How deep should a DSB be?

fishykid9212 · 08/30/2006, 12:13 PM

I have a 30G hex and I am going to stock it very llightly, How deep should I put the sand to control nitrates? also does it have any negative effects? Such as a phosphate maker or does it help get rid of phosphates? thanks

Johnbob · 08/30/2006, 12:20 PM

A deep sandbed should be at least 3-4 inches deep to form the anoxic zones necessary for full processing of the nitrates. It can be as deep as 6 inches or more if so desired. A lot depends on what animals you will be stocking that could disrupt the deeper parts of the sandbed such as burrowing fish, e.g., jawfish or engineer gobies, the latter which are constantly reconstructing new burrows. As far as phosphate goes, it is mainly derived from feeding, not your substrate. Dosing kalkwasser, growing macroalgae and using a phosphate adsorption matrix are your best ways to export phosphates.

fishykid9212 · 08/30/2006, 01:16 PM

OK so if I used 3" caribsea arogonite that would work? I don't like the deep sand look so the lower it is the better, but I also want it to work. I will probably have a clownfish or two and another small fish, no burrowing fish though.

A.G · 08/30/2006, 01:55 PM

the smaller the grains( less than 1 mm) the better if you are going with less than 3" deep.
you could still have dinitrofication in 1" sand bed if the grain was very fine ( suger size). HTH

cweder · 08/30/2006, 02:08 PM

Aragamax or Arag Alive Bahamas are sugar size and excellent for nitrate reduction. Still recommend at least 3 inches though. Be sure to cure your rock before adding the sand or the sand can load up on the phosphates from your curing rock so I've been told.

fishykid9212 · 08/30/2006, 02:13 PM

I believe my sand is this stuff here, but it cam in a bigger bag, also my rock is already cured, it is from a different tank and I used some of the sand from the other tank also. Will it still work with this stuff?
http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...=1155655756984

Johnbob · 08/30/2006, 04:28 PM

Yes, that should work, especially if it is the sugar-fine grain size. You need to use the small stuff to get the anoxic zones formed. Larger stuff such as crushed coral only becomes a nitrate factory because the oxygen levels remain too high to support the bacterial species capable of utilizing the nitrates as an energy source.

08/30/2006, 12:13 PM	#1
fishykid9212 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern NH Posts: 1,470	How deep should a DSB be? I have a 30G hex and I am going to stock it very llightly, How deep should I put the sand to control nitrates? also does it have any negative effects? Such as a phosphate maker or does it help get rid of phosphates? thanks

08/30/2006, 12:20 PM	#2
Johnbob Reefer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 49	A deep sandbed should be at least 3-4 inches deep to form the anoxic zones necessary for full processing of the nitrates. It can be as deep as 6 inches or more if so desired. A lot depends on what animals you will be stocking that could disrupt the deeper parts of the sandbed such as burrowing fish, e.g., jawfish or engineer gobies, the latter which are constantly reconstructing new burrows. As far as phosphate goes, it is mainly derived from feeding, not your substrate. Dosing kalkwasser, growing macroalgae and using a phosphate adsorption matrix are your best ways to export phosphates. __________________ "Chance favors only the prepared mind." Louis Pasteur Current Tank Info: Display tank is 55 gal reef with 330W VHO, 120 lbs LR, ~40 species of soft and LPS corals, and with a breeding pair of tomato clowns, TurboFlotor 1000 skimmer with a Caulerpa refugium.

08/30/2006, 01:55 PM	#4
A.G Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ME Posts: 450	the smaller the grains( less than 1 mm) the better if you are going with less than 3" deep. you could still have dinitrofication in 1" sand bed if the grain was very fine ( suger size). HTH __________________ A.G Current Tank Info: DIY 75g Tank, 15g Sump, 2x150MH ROIII, re-circulating ASM G2 skimmer, 2 x 1100 SEIOs, Tunze Osmolator Universal 3155, DIY moon light, DIY kalk reactor, 1/2 hp chiller

08/30/2006, 04:28 PM	#7
Johnbob Reefer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 49	Yes, that should work, especially if it is the sugar-fine grain size. You need to use the small stuff to get the anoxic zones formed. Larger stuff such as crushed coral only becomes a nitrate factory because the oxygen levels remain too high to support the bacterial species capable of utilizing the nitrates as an energy source. __________________ "Chance favors only the prepared mind." Louis Pasteur Current Tank Info: Display tank is 55 gal reef with 330W VHO, 120 lbs LR, ~40 species of soft and LPS corals, and with a breeding pair of tomato clowns, TurboFlotor 1000 skimmer with a Caulerpa refugium. Last edited by Johnbob; 08/30/2006 at 04:41 PM.

08/30/2006, 01:16 PM	#3
fishykid9212 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern NH Posts: 1,470	OK so if I used 3" caribsea arogonite that would work? I don't like the deep sand look so the lower it is the better, but I also want it to work. I will probably have a clownfish or two and another small fish, no burrowing fish though.

08/30/2006, 02:08 PM	#5
cweder Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 550	Aragamax or Arag Alive Bahamas are sugar size and excellent for nitrate reduction. Still recommend at least 3 inches though. Be sure to cure your rock before adding the sand or the sand can load up on the phosphates from your curing rock so I've been told.

08/30/2006, 02:13 PM	#6
fishykid9212 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern NH Posts: 1,470	I believe my sand is this stuff here, but it cam in a bigger bag, also my rock is already cured, it is from a different tank and I used some of the sand from the other tank also. Will it still work with this stuff? http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...=1155655756984