Crushed Coral to DSB

[Anonymous]

I'd like to hear people's thoughts on this. Is it worth it for me to remove the crushed coral substrate and switch to a DSB? And if so, how do you recommend going about it.

Here's my deal:
29-gal tank, probably only 4 months old. 150 watts total, PCs and actinics. 2 fish, 2 colts, xenias, bubble, porites (hitchhiked on LR, but spreading), yellow polyps, mushrooms, hermits, snails, and a peppermint shrimp. Everything is doing well and showing growth. Including the brown algae, which is becoming a problem. Over the past couple months, the pods and "bugs" have flourished.

I only use RO/DI water. Prizm skimmer, no sump. I drip kalkwasser for top-off, and use kent buffer. Ammonia, nitrites 0, nitrates low but detectable (10-15ppm). I have not tested for phosphates, but I assumed using RO/DI would make that unnecessary. I feed my fish once per day, and feed my bubble and polyps 2-3 times per week with only as much Formula-1 as they can swallow. I don't believe I'm feeding heavily.

I'm interested in what benefits a DSB will offer. Will there be a positive impact on my algae problem? Should I get some macroalgae growing in my tank for nutrient export?

To everyone who responds, thanks for your comments!

 

[Rich-n-poor]

IMO the algea is there because the nitrates are there and will always be there with a crushed coral base. The sand bed will eliminate them.

I answered the crushed coral/sandbed conversion question twice already in previous post but it is important to note that I had no corals when I made the conversion.

perhaps you can place these corals in a friends tank until your conversion is complete ? A search should produce the method I used.

HTH

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[mweber]

Is there any reason not to leave the CC and put a screen and oolite or 1mm on top 1 or 2" thick. I have done this with good success. I would add 1/2" per week for 4 weeks and you shouldn't get any spikes.

 

[chris_h]

What would be the purpose of a screen. I would just pour the sand on top if I was not going to remove it.

 

[mweber]

I like the plastic screen because it stopps your ssnd stirring critters and obnoxious fish from mixing it all up. You want to keep the small stuff on the top to keep the detrius near the top where it can be re meatbolized instead of sinking down. Eventually some of the small stuff will filter down but that's ok. Just put another 1/2" of oolite on top. It works for me.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions! I think I am going to try it. Especially before my tank gets too stocked.