DSB

[Bvaughn]

Does anyone have advice about the maintenance for a DSB? I have a 55gal tank with about a 5 inch sand bed and plan on keeping soft corals in the future. I am wondering what critters I need to acquire to keep the sand bed in shape. Thanks!!!

 

[Len]

:welcome:

If your tank is full of high quality live rock, most DSBs will need little to no intervention. It wouldn't hurt, however, if you purchased 30-50 lbs of good live sand to seed your sandbed. Don't bother with the common sandsifters like gobies and starfish. These are almost always predatory and will hurt your sandbed more then it helps.

 

[sailmike]

What about Nassarius snails? They like to dig in the sand.

Mike

 

[romunov]

Had you researched DSB, you would know that a DSB needs no maintenance from your side other than providing the animals to do the job.

DSB 101

 

[ChrisRD]

Had you researched DSB, you would know that a DSB needs no maintenance from your side other than providing the animals to do the job.

DSB 101

Well, I'd call what Bvaughn is doing right now research...

This is the New Reefkeepers Forum after all. The intent of the forum is to ask these types of questions.

BTW Bvaughn, :welcome:

 

[Bvaughn]

thanks for the info from all. this is my first post, so thanks for making me feel welcome as well.

 

[Len]

What about Nassarius snails? They like to dig in the sand.

Mike

Nassarius are fine. Essentially, you want animals that stay active in the sandbed without predating on the other fauna in there. Nassarius does good work on detritus and algae in and above the sandbed, but be wary: these guys also have a tendancy to climb out of the water.

 

[Bvaughn]

Thanks. I definately need more of these snails for my tank anyway, so knowing they will help the bed I will get them. Do you think I can count on any of the popular flatworms or crustaceans to come from live rock, or would I need to purchase these?

 

[Len]

Flatworms are popular or desirable. What you want is bristleworms (they're annelids). You're going to get a fair share of these on the live rock for sure. There will be some crustacean as well, mainly tiny ones like copepods and amphipods.

 

[Anonymous]

Flatworms are popular or desirable.

Shouldn't that be unpopular and undesirable. :?

 

[Bvaughn]

Thanks Len .. I have acquired seeded rock rubble "grundge" from my local LFS that is kept for DSBs with copepods and others.

 

[tetra]

I don't think flat worm are desirable...but what do I know? ..j/k...I don't think they are....

 

[sailmike]

That's good to know about bristle worms, I've got a million of them popping up all over the place in my 10 day old tank. Will small hermit crabs eat them? Will serpent or brittle stars eat them also?

Mike

 

[ChrisRD]

Your brittle stars and hermit crabs will not eat them (although some fish will). Their numbers tend to be self-regulating based on how much food is available for them.

 

[rickh]

How do you keep the LR from falling over?? I have built a support or PVC under the rock to support it on the sand bed. Has anyone else tried this? R

 

[ChrisRD]

Yeah, some people like to build supports to hold their rockwork up. People also use zipties, marine epoxy, etc. to do rockscaping.

The best way to get more feedback on this would be to start a new topic/thread.

HTH

 

[sailmike]

I've noticed that the bristleworms and pods completely cleaned off the rock during cycling. Looks like I may not even need to get any crabs or snails. But then, crabs are cool to watch.

Mike