB in my sump to battle nitrates.

orcafood · 02/10/2008, 07:19 PM

So is it bad or what?
All I know is that its taking up space, but if its helping keep down nitrates then I am all for it.

orcafood · 02/10/2008, 07:27 PM

Ok, I think this might work.
Xenon,
I have heard about the RDSB and how well they work, but I didn't try it yet.
My idea is that slowly, maybe over a month, I can move the sand out of the main tank and into a RDSB in the sump.
Does this sound logical?

On a side note: Xenon your tank is friggin awsome, nice work!

george81 · 02/10/2008, 07:44 PM

once you disturb the sand it needs to be cleaned real well or it will be more damaging than good... its a real pain in the bum to clean it all i have read people rinse it for what seems like forever..get rid of it and get some new sand.

i would be very careful a deep sand bed when disturbed releases all sorts of nasty stuff into the water colum. a deep sand bed is a big benifit for a tank. i would leave it. if you are dead set on getting it out do lots of reading on how to remove one.

orcafood · 02/10/2008, 07:57 PM

Ok, I that is exactly what I was looking for thanks george81. I am not totally against the DSB and now that it has settled down I don't really want to move it. What are the best things I can do/ clean up crew I can get to keep the sand clean?

Swanwillow · 02/10/2008, 08:29 PM

get critters that will move and disturb it slowly-snails are good for that purpose, and since its a big enough tank, get a conch.

Leaving it to settle is where people run into the problems-if its left to settle for too long, it builds up the bad products that can wipe a tank when disturbed greatly (such as a power head dropping into the sand)

you want it to be slowly stirred.

orcafood · 02/10/2008, 08:37 PM

Right now I have one queen conch. Should I have more like 4 or what?
Also I heard Nassarius (spelling?) snails are the best for DSB. I was planning on picking some up. Right now I have about 5 cerinth, 30 blue leg hermits, 2 astreos, 1 queen conch, and a serpent star fish. What else should I add?

Swanwillow · 02/10/2008, 08:48 PM

one conch is good. Maybe 20 nass snails, and you should be okay.

kmf507 · 02/10/2008, 09:13 PM

I think your original question has broken into two parts? Should you have a DSB, and will removing it help the fish?

I do not have much experience with DSB, but have read many times that removing it is risky for the tank. So IMHO, I would leave it.

When you read that your fish needs a 100 g tank, or whatever size, try to think of that more in terms of tank length than water volume. In this case, giving your tank 4" more depth by removing sand, will do little for the fish, as it is still in a tank that's likely 4' long. I think a 4' tank is fine for a foxface by the way.

xenon · 02/10/2008, 09:15 PM

The problem with DSB in the display tank is that after a while it becomes a problem and it needs to be replaced.

With a RDSB you simply pull it out and replace it. Easy and effective!

02/10/2008, 06:42 PM	#1
orcafood Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Raleigh Posts: 864	90 gallon with restriction? I have a 90 gallon tank with a 5 in DSB. So is it really just basically a 75 gallon tank? I am wondering because I have a one spot foxface in the tank, he is about 5 in right now, but with such a deep sand bed will he get the room he needs? There is a about 100 lbs of live rock also.

02/10/2008, 06:46 PM	#2
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	here you go. http://reef.diesyst.com/volcalc/volcalc.html __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

02/10/2008, 07:00 PM	#3
orcafood Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Raleigh Posts: 864	So would you reccomend getting rid of the DSB or not? When I purchased the tank the guy I baught it from already had the DSB, and said it was very beneficial. I think there is a plenum under the sand also. __________________ Acros, Zoas, Lps and Acros Kevin Current Tank Info: 200 gallon sps

02/10/2008, 07:16 PM	#4
Swanwillow goby girl Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bemidji MN Posts: 2,025	umm, well, theres a fairly large debate on to DSB or not. Since its there, I'd SLOWLY take it out. Vacuum the top layer of sand when your doing water changes. __________________ my advice:walk away. do nothing. til tomorrow. if its still alive, it will hopefully be fine. If you do not see it, do not try to find it. it may be hiding. just LEAVE it alone Current Tank Info: starting over! 125 gallon. Soon to be home to Blackfoot clowns, A. nigripes

02/10/2008, 07:19 PM	#6
orcafood Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Raleigh Posts: 864	So is it bad or what? All I know is that its taking up space, but if its helping keep down nitrates then I am all for it. __________________ Acros, Zoas, Lps and Acros Kevin Current Tank Info: 200 gallon sps

02/10/2008, 07:18 PM	#5
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	RDSB is getting more popular. I prefer to have 1" sand bed in the display and 60lb of aragonite sand in a 5g RDSB in my sump to battle nitrates.

