If you removed your DSB, what did you find?

[polcat]

When I removed my DSB by siphoning it was abslolutely disgusting. The trash I can I siphoned into smelled up the whole house like rotten eggs. I couldn't believe the detritus that had built up. Interestingly the sand under the live rock was in pretty good shape. There were some areas though that seemed like concrete, it was fused together and came out in large pieces. I did loose a lot of sand dwelling critters and that was sad but overall I think it was the right move given what came out.

Curious as to other peoples experiences????

 

[Anonymous]

Same, here for the smell. What I did not get out with my regular water changes came out via shop vac the day I moved. No big clups for me.

 

[Anonymous]

That would most likely be some sort of sulfur (I'm not sure what exactly sulfer combo is in there, sulfer dioxide?) more so than any "uglies" that you physically saw.

 

[Anonymous]

Mine appears to be mostly plain old sand. I found one small smelly patch in the sump, that's it. Not any visible critters either, other than a very few worms.

 

[polcat]

That would most likely be some sort of sulfur (I'm not sure what exactly sulfer combo is in there, sulfer dioxide?) more so than any "uglies" that you physically saw.

Yes, I believe it's hydrogen sulfide. Pretty nasty smelling stuff. I have read that if a powerhead falls into the DSB (or it gets disturbed)and releases this stuff it can be pretty bad for the tank?

 

[Anonymous]

That would most likely be some sort of sulfur (I'm not sure what exactly sulfer combo is in there, sulfer dioxide?) more so than any "uglies" that you physically saw.

Yes, I believe it's hydrogen sulfide. Pretty nasty smelling stuff. I have read that if a powerhead falls into the DSB (or it gets disturbed)and releases this stuff it can be pretty bad for the tank?

That is what I have heard also.

 

[Anonymous]

I removed my DSB, and found a sheet of glass - go figure.

 

[Anonymous]

I removed my DSB, and found a sheet of glass - go figure.

You too, imagine that.

 

[polcat]

I removed my DSB, and found a sheet of glass - go figure.

You too, imagine that.

Now you guys are funny :lol:

Surpisingly I found the same thing. I had not heard of starboard yet so my first attempt at BB was just to leave the glass. When working on the tank I looked down and saw my reflection...that was enough to convince me to get starboard

 

[Anonymous]

When I removed my DSB, it stunk very badly.

There were also thin layers of muddy dirt in between layers of sand.

 

[polcat]

Hey Laura, did you notice any of the sand clumped together in large pieces or did it come out as just fine sand?

 

[Anonymous]

When I removed mine it was mostly black. Not much smell. and NO signs of life. My tank is bare bottomed now but I want to add some sand back in.
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[Len]

I'll tell you in about a month. 10 year old DSB ..... now that is going to be some serious funk!

 

[Anonymous]

Len,

Why are you pulling it? I seem to recall a new tank...is that it?

 

[polcat]

I'll tell you in about a month. 10 year old DSB ..... now that is going to be some serious funk!

Wow Len, that's cool you ran a dsb for 10 years and just goes to show there is no one way to run a reef tank. Let us know what you find.

 

[RobertoVespucci]

I'll bet CSI would like to see what he finds, too. Feeding chopped clams, . . . whatever.

 

[polcat]

I'll bet CSI would like to see what he finds, too. Feeding chopped clams, . . . whatever.

Hey when did Jimmy Hoffa die?? :lol:

 

[HClH2OFish]

LOL @ polcat

I was gonna post that one myself!!

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Laura, did you notice any of the sand clumped together in large pieces or did it come out as just fine sand?

Yeah, now that you mention it, I think there was some clumps.

When I finally removed mine, it was dead dead dead. It was at the end of a phase where I wasn't looking at my tank as much for various reasons, and I just checked one day and it was totally dead.

 

[Anonymous]

I removed my DSB, and found a sheet of glass - go figure.

Beat me to it. :lol: