DSB controversy...spanning the boards.

[Anonymous]

Well, I did add salt to some of that water. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

I'm over it...no more DSB's for me.

A variety of reasons…

I may still use them in a sump

The vertical space I lose. I HATE the look

Sand of this depth is not necessary for the bacterial mechanisms in question to take place

Expense

For say an SPS tank,I’d rather have more flow (something that becomes tough with a DSB) and keep the particulates/detritus suspended, then off to the sump.

Bottom line, it increases the nutrients in the water for me rather than decreasing them, and the tank functions perfectly without it…so why bother?

So would you say Gallon is correct or that there not needed. I think that they seem to be good for larger tanks because the ones I have seen that work good have height and width.


Teddy

 

[Anonymous]

People have had success with both methods. The method you choose should influence the rest of your equipment design - for example, if you lose the nutrient processing ability of a sandbed, you might want to increase water flow and skimming in the tank so that you get the nutrients out of the tank that way.

Decide what you want to keep, and then research both methods to decide which seems to make the most sense for what you are trying to house, and what kind of maintenance work and equipment you are willing to do/have.

jayo

 

[bleedingthought]

I have 3" of sand and I like the way it looks. Barebottom tanks seem easier to maintain but I don't like the way they look. But that's just me!

 

[Anonymous]

I'm over it...no more DSB's for me.

A variety of reasons…

I may still use them in a sump

The vertical space I lose. I HATE the look

Sand of this depth is not necessary for the bacterial mechanisms in question to take place

Expense

For say an SPS tank,I’d rather have more flow (something that becomes tough with a DSB) and keep the particulates/detritus suspended, then off to the sump.

Bottom line, it increases the nutrients in the water for me rather than decreasing them, and the tank functions perfectly without it…so why bother?

So would you say Gallon is correct or that there not needed. I think that they seem to be good for larger tanks because the ones I have seen that work good have height and width.


Teddy

They aren't 'needed' because nothing is needed. There are different ways to skin a reef.

I think just the opposite about DSB's for larger tanks. I think they are 'better' for smaller tanks because of cost and ease of replacement. I have seen plenty of larger tanks with DSB's that don't work - mine included.

But, for me the reality is I don't like DSB's because they lead to a false sense of security. They need to be kept up on, just like any mechanical filter, and if you don't keep up on them, you get problems.

 

[Anonymous]

They aren't 'needed' because nothing is needed. There are different ways to skin a reef.

I think just the opposite about DSB's for larger tanks. I think they are 'better' for smaller tanks because of cost and ease of replacement. I have seen plenty of larger tanks with DSB's that don't work - mine included.

But, for me the reality is I don't like DSB's because they lead to a false sense of security. They need to be kept up on, just like any mechanical filter, and if you don't keep up on them, you get problems.

I don't have one and don't have the room for one. I was just wandering what JimM thought because at the begining of this thread, I took it that he liked them alot.



Teddy

 

[Nautilus1]

What about black sand derived from crushe lava. Can anyone think of benefits or disadvatages from using vlack sand from lava. Would the r be pH problems using a sand that is not calcium carbonate based for the buffering capcity?

 

[Anonymous]

...There are different ways to skin a reef.

Now that's the best observation I've heard on the whole BB/DSB issue.

 

[Anonymous]

What about black sand derived from crushe lava. Can anyone think of benefits or disadvatages from using vlack sand from lava. Would the r be pH problems using a sand that is not calcium carbonate based for the buffering capcity?

You wouldn't get any buffering capacity.

 

[Anonymous]

Be careful that the black sand doesn't have any magnetic (meaning: iron!) chunks in it. If you can run a strong magnet through it without picking up any bits, you're in the clear.

jayo

 

[Anonymous]

To sand (DSB) or not to sand (BB), that is the question.


I have a DSB, 4". Vaccuming this weekend. Oh the anticipation is killing me. What fun it will be.

 

[Anonymous]

To sand (DSB) or not to sand (BB), that is the question.

To sand, or not to sand---that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
the stinks and detrius of a slimed up DSB

Or to bare our bottoms against a sea of protests
And by opposing end them.

 

[Anonymous]

To sand (DSB) or not to sand (BB), that is the question.

To sand, or not to sand---that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
the stinks and detrius of a slimed up DSB

Or to bare our bottoms against a sea of protests
And by opposing end them.

I love you Lawdawg! :lol: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

:lol: Much Ado about Nothing

 

[Anonymous]

:lol: :lol:
Very clever Tracy! tx, made my morning!

 

[Anonymous]

Lawdawg,

Do you bare bottom?

 

[Anonymous]

Lawdawg,

Do you bare bottom?

only if I've been partying with the Capt'n (Morgan).

Seriously ATM no, as I in the past I've had little interest in keeping the types of corals that those setups benefit the most. I don't DSB either for that matter because of the problems inherent in that. I'm more of a modified 3-4 inch sandbed type gal with good skimming as I like the LPS and benethic critters that do well with that type of rig.

Now I do want to setup a DSB-type tank with the idea of doing a Florida biotope with mangroves, jawfish, macroalgae and seahorses but that's a way-in-the-future project. For right now I am toying with (read as my buddies are trying to get me back into having a tank) the idea of setting up a 12 gal nano, and I may just go BB for that and see what happens

 

[Anonymous]

I'm considering selling my 110ga and getting a 24ga nano. I've been pondering for a couple months just very indecisive. I love my tangs, they just poop too damn much.