02/10/2008, 07:27 PM	#7
orcafood Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Raleigh Posts: 864	Ok, I think this might work. Xenon, I have heard about the RDSB and how well they work, but I didn't try it yet. My idea is that slowly, maybe over a month, I can move the sand out of the main tank and into a RDSB in the sump. Does this sound logical? On a side note: Xenon your tank is friggin awsome, nice work! __________________ Acros, Zoas, Lps and Acros Kevin Current Tank Info: 200 gallon sps

02/10/2008, 07:44 PM	#8
george81 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: canada Posts: 254	once you disturb the sand it needs to be cleaned real well or it will be more damaging than good... its a real pain in the bum to clean it all i have read people rinse it for what seems like forever..get rid of it and get some new sand. i would be very careful a deep sand bed when disturbed releases all sorts of nasty stuff into the water colum. a deep sand bed is a big benifit for a tank. i would leave it. if you are dead set on getting it out do lots of reading on how to remove one.

02/10/2008, 07:57 PM	#9
orcafood Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Raleigh Posts: 864	Ok, I that is exactly what I was looking for thanks george81. I am not totally against the DSB and now that it has settled down I don't really want to move it. What are the best things I can do/ clean up crew I can get to keep the sand clean? __________________ Acros, Zoas, Lps and Acros Kevin Current Tank Info: 200 gallon sps

02/10/2008, 08:29 PM	#10
Swanwillow goby girl Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bemidji MN Posts: 2,025	get critters that will move and disturb it slowly-snails are good for that purpose, and since its a big enough tank, get a conch. Leaving it to settle is where people run into the problems-if its left to settle for too long, it builds up the bad products that can wipe a tank when disturbed greatly (such as a power head dropping into the sand) you want it to be slowly stirred. __________________ my advice:walk away. do nothing. til tomorrow. if its still alive, it will hopefully be fine. If you do not see it, do not try to find it. it may be hiding. just LEAVE it alone Current Tank Info: starting over! 125 gallon. Soon to be home to Blackfoot clowns, A. nigripes

02/10/2008, 08:37 PM	#11
orcafood Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Raleigh Posts: 864	Right now I have one queen conch. Should I have more like 4 or what? Also I heard Nassarius (spelling?) snails are the best for DSB. I was planning on picking some up. Right now I have about 5 cerinth, 30 blue leg hermits, 2 astreos, 1 queen conch, and a serpent star fish. What else should I add? __________________ Acros, Zoas, Lps and Acros Kevin Current Tank Info: 200 gallon sps

02/10/2008, 08:48 PM	#12
Swanwillow goby girl Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bemidji MN Posts: 2,025	one conch is good. Maybe 20 nass snails, and you should be okay. __________________ my advice:walk away. do nothing. til tomorrow. if its still alive, it will hopefully be fine. If you do not see it, do not try to find it. it may be hiding. just LEAVE it alone Current Tank Info: starting over! 125 gallon. Soon to be home to Blackfoot clowns, A. nigripes

02/10/2008, 09:13 PM	#13
kmf507 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 669	I think your original question has broken into two parts? Should you have a DSB, and will removing it help the fish? I do not have much experience with DSB, but have read many times that removing it is risky for the tank. So IMHO, I would leave it. When you read that your fish needs a 100 g tank, or whatever size, try to think of that more in terms of tank length than water volume. In this case, giving your tank 4" more depth by removing sand, will do little for the fish, as it is still in a tank that's likely 4' long. I think a 4' tank is fine for a foxface by the way.

02/10/2008, 09:15 PM	#14
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	The problem with DSB in the display tank is that after a while it becomes a problem and it needs to be replaced. With a RDSB you simply pull it out and replace it. Easy and effective!