Best DSB approach?

wojo · 02/23/2006, 10:17 AM

Hello fellow reefers,

Currently i have CC on top of sand in my tank and i dont like it for couple of reasons, primary being that it might be the source of my ongoing nitrates problems.

So my question to you experts is what is considered the best DSB approach? Should i put fine sand on bottom and some other layer of sand on top?

I'm still considering other options, cuz 55G tank has limited space and going with DSB in it might be wasting too much space so perhaps my other option would be to do DSB in my fuge?

I'm just trying to remove the source of nitrates so perhaps the most optimal way to go about it is to remove the layer of CC in my tank and replace it with some nice sand, no DSB. Then made DSB in my fuge?

Thanks for your thoughts

Anemonebuff · 02/23/2006, 10:23 AM

Remove the CC and use fine oolitic sand in a small layer and put the DSB in the refuge.

Dubbin1 · 02/23/2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Anemonebuff
Remove the CC and use fine oolitic sand in a small layer and put the DSB in the refuge.

Thats the way I would go because I sure wouldn't want a tank that looks like this

I apologize to the owner of that tank but I just do not like it.

wojo · 02/23/2006, 10:39 AM

holy ****, that was exactly my fear, huge waste of space, thanks guys

wojo · 02/23/2006, 10:41 AM

btw, do you have a pic on how 'fine oolitic sand' looks like in your tanks?

mr pink floyd · 02/23/2006, 11:41 AM

ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

i jus tturned my cc to sand, when it clears up ill post lots of pics for ya

wojo · 02/23/2006, 11:49 AM

just cuirious, is there going to be a micro cycle involved during the swap?

mr pink floyd, did you replace it with all live sand?

Anemonebuff · 02/23/2006, 12:06 PM

Sometimes there is, but it usually subsides quickly.

Part of my tank:

reverendmaynard · 02/23/2006, 12:15 PM

I DSB in a bucket is probably even better than in the fuge, as far as limiting complications. Look in the All Things Salty forum, there's a sticky thread about it. Just make sure you go big enough. An 18g rubbermaid roughneck with 10-12" of sand woulb be a good choice. Double it up for strength, they only cost about $5 each. I have mine plumbed off of my return line, so there's not even an extra pump. It's just too small (I'm using a 5gal on a 150gal system.)

Anemonebuff · 02/23/2006, 12:17 PM

Home Depot Southdown sand.

reverendmaynard · 02/23/2006, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Anemonebuff
Home Depot Southdown sand.

If you can actually find the stuff, let me know. AFAIK it's no longer available.

wojo · 02/23/2006, 03:13 PM

just realized if i have enough space in my fuge to do DSB:

fuge is around 20" long by 12" high and 12" wide

hmmmmm

Teremei · 03/04/2006, 02:51 AM

If dubbin can show you a DSB that looks bad. I can show you a DSB that looks good.

And by the way. You don't have to have 8" for a DSB to be effective. It's becoming very popular and alot of people setting up are getting into 4-5" DSB. They still form an anerobic layer, and they dont' take away all that much viewing space. IMO a refugium isn't a good place for a DSB. You need atleast 4 feet by 2 feet (or close to it) of surface area to have a REALLY good, functioning DSB.

But on a 55 it could be done I suppose, but I would reccomend atleast a 75 gallon. Maybe you can search and turn up some threads about tank sizes and DSB. If you are just using it for nitrates the DSB in a bucket is a good idea (the idea is to have the bucket completely dark and not have any plants or animals in it. You can't really accomplish that in a refugium.

Alaskan Reefer · 03/04/2006, 03:15 AM

Wow, that is one VERY ugly DSB tank and one VERY beautiful DSB tank...

boris MAC · 03/04/2006, 08:16 AM

That is very ugly mature DSB tank and a new DSB tank.

know-it-all · 03/04/2006, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Teremei
If dubbin can show you a DSB that looks bad. I can show you a DSB that looks good.

No fair, that's a new tank

Teremei · 03/04/2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by boris MAC
That is very ugly mature DSB tank and a new DSB tank.

Ok so that one's new. That first one just happened to be a MISMANAGED DSB tank. I just picked up a coral from a guy with a 6 year old DSB and the tank looks beautiful.

You have to manage your tank with a DSB just as you do a BB. You can't just leave it and expect it to absorb everything if you overfeed your tank and do not skim enough for Waterchange enough, ect. .

IMO DSB are better suited for softies tanks, as you do not need to have MEGA flow. It's better that way because MEGA flow would disrupt your DSB. In a BB you can have MEGA flow but the problem there is it is more suited to SPS and some Soft Corals might not like the high flow. Also some animals like shrimp gobies or fighting conch are more suited to sand beds.

There are advantages to both. I'd just thought I'd chime in make sure the topic poster knew that DSB don't just crash for no reason like where it seemed this thread was heading. It would crash from neglect.

