DSB Question???

[mousehunter22]

Is there any reason why i cant run a DSB actualy in the main display tank???

With some carefull positioning of pumps ect so it doesnt get blasted around what other problems could it cause????

Lets have a little debate about it and help me out while your on:D:D:D

[marinemike]

depending on how deep were talking,ive got a 2.5inch sand bed in my main tank,made of live sand,has 3 sand sifter and lots of cuc.

[moorish]

no problem running it in the tank but if something goes wrong with it you would have to strip the whole tank down.if you have a remote sandbed you can then isolate it if goes wrong.derek

[Tangman]

Hi Lee i would not run a DSB in a tank as if it goes wrong which it can you can wipe out your whole tank. If your sump is not big enough why not run a remote one in a waste paper bin on a small dustbin. Have a look on google for Anthony Calfo's RDSB and see how he and lots on others run one. HTH Twiggy:D:D

[Nickd]

In tank you can have either a DSB or a SSB (shallow sand bed!) which i have.

The advantage of an intank sand bed is that all sorts of life will inhabit the bed and due to their disturbance will to some degree prevent the bed from becoming stagnant.

One disadvantage I can see is if some major disturbance takes place within the tank then harmful gases / nutrients may be released.

Just my opinion and an opposing view!!!

Nick

[sinaarrgghh]

I thought the same thing way back when I first started. I decided in the end it was'nt worth the risk. You're going to have to be so careful when you do anything as they will build up all kinds of nasties in the long run.

[marinemike]

so are we saying its best not to have a sand bed? and if so if i was to remove mine,how would it effect my water? and would i still get he pods for me mandies?

[MR Teee]

A properly maintained bed is no issue, you just need to be sure what you want from it.

If it is a true in tank DSB (quite popular in the states) then you will need critters to keep the top layer turned over, nothing that will eat these critters can be in the tank, wrasse, mandarins, sand sifting stars, crabs etc. Ran in this way, an intank DSB can last years with no problems or any serious maintenance.

The next evolution was to put this into the sump, same rules apply if you want a fully functioning DSB, but then people got sick of keeping all the critters in there to process the crap, and decided to go with a high flow over the surface of the bed to keep the crap from settling on top. These types of bed are purely for nitrate reduction.

Then obviuosly the next evolutiobn as Eric mentioned was to totally remove the sand from the sump (hard to control flow, hard to clean, hard to maintain) and put it in a bucket that you could just simply remove if anything bad happend. Same rules apply, high flow, no light, no crap on top.

Alot of people combine the DSB with a fuge in the sump, growing the algae and providing a better habitat for the critters to go in.

Big downsides for ion tank DSB for me are

5-6" ( true DSB size) taken up in the tank
Lmiits livestock choices
No room for error- slightest pump bodge, rock move etc, releases H2S straight into the tank.

SSB - can be argued that they only give a slight nitrate reduction, but are typically just used for aesthetic reasons.

[MR Teee]

so are we saying its best not to have a sand bed? and if so if i was to remove mine,how would it effect my water? and would i still get he pods for me mandies?

No we are not saying its best to not have sand, but like everything there are pros and cons. Many successfullreefs have been run with a DSB.

Removing one is a mjor stripdown job if you cant isolate it.

All livestock need to be homed elsewhere due to the amount of crap that will be released. Massive potential for killing all your livestock if you disturb a sandbed connected to your system.


You are then into the realms of running a barebottom system, this totally changes the way you look after your system and is a whole new topic.

[MR Teee]

Oh and finally a great quote from over on RC.

"A sandbed is not a blackhole - the crap doesnot get magically get transported to an alternate dimension!"

[marinemike]

thanks for that,i've run my tank for over a year with this sand bed 2.5 inch,so i think ill leave it as it it.

[mousehunter22]

Been very informative this!

I just had the idea as im only gunna run a small sump on my next tank and its pretty much only gunna be an equipment store,so thought a DSB in the main tank might help with critter populations ect, I dont realy know anything about them so thought id ask:D:D:D

[Nickd]

The one thing that's certain with marines is you'll get different answers from different people!!

[cl0wn]

if you're concerned about critter populations, you would probably be better off looking at something loike a refugium / rubble zone.

[Tangman]

The one thing that's certain with marines is you'll get different answers from different people!!
How right ask 10 questions and you will get 10 different answers.Twiggy:jump:

[mousehunter22]

if you're concerned about critter populations, you would probably be better off looking at something loike a refugium / rubble zone.

Might look into that one:D:D:D:D The addition of liverock rubble will also help seed the reefbones over time i asume:confused:

[cl0wn]

yeah, should certainly help.

[cl0wn]

having the mandarins, i'm gonna creat a rubble zone in the tank. take a hammer to one of the less attractive pieces of rock and find a suitable spot to put the rubble to encourage some pods.

[marinemike]

1 of those stupid question times,but whats a rubble zone?

[Tangman]

1 of those stupid question times,but whats a rubble zone?
Hi a zone where you put rubble in to encourage pods. hth Twiggy:D:D

[marinemike]

guess the answer was in the question,are these a good thing to have in tank? also any joy on halide?

[Tangman]

guess the answer was in the question,are these a good thing to have in tank? also any joy on halide?
Hi yes they are a good thing to have in a corner of the tank, No no joy as yet m8 Twiggy:D:D

[marinemike]

might build a rubble zone then,thanks,ok just keep me informed-ta:)