An interesting discussion...

[Mouse]

personally i think the reason many remote DSB's dont work is that the flow in the main tank is not high enough to keep detritus in the water. And many that do probably dont slow the flow enough to resettle the detritus into the remote fuge. I didn't think anyone fed their tank, ive allways fed the fish. The only food i would imagine going to waste would be the little bits of muscle for the hermits, but now that im of the opinion that their denziens of hell i wouldn't include them. Ive allways enjoyed feeding fish, and can never understand why people dump in food, its one of the only opertunities we have to interact with our "pets".

After reading many posts on DSB's ive concluded that id only ever have on remote, just incase i needed to change the substrate. And with even clown fish causing havoc to the beds by digging etc, i dont think the main tank is a safe place for them.

 

[grav]

I'm guessing the theory is that if the rood is on the floor of the tank, it must then breakdown into free floating nitrate, which could be consumed by alge before making it to the remote DSB... and if it did make it to the remote DSB, it would float right past it.

Reminds me of another recent idea of a UG in a sump.

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't call that a recent idea, grav, honestly. I had an UG way back when. Or, are plenums making a comeback?

 

[Anonymous]

I think a tank with the right kind of flow would not have to be significantly higher than what most have now. A remote DSB/fuge with a setteling basin would probably be the best. Untill I can get that fish room I will have to keep the DSB in my tank. Since I travel from time to time for long durations a DSB is easier from my wife to look over and does not require the syphoning of crud that a bare bottom would while I am gone foe 6+ weeks.

 

[ChrisRD]

I just recently moved a system that had been running for about 1-1/2 years with a DSB in both the main tank and in the fuge (against Dr. Shimek's advice). Interestingly, the remote DSB in the fuge had WAY more visible life in it than the one in the main tank had, despite the fact that feedings always took place in the main tank (where the fish are ).

Also, plenty of visible detritus has settled out into the refugium while there was very little in the main tank (I assume due to the high circulation in the main tank keeping things in suspension and the very low circulation in the refugium allowing things to settle-out).

I've set the tank up now at the new location with no sand at all in the main tank. I'm going to run it bare or with just a dusting of coarser sand (for aesthetic reasons) so I can experiment with some surge devices and higher flow without having to worry about blowing fine sand around the tank (a constant problem with the prior setup).

So far it's been running for several weeks and I see no difference. Actually, several of the corals look better, possibly from the lack of irritation of having fine sand blowing on them. The DSB in the refugium still has lots of life in it, and all seems to be well with the corals/fish. No nitrate problems or unexpected algae blooms so far.

At this point, I see nothing wrong with a remote DSB, and in fact, IME it has worked-out better than having one in the main tank.

FWIW, Dr. Shimek told me the remote bed would not work well and would starve without direct feedings. He told me it would be outcompeted by the large bed in the main tank. Apparently, that has not been the case in this situation. In fact, possibly because of the lack of fish and crustaceans in the refugium, that bed seems to have done considerably better.

JMO/JME...

 

[redawg]

i also have a DSB in my refugium that's absolutely loaded with life.. DSB in main tank too

 

[leftovers]

IMO ron is incorrect about the remote sand bed... mine is packed with critters and mysis and pods and worms etc...and a TON of starfish...granted its a 165 gl sump but even so if you feed the tank your sump/refuge will get more than enough food. ......unless your tank flow is so paltry that no food ever makes it to the overflow.....a very unlikely occurance....