Teremei · 03/04/2006, 05:11 PM

Just happen to be searching because I'm planning a 125 DSB. Ok here is a 3-4 year old DSB tank. .

02/23/2006, 10:17 AM	#1
wojo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 752	Best DSB approach? Hello fellow reefers, Currently i have CC on top of sand in my tank and i dont like it for couple of reasons, primary being that it might be the source of my ongoing nitrates problems. So my question to you experts is what is considered the best DSB approach? Should i put fine sand on bottom and some other layer of sand on top? I'm still considering other options, cuz 55G tank has limited space and going with DSB in it might be wasting too much space so perhaps my other option would be to do DSB in my fuge? I'm just trying to remove the source of nitrates so perhaps the most optimal way to go about it is to remove the layer of CC in my tank and replace it with some nice sand, no DSB. Then made DSB in my fuge? Thanks for your thoughts

02/23/2006, 10:39 AM	#4
wojo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 752	holy ****, that was exactly my fear, huge waste of space, thanks guys __________________ "you work to live, you don't live to work" Current Tank Info: 75g Reef, 100lbs LR, 20g Sump/Fuge, (2)250W 12k Reeflux MHs, (2)110W Actinic VHOs, Dosing DIY 2-part w/ Aquamedic Twin Doser, all controlled by ReefKeeper2

02/23/2006, 10:41 AM	#5
wojo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 752	btw, do you have a pic on how 'fine oolitic sand' looks like in your tanks? __________________ "you work to live, you don't live to work" Current Tank Info: 75g Reef, 100lbs LR, 20g Sump/Fuge, (2)250W 12k Reeflux MHs, (2)110W Actinic VHOs, Dosing DIY 2-part w/ Aquamedic Twin Doser, all controlled by ReefKeeper2

02/23/2006, 11:49 AM	#7
wojo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 752	just cuirious, is there going to be a micro cycle involved during the swap? mr pink floyd, did you replace it with all live sand? __________________ "you work to live, you don't live to work" Current Tank Info: 75g Reef, 100lbs LR, 20g Sump/Fuge, (2)250W 12k Reeflux MHs, (2)110W Actinic VHOs, Dosing DIY 2-part w/ Aquamedic Twin Doser, all controlled by ReefKeeper2

03/04/2006, 03:15 AM	#14
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	Wow, that is one VERY ugly DSB tank and one VERY beautiful DSB tank... __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress

02/23/2006, 10:23 AM	#2
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	Remove the CC and use fine oolitic sand in a small layer and put the DSB in the refuge.

02/23/2006, 11:41 AM	#6
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww i jus tturned my cc to sand, when it clears up ill post lots of pics for ya

02/23/2006, 12:06 PM	#8
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	Sometimes there is, but it usually subsides quickly. Part of my tank:

02/23/2006, 12:15 PM	#9
reverendmaynard Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,490	I DSB in a bucket is probably even better than in the fuge, as far as limiting complications. Look in the All Things Salty forum, there's a sticky thread about it. Just make sure you go big enough. An 18g rubbermaid roughneck with 10-12" of sand woulb be a good choice. Double it up for strength, they only cost about $5 each. I have mine plumbed off of my return line, so there's not even an extra pump. It's just too small (I'm using a 5gal on a 150gal system.)

02/23/2006, 12:17 PM	#10
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	Home Depot Southdown sand.

02/23/2006, 03:13 PM	#12
wojo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 752	just realized if i have enough space in my fuge to do DSB: fuge is around 20" long by 12" high and 12" wide hmmmmm

03/04/2006, 02:51 AM	#13
Teremei Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Chicago (one hour west) Posts: 2,751	If dubbin can show you a DSB that looks bad. I can show you a DSB that looks good. And by the way. You don't have to have 8" for a DSB to be effective. It's becoming very popular and alot of people setting up are getting into 4-5" DSB. They still form an anerobic layer, and they dont' take away all that much viewing space. IMO a refugium isn't a good place for a DSB. You need atleast 4 feet by 2 feet (or close to it) of surface area to have a REALLY good, functioning DSB. But on a 55 it could be done I suppose, but I would reccomend atleast a 75 gallon. Maybe you can search and turn up some threads about tank sizes and DSB. If you are just using it for nitrates the DSB in a bucket is a good idea (the idea is to have the bucket completely dark and not have any plants or animals in it. You can't really accomplish that in a refugium.

03/04/2006, 08:16 AM	#15
boris MAC Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Macedonia Posts: 214	That is very ugly mature DSB tank and a new DSB tank.

03/04/2006, 05:11 PM	#18
Teremei Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Chicago (one hour west) Posts: 2,751	Just happen to be searching because I'm planning a 125 DSB. Ok here is a 3-4 year old DSB tank. .