jewelsoftheamazon":1zrasiqg said:
Podman ... do you advocate the Berlin System with deep sand bed? What do you think are the advantages of this vs plenium/refugium with macroalgae?
many Thanks ... Jeff
sure, i advocate that. i think the additional benefits of biodiversity that a DSB provides is probably worth the depleted gallonage and extra cost in aragonite.
honestly i can't imagine putting together a tank without one, a shallow bed just never matures like a deep one.
as far as the plenum idea is concerned i dislike it for a number of reasons one being the need for the construction of it. another being the required particle size looks chunky to me, and i believe the bed will lack those deeper burrowing critters that i can see on the very bottom of my tank. and another would be that i haven't heard anyone but few say they prefer a plenum.
i like the thought of piling some sand in there and waiting for the most efficient system to occur naturally. in the time you have been away from reefing, i am sure that a good many of the common practices that have changed are a move towards supporting the natural functions as opposed to the '80s sterilization techniques.
Podman ... sorry, forgot to ask another question. Assuming I set this up with DSB, would you advise to use a sump where I can skim from? What would you put in the sump (sand, rock, algae, nothing)?
Thanks again
i still don't know what kind of skimmer you have but i can say that i think you should use it.
in/ off the sump is the ideal spot. in there is where i would place my mechanical devices like heaters and micron bags for carbon use, calcium reactor (you might think about this if you are gonna keep a lot of stonies) and/ or kalk reactor, ph probes etc....
if you prefer a DSB down in your sump that is fine as long as you have at least 2.5"to 3" and preferably over 4". this could also could get crowded under your tank if you are using a stock stand on a 40g. i would put it in the main tank and keep a greater amount of water in the sump (4" of aragonite is a space consuming amount in a 40g, i would keep it at a bare minimum).
if you want a refugium i think it would be best kept above the main tank. that way 'pods can drift down to your main tank without being pulverized by the pump.
many have them under the tank and that is fine too, they can be directly incorporated into the sump as long as some forthought is put into it.
caulerpa is a pain in the a$$, i have it and have been trying to erradicate it for years. if you do caulerpa try to keep it in the refugium, it is difficult to trim in a tank full of delicate stonies. some species are easily controlled just steer completely clear of racemosa and prolifera. halimeda may be a better idea, i haven't gone that route myself.
