Type of sand DSB -DT

hunkafish · 10/21/2011, 01:16 PM

Setting up new Tank 57 gal rimmless ith 30 gal sump leaning toward Figi pink 2" for DT or BB with DSB in sump. What type of sand for DSB in sump oolite,mix of types and size sand and or different grades bottom, middle, top of DSB. Any input will be appreciated about pros and cons and or do's and Don'ts

lolgranny · 10/21/2011, 01:27 PM

I would do 1"-2" caribsea special grade in DT and 5"-6" of sand in the sump. Thats what i will be doing on my 180 anyways. Maybe a bit finer for the sump, but in my 40g(BB) i have that sand and the tank is kicking away. All the sps are growing like weeds and the colors are all what they should be.

cloak · 10/21/2011, 04:03 PM

If that 5-6" DSB is in a small package, (footprint) you might as well loose it. It probably won't do anything for a much larger tank that is fully stocked. Keep the DT clean first... "Go big or go home."

JMO.

Ron Reefman · 10/21/2011, 04:20 PM

I disagree, if you are going to have a refugium and it can hold a DSB, go for it. Use the finest sand you can find. The finer the sand, the better job it does creating an anaerobic zone because it packs together better. I have a friend with a 120g DT and he hooked up a 10g DSB. His nitrates went from 5 to 0 in 2 months.

lolgranny · 10/21/2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

If that 5-6" DSB is in a small package, (footprint) you might as well loose it. It probably won't do anything for a much larger tank that is fully stocked. Keep the DT clean first... "Go big or go home."

JMO.

What size footprint would u recommend in this case? And why do you say it will not do anything for a large tank thats fully stocked?

cloak · 10/21/2011, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

I disagree, if you are going to have a refugium and it can hold a DSB, go for it. I used the finest sand I could find. I have a friend with a 120g DT and he hooked up a 10g DSB. His nitrates went from 5 to 0 in 2 months.

If your going to have a DSB, why pussyfoot around it and have it in a refuge? I'm guessing no faith... Real easy to remove it and point the finger. As far a fine sand goes, if you do have a DSB you need to compensate for all the different life forms that are going to live within it. They don't all like fine sand. You need to cater to this fact and mix it up a little...

I doubt the small DSB had anything to do with the nitrates going from 5 to 0. He probably uped his game and was shooting par before the test was taken... A reading of 5 is not that bad though...

lolgranny · 10/21/2011, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

I disagree, if you are going to have a refugium and it can hold a DSB, go for it. Use the finest sand you can find. The finer the sand, the better job it does creating an anaerobic zone because it packs together better. I have a friend with a 120g DT and he hooked up a 10g DSB. His nitrates went from 5 to 0 in 2 months.

Personally i dont think in 2 months adding a dsb will lower the nitrates that quickly. Did he do anything else other then this to lower it? water changes could have helped / cheato / less feediing? It takes time for the DSB to get its cycle going to my knowledge.

As for the finer sand being better for the dsb do you have any material i can read on this? Im not saying you are wrong by any means because that would make sense to me in some forms. Either way your going to want to get some snails which will dig in the sand to release the gasses.

lolgranny · 10/21/2011, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

If your going to have a DSB, why pussyfoot around it and have it in a refuge? I'm guessing no faith... Real easy to remove it and point the finger. As far a fine sand goes, if you do have a DSB you need to compensate for all the different life forms that are going to live within it. They don't all like fine sand. You need to cater to this fact and mix it up a little...

I doubt the small DSB had anything to do with the nitrates going from 5 to 0. He probably uped his game and was shooting par before the test was taken... A reading of 5 is not that bad though...

Personally i like it for extra pods / cheato. For the 180 im going with a footprint of 22"x35" with 5"-6" of sand. Brittle stars / worms / snails / possibly some rubble and a huge ball of cheato. Will make for a nice spot for pods to populate without having to worry about my wrasses chowing them all down(doubt that will happen regardless..but

) Ive gone BB on my smaller of 2 tanks and have had nothing but good with it. However on my 75g with a DSB in the display and a DSB in the fuge i had issues, partially because i wasnt running a sock and debris sat on the sand and we know the rest so i took it out and its back to normal.

I havent thought about mixing sand up in the fuge, but i like that idea! Thanks

cloak · 10/21/2011, 05:40 PM

Pods don't do anything for a DSB/tank IMO. (overated, unless you have a mandarin) There just there. As far as chaeto goes, trying to keep a happy healthy reef tank without algae growth is something to strive for. (coralline aside) Worms are your best bet...

Mixing up the sand, that's good. I forget which way it goes, but the larger grains will sink while the finer stuff will rise to the top. Either way, your sanbed is constantly in motion. GL.

mc-cro · 10/21/2011, 05:59 PM

I tend to agree on mixing the grain size in the DSB. I used some really fine sand I found a home depot one time. I think the grains first were too sharp, and secondly it compacted way too much. It never did develop and mature like a normal DSB does. there were never worm tracks down deep into or other signs of a thriving DSB. It tried 3 different DSB's with it, and I was never happy.

I currently use a mix of sugar fine, and mini flake

lolgranny · 10/21/2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

Pods don't do anything for a DSB/tank IMO. (overated, unless you have a mandarin) There just there. As far as chaeto goes, trying to keep a happy healthy reef tank without algae growth is something to strive for. (coralline aside) Worms are your best bet...

Mixing up the sand, that's good. I forget which way it goes, but the larger grains will sink while the finer stuff will rise to the top. Either way, your sanbed is constantly in motion. GL.

