The Age old question DSB or no

Caesar Augustus · 05-03-2003, 01:59 PM

I have always felt that a DSB in the main tank w/a 1 inch substrate in the fuge is the way to go, but I am aware that opinions vary. I've seen many a beautiful tank with little or no substrate at all. So give me the current scoop.
Keep the reef,
Augustus

organicreefer · 05-03-2003, 05:34 PM

personally -im going away from dsb's and anyone who thinks it through logically will figure out that -at best -dsbs work for an unknown period of time -after which they will have accumulated enough of "something" that it will cause prblems.

regardless of how alive the bed is -you cant turn something into nothing and anything that is broken down by microfauna and bacteria is still partially incorporated into their bodies and will enter the food chain-including heavy metals...

dsb's incorporate nutrients and who knows what into the system -i'd rather concentrate on exporting those nutrients.

my.02

Caesar Augustus · 05-03-2003, 06:03 PM

do you have any substrate, an inch or two, or do you go bare-bottom?
Augustus

organicreefer · 05-03-2003, 08:39 PM

i ran dsb's for almost five years -ive had a bit of a change in philosohpy in the last 6 months or so...ive removed the 8" bed from my refugium and ive been slowing taking the sand out of the display-i have anywhere from 0-4" in the dsiplay right now-implanning on at least going to a couple inches at most with some bare areas(or just enough to cover)-and may eventually go bare bottom.

another idea is to remove 1/4 of the sand per year syphoning all the way to the bottom in one corner-every four years the sand would be renewed.i really think this is probably the best way to do a dsb.

***Reefland*** · 05-04-2003, 08:35 PM

I'm not big on doing what the industry professionals might suggest; I like to make my desicions based on other hobbyist experience and go from there. With that said....

There are more success stories of low nitrate levels from people who use DSB's (4" + of fine grade sand) than there are failures. I have used fine deep sand beds in each of my tanks since ~1998 with great success and it is a methodolgy I plan to stick with. DSB's alone will not keep nutrient levels down so you must incorporate other means into your system such as skimmers and perhaps macro algae exporting however I beleive they do aid in the reduction.

As far as DSB's crashing over time, I have never had this happen (at least I don't think). As long as you do routine maintanence and keep the bed stirring a bit with various microfauna, you should be fine.

I also want to add that I don;t think there is much benefit to a DSB in the refugium, even if you don;t have one in the main system. The DSB will be most effective where the majority of the excess food and nutrients are present, the main display.

Scott Z.

organicreefer · 05-04-2003, 11:42 PM

i thought i would add that im still testing 0 nitrates -bought the kit a couple weeks ago becuse i hadnt tested nitrates in literally years -was always at 0(i assume)and im still at 0-even without a true dsb.

i expect to stay at 0 even bare bottom-and though i do keep a low stocking level-i do feed the fish i have quite a bit.

**Poseidon** · 05-05-2003, 05:20 PM

well right now the DSB is my only method of filtration, I set up a sump, but it is still bare, just 40lbs of gravel at the bottom of a 55 gallon tank, and a plant grow light at the top...

View Poll Results: DSB or no? What do you have, where?
4in DSB main tank	11	50.00%
4in DSB in fuge	2	9.09%
Both	4	18.18%
Neither	5	22.73%
Voters: 22. You may not vote on this poll

05-03-2003, 01:59 PM	#1
Caesar Augustus Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Birmingham,AL U.S.A. Posts: 980	The Age old question DSB or no I have always felt that a DSB in the main tank w/a 1 inch substrate in the fuge is the way to go, but I am aware that opinions vary. I've seen many a beautiful tank with little or no substrate at all. So give me the current scoop. Keep the reef, Augustus __________________ The reefer formerly known as Napoleon

05-03-2003, 06:03 PM	#3
Caesar Augustus Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Birmingham,AL U.S.A. Posts: 980	do you have any substrate, an inch or two, or do you go bare-bottom? Augustus __________________ The reefer formerly known as Napoleon

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05-03-2003, 05:34 PM	#2
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	personally -im going away from dsb's and anyone who thinks it through logically will figure out that -at best -dsbs work for an unknown period of time -after which they will have accumulated enough of "something" that it will cause prblems. regardless of how alive the bed is -you cant turn something into nothing and anything that is broken down by microfauna and bacteria is still partially incorporated into their bodies and will enter the food chain-including heavy metals... dsb's incorporate nutrients and who knows what into the system -i'd rather concentrate on exporting those nutrients. my.02

05-03-2003, 08:39 PM	#4
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	i ran dsb's for almost five years -ive had a bit of a change in philosohpy in the last 6 months or so...ive removed the 8" bed from my refugium and ive been slowing taking the sand out of the display-i have anywhere from 0-4" in the dsiplay right now-implanning on at least going to a couple inches at most with some bare areas(or just enough to cover)-and may eventually go bare bottom. another idea is to remove 1/4 of the sand per year syphoning all the way to the bottom in one corner-every four years the sand would be renewed.i really think this is probably the best way to do a dsb.

05-04-2003, 08:35 PM	#5
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,161	I'm not big on doing what the industry professionals might suggest; I like to make my desicions based on other hobbyist experience and go from there. With that said.... There are more success stories of low nitrate levels from people who use DSB's (4" + of fine grade sand) than there are failures. I have used fine deep sand beds in each of my tanks since ~1998 with great success and it is a methodolgy I plan to stick with. DSB's alone will not keep nutrient levels down so you must incorporate other means into your system such as skimmers and perhaps macro algae exporting however I beleive they do aid in the reduction. As far as DSB's crashing over time, I have never had this happen (at least I don't think). As long as you do routine maintanence and keep the bed stirring a bit with various microfauna, you should be fine. I also want to add that I don;t think there is much benefit to a DSB in the refugium, even if you don;t have one in the main system. The DSB will be most effective where the majority of the excess food and nutrients are present, the main display. Scott Z.

05-04-2003, 11:42 PM	#6
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	i thought i would add that im still testing 0 nitrates -bought the kit a couple weeks ago becuse i hadnt tested nitrates in literally years -was always at 0(i assume)and im still at 0-even without a true dsb. i expect to stay at 0 even bare bottom-and though i do keep a low stocking level-i do feed the fish i have quite a bit.

05-05-2003, 05:20 PM	#7
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,539	well right now the DSB is my only method of filtration, I set up a sump, but it is still bare, just 40lbs of gravel at the bottom of a 55 gallon tank, and a plant grow light at the top...

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