Deep sand bed

detroit_fan · 11/02/2006, 06:44 PM

I am getting ready to set up a 75 gallon reef tank. I will use a refugium, prolly around 20-29 gallons to help[ control nitates and grow pods for a mandarin. Is it better to use a dsb in the main tank or in the fuge?
Any other advice on how to make my system better is very welcomed. Thanks

GlobaLPimP · 11/02/2006, 06:50 PM

I see a lot of reading in your future - there are pros and cons to everything in this hobby and it really boils down to how big your budget is and your taste

List your complete system/set-up ideas...then everyone will be able to give opinions on what you may or may not want to change.

greenbean36191 · 11/02/2006, 07:05 PM

It should go in the main tank. A properly set up DSB needs a fair amount of food, and it won't get enough if you put it in the fuge. Also, the footprint of tank you plan to use for a fuge is too small for a functional DSB.

detroit_fan · 11/02/2006, 07:07 PM

well i read my butt off now lol. I started in the hobby in july and currently have a 55 gal sw, but i have learned so many new things in the past few months that i want to upsize and kinda start over. The reason i ask about the dsb was that i always planned in doing it in the fuge, but the lfs got me thinking yesterday about doing it in the tank that's why i ask. I currently have an ASM G3 skimmer, and an overflow box, so my new tank is getting drilled now and will have an internal overflow- bulkhead size of 1.5". I'm thinking about an Eheim return pump, about 4-5 ft head pressure so a recomendation on which model would be helpful. I have 4 T5's (48") and no powerheads right now(no corals either, but will in new tank). Of coure i do have somewhat of a budget, but i am always willing to spend on what will be best for the tank.

Any help on chosing return pump and powerheads is greatly appreciated. I want to be able to keep whatever i find appealing.

detroit_fan · 11/02/2006, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by greenbean36191
It should go in the main tank. A properly set up DSB needs a fair amount of food, and it won't get enough if you put it in the fuge. Also, the footprint of tank you plan to use for a fuge is too small for a functional DSB.

I have a problem keeping nitrates down in my current tank(1 yellow tang, 2 skunk clowns) How deep should the sand be in the 75 to be effective?

greenbean36191 · 11/02/2006, 07:43 PM

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 inches.

cgjw2000 · 11/02/2006, 09:53 PM

Make sure you pick the correct type of sand too... IMO you should go for aragonite which will also help with your PH levels..

SuperNerd · 11/14/2006, 03:20 AM

greenbean36191:

If dead oolitic sand is added to a tank...and it buries some coralline algae and a couple of coral polyps and maybe some hair algae and cyanobacteria growing against the panes of the aquarium...will the sand eventually disintegrate those pockets of decay and eventually eliminate any hydrogen sulfide produced in the process?

greenbean36191 · 11/14/2006, 08:37 AM

I don't know, but I suspect it has a lot to do with the depth it's burried at and the degree of infaunal activity.

11/02/2006, 06:44 PM	#1
detroit_fan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 843	Deep sand bed I am getting ready to set up a 75 gallon reef tank. I will use a refugium, prolly around 20-29 gallons to help[ control nitates and grow pods for a mandarin. Is it better to use a dsb in the main tank or in the fuge? Any other advice on how to make my system better is very welcomed. Thanks

11/02/2006, 06:50 PM	#2
GlobaLPimP Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 911	I see a lot of reading in your future - there are pros and cons to everything in this hobby and it really boils down to how big your budget is and your taste List your complete system/set-up ideas...then everyone will be able to give opinions on what you may or may not want to change. __________________ This hobby is educational; it teaches you how to spend a lot of money in a hurry! Current Tank Info: 75gl, SPS, LPS, IceCap/T5/SLR, 2 modded Tunze 6045's, PCI 350 skimmer w/ Gen-X 2400, 95lbs LR, GEN-X 4100 return

11/02/2006, 07:05 PM	#3
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	It should go in the main tank. A properly set up DSB needs a fair amount of food, and it won't get enough if you put it in the fuge. Also, the footprint of tank you plan to use for a fuge is too small for a functional DSB. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

11/02/2006, 07:43 PM	#6
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	Somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 inches. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

11/14/2006, 03:20 AM	#8
SuperNerd Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: SoCal/Left Side- USA Posts: 4,572	greenbean36191: If dead oolitic sand is added to a tank...and it buries some coralline algae and a couple of coral polyps and maybe some hair algae and cyanobacteria growing against the panes of the aquarium...will the sand eventually disintegrate those pockets of decay and eventually eliminate any hydrogen sulfide produced in the process? __________________ I said fraggit! Current Tank Info: M-728 Combat Engineer (based on M60 hull). M-3 Lee Medium (British version with squatter).

11/02/2006, 07:07 PM	#4
detroit_fan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 843	well i read my butt off now lol. I started in the hobby in july and currently have a 55 gal sw, but i have learned so many new things in the past few months that i want to upsize and kinda start over. The reason i ask about the dsb was that i always planned in doing it in the fuge, but the lfs got me thinking yesterday about doing it in the tank that's why i ask. I currently have an ASM G3 skimmer, and an overflow box, so my new tank is getting drilled now and will have an internal overflow- bulkhead size of 1.5". I'm thinking about an Eheim return pump, about 4-5 ft head pressure so a recomendation on which model would be helpful. I have 4 T5's (48") and no powerheads right now(no corals either, but will in new tank). Of coure i do have somewhat of a budget, but i am always willing to spend on what will be best for the tank. Any help on chosing return pump and powerheads is greatly appreciated. I want to be able to keep whatever i find appealing.

11/02/2006, 09:53 PM	#7
cgjw2000 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 60	Make sure you pick the correct type of sand too... IMO you should go for aragonite which will also help with your PH levels..

11/14/2006, 08:37 AM	#9
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	I don't know, but I suspect it has a lot to do with the depth it's burried at and the degree of infaunal activity. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up