Thoughts on removing DSB from refugium?

[qfrisco]

Hi all - I'm thinking of removing the DSB from my refugium. My main thinking is to make it easier to go in there and vacuum out detritus, and also to give my chaeto more room to grow.

My DSB is about 5 inches, put in about 10 months ago with half Miracle Mud, and half live sand. I've got chaeto and LR in there as well. I can isolate it from my system to prevent any potential dangerous gasses/chemicals from being released by disturbing the sand bed by just shutting off the water supply to it (my sump is a Skimmer->Return<-Fuge config).

My plan was to shut-off the water supply, place the chaeto and LR in buckets, then just start scooping out the DSB. Then, replace the LR and chaeto, and open the water supply back-up, topping off with fresh saltwater as needed.

Are there any other considerations to think about?

Thanks!

[fishysteve]

That's exactly what I just did. Just make sure you remove all of the water from that chamber too. I'd go for it.

[poolkeeper1]

I am going to do the same thing, so that I can add an internal skimmer verses external. As long as you can Isolate the sump completly from the display tank their should not be any problem. As long as your not removing to much benificial bacteria at once, that you may cause a overload on your system. Maybe do it in stages if that might be a problem.


Bill

[ERIKATHORNBURG]

I'm setting my refugium up this weekend. We were planning to put sand in it, but not a DSB. I've read a bunch of people taking sand out of their refugiums....is it just a pain to take the chaeto out of it? We have never had a refugium before.

[qfrisco]

Originally posted by ERIKATHORNBURG
I'm setting my refugium up this weekend. We were planning to put sand in it, but not a DSB. I've read a bunch of people taking sand out of their refugiums....is it just a pain to take the chaeto out of it? We have never had a refugium before.

erika - taking the chaeto out is not a pain. In fact, you should move/roll it around every week or so to keep the growth even, as most likely only the top will be getting light, and that's not tough at all.

My main concern with the DSB is all the detritus that is settling on it. I can't easily vacuum the detritus out without taking some sand out as well. And I think it would be easier to do a more thorough vacuuming job without the DSB there.

erika - for you, since you're not doing a DSB anyway, I'd just skip the sand altogether. It would make your refugium much easier to maintain, I think.

[ERIKATHORNBURG]

I really appreciate the feedback. Wouldn't the sand provide extra filtration and protect the glass since I'll be putting live rock rubble in there as well?