[SCETT316]

What would be the best recommendations as to what should I get to seed my 6" DSB for my new 168 gal. once it is ready.
Thx Susan

[This message has been edited by SCETT316 (edited 05-16-2001).]

[SPasse]

SCETT316,

You need just a few pounds of live sand(s) as a seed culture(s). The sand bed should be seeded with as many different sources of live sand as is practical for you. I used live sand starter kits and detrivore kits from Indo Pacific Sea Farms, Island Aquatics, and two local sources. Bio-diversity is a good thing. Then you begin feeding the bed and the fauna community that it contains grows into a complete ecosystem that is uniquely suited to you particular tank environment. I feed my sand bed with “Golden Pearls”

But make it as deep as you can, I attribute much of my systems low nitrate (<0.2ppm) to my 6” DSB

Here are some contacts.

IndoPacific Sea Farms: http://ipsf.com/

Island Aquatics: http://www.inlandaquatics.com/

Brine shrimp Direct (Golden Pearls) : http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/

Regards,

Scott

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The definition of an expert is a washed-up drip under pressure.
You can see my reeftank at http://www.homestead.com/spasse/

[Bruce]

Spasse,

Which particle size of the Golden Pearls do you use?

[SPasse]

Bruce,

Thanks, I always forget to post that detail. [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

I use “Rotifer Size Golden Pearls 100-200 microns (Rotifer / Artemia Replacement)”

One size up or down would probably be fine also.

But start off slow, This is really concentrated stuff.

I am up to about a tsp per day in my system.

Regards,

Scott

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The definition of an expert is a washed-up drip under pressure.
You can see my reeftank at http://www.homestead.com/spasse/

[mgk65]

1 tsp / day !!!!

Wow! What else do you feed your tank and how often!

mgk

[SPasse]

mgk65,

I also target feed my SPS corals bi-weekly or weekly, when I get lazy.

My Wellsophyllia radiata eats a medium tiger shrimp a week.

My Heliofungia eats about half of that.

I also alternate occasionally with silversides.

I believe that many DSB problems are cause by underfeeding

But the golden pearl feeding does keep the macro algae in my algae filter growing fast. The picture on my WEB site is about 1 months worth of growth. (losts of Iodine in Golden Pearls) [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Regards,

Scott

------------------
The definition of an expert is a washed-up drip under pressure.
You can see my reeftank at http://www.homestead.com/spasse/

[mgk65]

I certainly don't feed that much!

I mean, my bioload right now is light enough not to require it.

I agree with you about the DSB feeding.

I was ramping up feedings too fast, and wound up with a diatom and cynobacteria problem in my refugium. Since easing up and feeding less, my cyno and diatoms have gone down.

Thanks!
mgk

[This message has been edited by mgk65 (edited 05-16-2001).]