To RDSB or not to RDSB...

RawFish · 11/06/2007, 01:19 PM

Hey there Reefers,

I've been a Freshy for about 5 years, and a Salty for 2+ months, so still pretty Raw, but the good news are that most (if not all) of you have become my heroes since I joined RC (Wow, this is better than Facebook, lol...). I have a 50 Gallon FOWLR (for now) and looking forward to hosting some corals eventually.

I have read amazing things about RDSB and I currently have the equipment to setup a 5G Refugium under my tank for a DSB and some macro algae; the purpose being to host Anaerobic bacteria to be able to control nitrates in the future.

-Is it worth to start this project for a 50G?
-If so, should I include a Plenum, or simply a DSB?
-Should the deepest layer in the DSB have bigger gravel, so to be "plenum-ish"?

Thank you, and please excuse my newbyness!

RawFish.

jerryz · 11/06/2007, 01:21 PM

I posted a link to the RDSB thread in the NITRATE thread started by dvlax. look for it and read it. Long read but should answer most if not all of your questions.

Frizz · 11/06/2007, 02:34 PM

If you want to start out slowly, I have a large piece of lace rock that I would like to get rid of that is teaming with life. It might be more appropriate for FOWLR tank than a reef. I have had this rock in my tank for years & I am wanting to move on to 100% live rock now. Lots of folks don't think that Lace Rock is a good idea so research it first before you say yes. Also, be forwarned that a lot of the life on these rocks is sponge so I really don't know if your tank has cycled long enough to be introducing sponge yet.
Frizz

dvlax40 · 11/06/2007, 02:42 PM

my rock started growing sponges after a month cycle! i was so happy

jenn_jeffery · 11/06/2007, 03:47 PM

Welcome to the saltwater world! I noticed your location is listed as Canada, so I wanted to say you may get a better response if you post on the 'general' forums, this is actually a local club forum, located in Arizona, though we are still more than happy to help out.

RawFish · 11/07/2007, 08:58 AM

Hey guys, thanks for the responses...

Thanks for the rock, but I'm pretty much set up by now. The tank cycled in 21 days, I used all the recommendations from LFS and internet. So back then I started populating it slowly to let it cycle thoroughly.
This newbieness is killing me, just found out there are places to post threads (!)... he he he. Sorry for disrupting the calm here, I feel like putting a hand in the wrong tank. LOL.
Anyways, as per Jerryz, I did my homework through most (honestly) of the RDSB thread. I have now a clear idea of the differences between a refugium DSB and a RDSB. And now I am even more confused, he he he. I don't know which way to go now...

I think the most convenient way to go would be to install a fuge under my tank with a DSB, since I will not reach a proper flow I'll have to put some scavengers, so might as well throw in some plants and a light bulb. For better anaerobic colonization I'll use a dark plastic bucket (5-10G) to prevent excess light coming to some parts o the deeper substrates. A DSB of 8" should do fine.

Any objections or advises are more than welcome.

Regards!

RawFish · 11/07/2007, 12:54 PM

Also one more thought... RDSBs seem a lot like Canister filters... maybe we can manage to turn one into a RDSB... Maybe companies like Fluval would profit enormously from commercializing "RDSB Canister Filters" or something better adapted.

thought I'd throw that one out...

jerryz · 11/07/2007, 05:01 PM

The diff between an RDSB and a cannister filter is that an RDSB is not intended to have any detritus in it while a cannister filter intrinsically will catch it in the filter media.

jasonh · 11/07/2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jerryz
The diff between an RDSB and a cannister filter is that an RDSB is not intended to have any detritus in it while a cannister filter intrinsically will catch it in the filter media.

I think he may have been thinking more along the lines of tossing all your media out and just fill yer canister with sand

RawFish · 11/07/2007, 06:38 PM

Just figuring out another way of getting along with a cheaper (flood safer) way to reduce my nitrates...

Any of you guys know of the efficiency of DSB Fuges in fighting Nitrates? I've heard their performance is lower compared to RDSB, but Macro algae helps, and it also helps fish in other ways.

psimitry · 11/11/2007, 11:52 AM

I had one at one point, and was not terribly impressed with the results.

I'm smart enough to recognize the fact that I may have done something wrong in setting it up, but nitrates that I had didn't reduce by any significant amount, and for some reason I started having an enormous green hair algae outbreak at that point.

It's not to say that you shouldn't try one, but I felt it would be a good idea to have at least one dissenting opinion that they're not as incredible and some sort of catch-all nitrate reducer that some people seem to think they are.

RawFish · 11/13/2007, 10:44 AM

Thanks for the advise psimitry... I've also been reading about mangroves, which reduce nitrates naturally and remove phosphates... some of these in the fuge could take care of algae problems in the tank, and they profit from a 3-4 inch sand bed.

Up to now the only bad thing I've heard about them is that if the leaves fall in the water they'll raise the trace elements and salts. For the rest, many reefers use them even in nano reefs with great results.

11/06/2007, 01:19 PM	#1
RawFish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 29	To RDSB or not to RDSB... Hey there Reefers, I've been a Freshy for about 5 years, and a Salty for 2+ months, so still pretty Raw, but the good news are that most (if not all) of you have become my heroes since I joined RC (Wow, this is better than Facebook, lol...). I have a 50 Gallon FOWLR (for now) and looking forward to hosting some corals eventually. I have read amazing things about RDSB and I currently have the equipment to setup a 5G Refugium under my tank for a DSB and some macro algae; the purpose being to host Anaerobic bacteria to be able to control nitrates in the future. -Is it worth to start this project for a 50G? -If so, should I include a Plenum, or simply a DSB? -Should the deepest layer in the DSB have bigger gravel, so to be "plenum-ish"? Thank you, and please excuse my newbyness! RawFish. __________________ “Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.” Charles M. Schulz Current Tank Info: 50 Gallons, Saltwater, Fish, Shrimp, Crab, Orange Plate (Fungia).