I certainly agree with striving for not using algae, but its avaliable and only helps out the tank so i cant rule it out as im having quite good results. As for acquiring worms for the sand, what would you suggest? Getting a few cups of sand from local reefers was my 1st thought.

I was thinking after you mentioned mixing the sand of putting the thicker on the bottom and finer on the top as it will fall down and mix.

cloak · 10/21/2011, 07:01 PM

I don't know the specific name, but I had a ton of these opaque looking worms in my DSB. When I fed the tank, the ground would move, literally. Here's a picture of the 9 year old DSB I had in my DT, right before the tank cracked and I had to remove everything...

This was my sump.

lolgranny · 10/21/2011, 07:28 PM

Darn guy thats crazy! Sorry to hear about the tank!

cloak · 10/21/2011, 07:53 PM

GL main.

Buzz1329 · 10/21/2011, 08:03 PM

Yay, I vote for BB, DSB and DT pink oolite fine and coarse sand. Scrumptious.

hunkafish · 10/21/2011, 08:55 PM

Thanks Cloak/Buzz/LOLGranny This very helpfull

hunkafish · 10/22/2011, 11:35 AM

Bump

hunkafish · 10/22/2011, 11:37 AM

Thanks to Ron too, I respect he's opinions very much

View Poll Results: Sand options
B/B and 5" DSB all oolite fine sand	1	20.00%
Figi pink 1-2" in DT 5" DSB oolite Fine sand	3	60.00%
B/B and 5-6 " DSB in sump Figi pink,oolite, course sand mix	0	0%
Other explain please	1	20.00%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 5. You may not vote on this poll

10/21/2011, 01:16 PM	#1
hunkafish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pompano Beach FL Posts: 339	Type of sand DSB -DT Setting up new Tank 57 gal rimmless ith 30 gal sump leaning toward Figi pink 2" for DT or BB with DSB in sump. What type of sand for DSB in sump oolite,mix of types and size sand and or different grades bottom, middle, top of DSB. Any input will be appreciated about pros and cons and or do's and Don'ts

10/21/2011, 01:27 PM	#2
lolgranny The DQ King Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chicago (McHenry) Posts: 2,414	I would do 1"-2" caribsea special grade in DT and 5"-6" of sand in the sump. Thats what i will be doing on my 180 anyways. Maybe a bit finer for the sump, but in my 40g(BB) i have that sand and the tank is kicking away. All the sps are growing like weeds and the colors are all what they should be. __________________ -Dave Current Tank Info: 40g RIP. 300g system, 180g display.

10/21/2011, 04:20 PM	#4
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	I disagree, if you are going to have a refugium and it can hold a DSB, go for it. Use the finest sand you can find. The finer the sand, the better job it does creating an anaerobic zone because it packs together better. I have a friend with a 120g DT and he hooked up a 10g DSB. His nitrates went from 5 to 0 in 2 months. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

10/21/2011, 05:40 PM	#9
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Pods don't do anything for a DSB/tank IMO. (overated, unless you have a mandarin) There just there. As far as chaeto goes, trying to keep a happy healthy reef tank without algae growth is something to strive for. (coralline aside) Worms are your best bet... Mixing up the sand, that's good. I forget which way it goes, but the larger grains will sink while the finer stuff will rise to the top. Either way, your sanbed is constantly in motion. GL. Last edited by cloak; 10/21/2011 at 05:46 PM.

10/21/2011, 04:03 PM	#3
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	If that 5-6" DSB is in a small package, (footprint) you might as well loose it. It probably won't do anything for a much larger tank that is fully stocked. Keep the DT clean first... "Go big or go home." JMO.

10/21/2011, 05:59 PM	#10
mc-cro (macro) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,238	I tend to agree on mixing the grain size in the DSB. I used some really fine sand I found a home depot one time. I think the grains first were too sharp, and secondly it compacted way too much. It never did develop and mature like a normal DSB does. there were never worm tracks down deep into or other signs of a thriving DSB. It tried 3 different DSB's with it, and I was never happy. I currently use a mix of sugar fine, and mini flake __________________ Time is the most valuable thing you have... spend it wisely Current Tank Info: 60x26x24 AGE 3 sided starphire

10/21/2011, 07:01 PM	#12
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I don't know the specific name, but I had a ton of these opaque looking worms in my DSB. When I fed the tank, the ground would move, literally. Here's a picture of the 9 year old DSB I had in my DT, right before the tank cracked and I had to remove everything... This was my sump.

10/21/2011, 07:28 PM	#13
lolgranny The DQ King Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chicago (McHenry) Posts: 2,414	Darn guy thats crazy! Sorry to hear about the tank! __________________ -Dave Current Tank Info: 40g RIP. 300g system, 180g display.

10/21/2011, 07:53 PM	#14
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	GL main.

10/21/2011, 08:03 PM	#15
Buzz1329 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 2,414	Yay, I vote for BB, DSB and DT pink oolite fine and coarse sand. Scrumptious.

10/21/2011, 08:55 PM	#16
hunkafish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pompano Beach FL Posts: 339	Thanks Cloak/Buzz/LOLGranny This very helpfull

10/22/2011, 11:35 AM	#17
hunkafish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pompano Beach FL Posts: 339	Bump

10/22/2011, 11:37 AM	#18
hunkafish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pompano Beach FL Posts: 339	Thanks to Ron too, I respect he's opinions very much

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