Reasoning for a "Proper" DSB

[islander84]

Ron Shimek's Website...Deep Sand Beds -------Found this informative writeup on DSB.

 

[mike007]

I agree totaly been using dsb for years.

 

[NeveSSL]

We actually had Dr. Shimek speak at our frag swap a couple years back.

Brandon

 

[meintn]

So he says at minimum 4" to be effective?

 

[NeveSSL]

Yep... and the proper sized sand seems more important than maybe anything else.

I'm planning on setting up a remote DSB, I'm just not sure what size it should be. Seems like it should be fairly large since my tank is a 180g. It would be awesome to have 3 40g breeders, but I'm not sure how practical that is... lol Hmmm... got some digging to do.

Brandon

 

[islander84]

after reading through the website, on my next build i will probably run a 50 gallon stock tank with about a 12" DSB...... on a 180 DT

 

[islander84]

Seems though that you should have the "mud" at the bottom or in the mix perhaps and then the medium to larger grain throughout....

 

[NeveSSL]

I'm thinking about setting up a 75g DSB at this point. Could be kind of fun to experiment with.

Brandon

 

[6272862829]

I might make one I just don't trust them cause I seen what settles on the bottle of my bare bottom tank and I just don't see how it will help. I think bacteria will settle on rocks just fine I really don't think a deep sand bed is really needed but if I do one I will make sure a filter sock or some type of filter is before going to a remote sand bed

 

[NeveSSL]

Read the article and it will explain how they help. :)

I agree on filter socks or some sort of physical filtration... it will always help. I don't think there's ever a reason not to run them.

Brandon

 

[6272862829]

Read the article and it will explain how they help. :)

I agree on filter socks or some sort of physical filtration... it will always help. I don't think there's ever a reason not to run them.

Brandon

Yea but what would be the benefit if it if my tank nutrients are already under control

 

[NeveSSL]

Natural food for the rest of your tank, for both corals and fish. :)

Brandon

 

[6272862829]

Natural food for the rest of your tank, for both corals and fish. :)

Brandon

Food for the fish meaning pods???
I rather feed my fish food with vitamins and such and there's plenty of pods on my rock I have 2 wrasses and a target mandarin with they are healthy and the target mandarin does not eat regular food

Food for corals meaning bacteria ??
They eat plenty of fish poop and the bio pellets provide bacteria for them I'm not trying to argue here I just want to know what would be the benefits

 

[NeveSSL]

Not bacteria, but a bunch of byproducts from the bacteria. Again, check out the article.

I'm not trying to talk you into it, I'm simply answering the questions you have. I'm of the mindset you can't have too much diversity in your reef tank, so the more I can do to add to what I already do that will have zero to little down-side, the better.

If you're happy where you are, then don't add one. Easy enough, right?

Brandon