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DSB problems?
- Thread starter JohnK
- Start date
Describe your DSB? How deep? Anything less than 6” isn’t exactly DSB.
I’m also not a fan of DSB. Never had one in the display. Tried it in a fuge tank with 8” deep sugarsize sand but that was a one off try.
2-3” sand bed is what I’ve been doing in the display. Easy enough to spot replace if it’s an issue. But with conches and nassarius snails, I never had any issue.
I’m also not a fan of DSB. Never had one in the display. Tried it in a fuge tank with 8” deep sugarsize sand but that was a one off try.
2-3” sand bed is what I’ve been doing in the display. Easy enough to spot replace if it’s an issue. But with conches and nassarius snails, I never had any issue.
I don't think you'll have much problem with 3"-5" especially if you have sand sifting CUC as that's about what I have been keeping mine around for years.
3-5” isn’t DSB. It’s enough for sand dwelling creatures like leopard wrasses.
What made you think it’s a mistake and a problem?
I haven’t seen anyone using real DSB in their display tank since I started the hobby. It’s usually a remote tank for experiments.
What made you think it’s a mistake and a problem?
I haven’t seen anyone using real DSB in their display tank since I started the hobby. It’s usually a remote tank for experiments.
I keep reading comments about DSB's being inevitable problems, being out dated, nothing but trouble exct.. Inevitable trouble, seems to be the consensus of new school reefing.
It's been 12-14 years, I'm still waiting for trouble.
(you guys know me by now, total wise arse
)
It's been 12-14 years, I'm still waiting for trouble.
(you guys know me by now, total wise arse
)
@JohnK it’s funny you mention this as I went looking for vetted scientific articles stating that DSB are bad, but was unable to find anything stating this. I wanted to see if DSB being bad was a mind story created from a few reefers bad experiences and what variables would make it bad other than trapped organics which you are not supposed to stir up but with all the clean up crew available now I would thing this would be turned over enough to alleviate this previous issue.I keep reading comments about DSB's being inevitable problems, being out dated, nothing but trouble exct.. Inevitable trouble, seems to be the consensus of new school reefing.
It's been 12-14 years, I'm still waiting for trouble.
(you guys know me by now, total wise arse
If a DSB is not distributed, it is perfectly ok.
The problem of DSB is that at the bottom of the bed, the bacteria living there produces hydrogen sulfide as one of the byproducts from biological processes.
When the sand bed is “vacuumed”, like many maintenance companies still do, hydrogen sulfide is released into the water which is very toxic even at low levels.
The problem of DSB is that at the bottom of the bed, the bacteria living there produces hydrogen sulfide as one of the byproducts from biological processes.
When the sand bed is “vacuumed”, like many maintenance companies still do, hydrogen sulfide is released into the water which is very toxic even at low levels.
The problem is, these guys don’t even know what a DSB is. They think 2-3” of sand they put in the tank that’s covered with cyano and diatom is DSB going bad when in fact, it’s improper reef keeping.
Cyano and diatom will pop up time to time and it’s mainly due to chemical imbalanced or simply over feeding and not enough nutrient export. And/or not enough clean up crew.
DSB is almost impossible with most of the tank. With 8” of sand for DSB, in a 24” height tank, you’ll end up with 14” total of water. Big waste IMO.
Cyano and diatom will pop up time to time and it’s mainly due to chemical imbalanced or simply over feeding and not enough nutrient export. And/or not enough clean up crew.
DSB is almost impossible with most of the tank. With 8” of sand for DSB, in a 24” height tank, you’ll end up with 14” total of water. Big waste IMO.
Yup, agree on all points. Thanks for the discussion.
? Wasn't there a study of some sort years ago that did look at DSB's for nitrate reduction and found that even relatively shallow sand beds did have at least some de-nitrification effect?
Then again, we're not trying to maintain super low nitrate levels anymore, so I start to question how we even define a DSB anymore? Deep for de-nitrification, deep for fish to bury themselves in, deep for volume to allow more processing, deep because it looks cool (or doesn't, depending on the preference of the person)?
One way or another, I'm still waiting on those inevitable problems that are supposed to be brewing in my "Medium Sand bed" ( haha).
For my next (retro) question I'll ask "how do we maintain near zero nitrate and phosphate levels in a reef tank?" {this is a joke statement, please don't take it literally}
? Wasn't there a study of some sort years ago that did look at DSB's for nitrate reduction and found that even relatively shallow sand beds did have at least some de-nitrification effect?
Then again, we're not trying to maintain super low nitrate levels anymore, so I start to question how we even define a DSB anymore? Deep for de-nitrification, deep for fish to bury themselves in, deep for volume to allow more processing, deep because it looks cool (or doesn't, depending on the preference of the person)?
One way or another, I'm still waiting on those inevitable problems that are supposed to be brewing in my "Medium Sand bed" ( haha).
For my next (retro) question I'll ask "how do we maintain near zero nitrate and phosphate levels in a reef tank?" {this is a joke statement, please don't take it literally}
Better be careful, from what I read your tank must be about to crash!
we k ow it is only hobby test kit 0 though
Hey guys not really a discussion if all the buddies here are having a laugh over the oposite side. Here are a few good reads on sand beds. Deep sand beds are not recommended by anyone any more. There out dated and cause failure and are not worth the risk imo.
www.bulkreefsupply.com
Side note @JohnK didn't know you were a staff member now? What position?
Are Deep Sand Beds, DSBs, dangerous to use in a marine aquarium? - Reef Central Online Community
Are Deep Sand Beds, DSBs, dangerous to use in a marine aquarium? Advanced Topics
www.reefcentral.com
Marine/Reef Aquarium Sand: Deep Sand Bed or Shallow? Coarse or Fine Grain Sand? Find Out!
Today we are going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about choosing sand for a saltwater aquarium. Read on to discover what kind of sand is best for your tank plus get the truth about how deep your sand bed should really be. We offer a wide variety of sands and each type has its
www.bulkreefsupply.com
Side note @JohnK didn't know you were a staff member now? What position?
That is why I keep on reading online to prevent that. From what I read, there is a mini ice age coming soon, I think the great barrier reef will be frozen in no time.
Actually this is very true.we k ow it is only hobby test kit 0 though
