Doran
Community Member
Ok, everyone knows all the downsides etc. of a DSB, additionally I’m certain to get flamed in supporting the dsb....oh well. Normal. It happens.
The topic/question here is NOT should you use a DSB that’s a debate I have no interest in discussing.
Some background:
I’m a fairly long time Reefer....before skimmers...which doesn’t matter, but gives some context.
I have played with Refugiums- too much work. I also don’t like light in my sump for many reasons. I also played with chaeto reactors....again too much work as without the cleaning it’ll all die off.
I have been running DSBs in my sump where there typically would be a refugium. That noted my two current sumps I laid out by design intending the DSB and they have good volume in the DSB area with smooth flow over the baffles across the dsb.
In summary for this background by setting up the DSB in my sump in an isolated area with low flow across the top I have a healthy and stable anerobic area. There is no need or risk of disturbance. I have zero need for lights and the associated costs or maintenance from various life forms. ... and when well setup it is in my opinion both effective and simple.
Now onto my reason for the post:
I broke down a couple tanks and am setting up another long term tank. I will use the dsb and am setup for this by design in my sump.
What I am trying to verify if the use of a couple of marine pure or bright well bio blocks. Again - here is the context:
The surface area of these products is not in dispute - it’s huge. Their effectiveness may not be clear or with a consensus but I’m not proposing using as is typical. I bring this up again in background as I am not offering an opinion on the bio blocks effectiveness.
What I am proposing is placing a shallow base layer of fine sand, then placing the bio blocks with a couple inches on all sides clear and burying them completely under roughly another 6” of sand above the blocks creating a true anerobic zone within the bio blocks. I cannot see any reason this would not effectively create a huge area of a aberobic zone.
I actually did this when setting up a tank a couple of years ago. After setting up I was a bit uncertain and called marine pure for feedback- they went into panic cya mode and stated they had never considered this and it was not the intended use and they would not recommend this. The reason was simple in my retrospective opinion. CYA, they had never considered, tried nor do they want to promote dsb. But following that call I pulled and tossed the blocks.
I have thought of this setup ever since and I believe I was likely on the right track....hence my post here. What do you think BRS? Is this as I am proposing a very effective denitrification tool, or am I going down the wrong path for reason I am not seeing?
The topic/question here is NOT should you use a DSB that’s a debate I have no interest in discussing.
Some background:
I’m a fairly long time Reefer....before skimmers...which doesn’t matter, but gives some context.
I have played with Refugiums- too much work. I also don’t like light in my sump for many reasons. I also played with chaeto reactors....again too much work as without the cleaning it’ll all die off.
I have been running DSBs in my sump where there typically would be a refugium. That noted my two current sumps I laid out by design intending the DSB and they have good volume in the DSB area with smooth flow over the baffles across the dsb.
In summary for this background by setting up the DSB in my sump in an isolated area with low flow across the top I have a healthy and stable anerobic area. There is no need or risk of disturbance. I have zero need for lights and the associated costs or maintenance from various life forms. ... and when well setup it is in my opinion both effective and simple.
Now onto my reason for the post:
I broke down a couple tanks and am setting up another long term tank. I will use the dsb and am setup for this by design in my sump.
What I am trying to verify if the use of a couple of marine pure or bright well bio blocks. Again - here is the context:
The surface area of these products is not in dispute - it’s huge. Their effectiveness may not be clear or with a consensus but I’m not proposing using as is typical. I bring this up again in background as I am not offering an opinion on the bio blocks effectiveness.
What I am proposing is placing a shallow base layer of fine sand, then placing the bio blocks with a couple inches on all sides clear and burying them completely under roughly another 6” of sand above the blocks creating a true anerobic zone within the bio blocks. I cannot see any reason this would not effectively create a huge area of a aberobic zone.
I actually did this when setting up a tank a couple of years ago. After setting up I was a bit uncertain and called marine pure for feedback- they went into panic cya mode and stated they had never considered this and it was not the intended use and they would not recommend this. The reason was simple in my retrospective opinion. CYA, they had never considered, tried nor do they want to promote dsb. But following that call I pulled and tossed the blocks.
I have thought of this setup ever since and I believe I was likely on the right track....hence my post here. What do you think BRS? Is this as I am proposing a very effective denitrification tool, or am I going down the wrong path for reason I am not seeing?