11/06/2007, 01:21 PM	#2
jerryz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Phoenix Posts: 953	I posted a link to the RDSB thread in the NITRATE thread started by dvlax. look for it and read it. Long read but should answer most if not all of your questions. __________________ When in doubt ride a bike. Current Tank Info: 75 Gal Freshwater Discus Tank, 20G Nano, 125 Reef

11/06/2007, 02:34 PM	#3
Frizz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Phoenix,Az Posts: 1,310	If you want to start out slowly, I have a large piece of lace rock that I would like to get rid of that is teaming with life. It might be more appropriate for FOWLR tank than a reef. I have had this rock in my tank for years & I am wanting to move on to 100% live rock now. Lots of folks don't think that Lace Rock is a good idea so research it first before you say yes. Also, be forwarned that a lot of the life on these rocks is sponge so I really don't know if your tank has cycled long enough to be introducing sponge yet. Frizz __________________ "Beware the lolipop of mediocrity. Lick it once and you suck forever." Current Tank Info: 125 gallon

11/07/2007, 08:58 AM	#6
RawFish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 29	Hey guys, thanks for the responses... Thanks for the rock, but I'm pretty much set up by now. The tank cycled in 21 days, I used all the recommendations from LFS and internet. So back then I started populating it slowly to let it cycle thoroughly. This newbieness is killing me, just found out there are places to post threads (!)... he he he. Sorry for disrupting the calm here, I feel like putting a hand in the wrong tank. LOL. Anyways, as per Jerryz, I did my homework through most (honestly) of the RDSB thread. I have now a clear idea of the differences between a refugium DSB and a RDSB. And now I am even more confused, he he he. I don't know which way to go now... I think the most convenient way to go would be to install a fuge under my tank with a DSB, since I will not reach a proper flow I'll have to put some scavengers, so might as well throw in some plants and a light bulb. For better anaerobic colonization I'll use a dark plastic bucket (5-10G) to prevent excess light coming to some parts o the deeper substrates. A DSB of 8" should do fine. Any objections or advises are more than welcome. Regards! __________________ “Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.” Charles M. Schulz Current Tank Info: 50 Gallons, Saltwater, Fish, Shrimp, Crab, Orange Plate (Fungia).

11/07/2007, 12:54 PM	#7
RawFish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 29	Also one more thought... RDSBs seem a lot like Canister filters... maybe we can manage to turn one into a RDSB... Maybe companies like Fluval would profit enormously from commercializing "RDSB Canister Filters" or something better adapted. thought I'd throw that one out... __________________ “Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.” Charles M. Schulz Current Tank Info: 50 Gallons, Saltwater, Fish, Shrimp, Crab, Orange Plate (Fungia).

11/06/2007, 02:42 PM	#4
dvlax40 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: tuke Posts: 986	my rock started growing sponges after a month cycle! i was so happy

11/06/2007, 03:47 PM	#5
jenn_jeffery Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 517	Welcome to the saltwater world! I noticed your location is listed as Canada, so I wanted to say you may get a better response if you post on the 'general' forums, this is actually a local club forum, located in Arizona, though we are still more than happy to help out.

11/07/2007, 05:01 PM	#8
jerryz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Phoenix Posts: 953	The diff between an RDSB and a cannister filter is that an RDSB is not intended to have any detritus in it while a cannister filter intrinsically will catch it in the filter media. __________________ When in doubt ride a bike. Current Tank Info: 75 Gal Freshwater Discus Tank, 20G Nano, 125 Reef

11/07/2007, 06:38 PM	#10
RawFish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 29	Just figuring out another way of getting along with a cheaper (flood safer) way to reduce my nitrates... Any of you guys know of the efficiency of DSB Fuges in fighting Nitrates? I've heard their performance is lower compared to RDSB, but Macro algae helps, and it also helps fish in other ways. __________________ “Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.” Charles M. Schulz Current Tank Info: 50 Gallons, Saltwater, Fish, Shrimp, Crab, Orange Plate (Fungia).

11/11/2007, 11:52 AM	#11
psimitry Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,560	I had one at one point, and was not terribly impressed with the results. I'm smart enough to recognize the fact that I may have done something wrong in setting it up, but nitrates that I had didn't reduce by any significant amount, and for some reason I started having an enormous green hair algae outbreak at that point. It's not to say that you shouldn't try one, but I felt it would be a good idea to have at least one dissenting opinion that they're not as incredible and some sort of catch-all nitrate reducer that some people seem to think they are.

11/13/2007, 10:44 AM	#12
RawFish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 29	Thanks for the advise psimitry... I've also been reading about mangroves, which reduce nitrates naturally and remove phosphates... some of these in the fuge could take care of algae problems in the tank, and they profit from a 3-4 inch sand bed. Up to now the only bad thing I've heard about them is that if the leaves fall in the water they'll raise the trace elements and salts. For the rest, many reefers use them even in nano reefs with great results. __________________ “Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.” Charles M. Schulz Current Tank Info: 50 Gallons, Saltwater, Fish, Shrimp, Crab, Orange Plate (Fungia).