Diy Rdsb

SteveCon89 · 12/03/2008, 10:39 PM

I have high nitrates in my 90(nothing but fish really..I added 15lbs of LR the other day)
I want to add a remote deep sand bed. Does anyone have any plans for one of these? I am not too much of a DIY-er and pictures make sense.
Thanks.

reefnetworth · 12/04/2008, 12:11 AM

use a 20G long with an 8" DSB with medium high flow, cheato and a grow light and that should solve your problem. you could also be overfeeding or not doing enough water changes.
i do a 25% WC every Sunday without fail. if you are using carbon, change it once a week to lower them, and then once every 2 weeks when stable.

MperRluvR · 12/04/2008, 02:57 AM

you dont need the light or the cheato for RDSB

SteveCon89 · 12/04/2008, 06:31 AM

I was thinking more along the lines of the 5 gallon bucket deal..anyone have an idea which one is better?

Paul_PSU · 12/04/2008, 06:36 AM

Here is one I had set up. You want a fairly quick flow across the top of the sand so no debris settles in there. My flow went from the return section of the sump into the lid and back out the side of the bucket. My sand is just below the output.

Paul_PSU · 12/04/2008, 06:41 AM

Here are a couple of links:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=595109

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic20...Highlight=rdsb

SteveCon89 · 12/04/2008, 06:50 AM

Paul_PSU have you seen much of an improvement in your tank?

Paul_PSU · 12/04/2008, 07:18 AM

I came from a FOWLR system and my nitrates were over 180. I used a DIY sulphur denitrator to get them down to around 40. I used a RDSB for about 3 months or so and it got them down to 20 but I was stuck there until I took the rdsb off line and started vodka dosing. The RDSB takes some time to "kick in" and I was a little impatient. I also have a in tank dsb also. My Nitrate issues were from years of a FOWLR and using tap water. My sand and rocks were just leaching Nitrates. I really did not want to do a total tear down. In hindsight I should have dumped the sand and cooked the rocks. It took me about 7 months to get them under control. There seems to be exact number of weeks it takes for the rdsb to kick in as every tank is different. Some people reported seeing their nitrates drop from like 50 to zero in 6 to 8 weeks. It seems to AT LEAST take a month to kick in. I needed the space on the side of my tank for my top off container and kalk reactor so that is the main reason I tore it down. It is a proven science that will bring your nitrates down. If you do go that route be patient it will work.

SteveCon89 · 12/04/2008, 07:26 AM

I'm going from Fish Only, no live rock. I did just add 15 lbs' of live rock the other day though, you think i should take it out?

Paul_PSU · 12/04/2008, 08:44 AM

No you can leave it in. It wasn't the live rock that was the reason for the high nitrates but that I was using tap water. The live rock and sand just absorbed it and then leached it out over time. The important thing is to make sure ALL water parameters are good before you add coral. Do you have all the test kits like Nitrate, Phosphate, ALK, and then Calcium when you want to add coral.

reelfishy · 09/22/2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_PSU

Here is one I had set up. You want a fairly quick flow across the top of the sand so no debris settles in there. My flow went from the return section of the sump into the lid and back out the side of the bucket. My sand is just below the output.

A bit confused how is the RDSB powered? Is there a second return pump in your return section of the sump?

jeff@zina.com · 09/22/2010, 11:52 AM

You can use a second pump, branch off the main return or whatever you want to get adequate flow through the RDSB bucket. Check Calfo's threads on Marine Depot in one of the previous links. And don't over think it. It's sand, in a bucket, with water moving over it. Nothing more.

Jeff

reelfishy · 09/22/2010, 02:25 PM

Thanks Jeff.

12/03/2008, 10:39 PM	#1
SteveCon89 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 266	Diy Rdsb I have high nitrates in my 90(nothing but fish really..I added 15lbs of LR the other day) I want to add a remote deep sand bed. Does anyone have any plans for one of these? I am not too much of a DIY-er and pictures make sense. Thanks.

12/04/2008, 12:11 AM	#2
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	use a 20G long with an 8" DSB with medium high flow, cheato and a grow light and that should solve your problem. you could also be overfeeding or not doing enough water changes. i do a 25% WC every Sunday without fail. if you are using carbon, change it once a week to lower them, and then once every 2 weeks when stable. __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

09/22/2010, 02:25 PM	#13
reelfishy reelin and dealin Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Korea Town, Cali Posts: 1,440	Thanks Jeff. __________________ Punch you in your forehead! Imma make all my ching chongs sing songs!

12/04/2008, 02:57 AM	#3
MperRluvR Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: O’ Fallon Posts: 813	you dont need the light or the cheato for RDSB

12/04/2008, 06:31 AM	#4
SteveCon89 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 266	I was thinking more along the lines of the 5 gallon bucket deal..anyone have an idea which one is better?

12/04/2008, 06:36 AM	#5
Paul_PSU Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 1,512	Here is one I had set up. You want a fairly quick flow across the top of the sand so no debris settles in there. My flow went from the return section of the sump into the lid and back out the side of the bucket. My sand is just below the output.

12/04/2008, 06:41 AM	#6
Paul_PSU Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 1,512	Here are a couple of links: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=595109 http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic20...Highlight=rdsb

12/04/2008, 06:50 AM	#7
SteveCon89 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 266	Paul_PSU have you seen much of an improvement in your tank?

12/04/2008, 07:18 AM	#8
Paul_PSU Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 1,512	I came from a FOWLR system and my nitrates were over 180. I used a DIY sulphur denitrator to get them down to around 40. I used a RDSB for about 3 months or so and it got them down to 20 but I was stuck there until I took the rdsb off line and started vodka dosing. The RDSB takes some time to "kick in" and I was a little impatient. I also have a in tank dsb also. My Nitrate issues were from years of a FOWLR and using tap water. My sand and rocks were just leaching Nitrates. I really did not want to do a total tear down. In hindsight I should have dumped the sand and cooked the rocks. It took me about 7 months to get them under control. There seems to be exact number of weeks it takes for the rdsb to kick in as every tank is different. Some people reported seeing their nitrates drop from like 50 to zero in 6 to 8 weeks. It seems to AT LEAST take a month to kick in. I needed the space on the side of my tank for my top off container and kalk reactor so that is the main reason I tore it down. It is a proven science that will bring your nitrates down. If you do go that route be patient it will work.

12/04/2008, 07:26 AM	#9
SteveCon89 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 266	I'm going from Fish Only, no live rock. I did just add 15 lbs' of live rock the other day though, you think i should take it out?

12/04/2008, 08:44 AM	#10
Paul_PSU Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 1,512	No you can leave it in. It wasn't the live rock that was the reason for the high nitrates but that I was using tap water. The live rock and sand just absorbed it and then leached it out over time. The important thing is to make sure ALL water parameters are good before you add coral. Do you have all the test kits like Nitrate, Phosphate, ALK, and then Calcium when you want to add coral.

09/22/2010, 11:52 AM	#12
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	You can use a second pump, branch off the main return or whatever you want to get adequate flow through the RDSB bucket. Check Calfo's threads on Marine Depot in one of the previous links. And don't over think it. It's sand, in a bucket, with water moving over it. Nothing more. Jeff