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View Full Version : DSB. I HATE the dust!



SamsonNY
06-30-2003, 8:48 AM
Everything is done and looking great (I'll post some pics soon).

Tank cycled instantly (combination of established F/W w/d filter which "seems" to have transferred so S/W, Weiss bio-vital, and Cycle). Fish are in (6; still deciding on #7). Skimmer is on. All healthy, etc, etc... Haven't turned on the U.V. yet.

BUT: 400lbs of Carib Aragonite sand. It's all settled. Water is crystal clear. Yesterday, I move some of the sand in the back (my two triggers love rearranging that area) and I get a cloud storm, again. It clears up (75%) within a few hours but, still this is driving me nuts.


SO: Is a DSB really worth this annoyance?

I know this is a hugely debated topic. I searched this to death. The pros are obvious. (Denitrification, sanctuary for the detrivores, etc..)
The cons are debated. (Toxic metals accumulating over time; detrivores needing to be restocked to make certain sand is mixed-up to avoid dead spots and clumping).

BUT, I hate the dust storms. My fish don't really cause much. I don't plan on taking out the corals to clean them (call me nuts, but I like the algae look on the big pieces; maybe just two of the smaller ones will get bleached once a month). But, the idea of an eel is now pointless since he'll just move massive amounts of sand around and cause constant storms. :mad:

Sorry about the rant. Just venting a little. Thinking I should have just stayed with the Estes Marine sand which never causes any dust storms (I had it with my rays).

:)

OrionGirl
06-30-2003, 9:05 AM
Stick it out a few months. The sand will quit being so easily disturbed when the bacteria (not just nitrifiers) become established. Our sand doesn't cloud the tank at all, though it did for the first month or so.

Glad everything worked out--very interesting that the bacteria survived...How quickly did you convert to SW?

SamsonNY
06-30-2003, 9:30 AM
Thanks Oriongirl. I think you're right, but, it's just very frustrating right now to see a beautiful show tank get cloudy just by moving a few net-fulls of sand around.

It's been 11 days since the switchover.
Day 1: f/w fish removed. Tank drained and cleaned, w/d kept alive with water (w/decaying matter) being poured over bioballs.
Tank filled; salt added and mixed; temp already set, etc. Filtration running.
Day 2: Sand added (not live). All filtration running (except U.V. and skimmer). Coral added. Tank is a full-blown dust storm.
Day 3: Live sand (10lbs) added and biovital.
Day 4: Decaying "crap" bag removed. Tank is clear. First fish added.
Day 5 - 10: Fish added everyother day. All's good. Some algae is noticeable on the corals (under the actinic lighting in the center). Triggers have decided to rearrange the sand in the back behind the big corals. Yellow tang is making "tracks" in the sand. Everyone is eating AquaDine wafers and some shrimp. The stars and stripes puffer will only eat shrimp. The clown trigger is very peaceful, contrary to my research and the hippo tang seems to be very aggressive.
Day 10: 200 Gallon Vat installed in garage with direct plumbing to 400 gallon tank for easier monthly 50% water changes. Decided to test the system and all went well.
Day 11 (yesterday): Water is good. Moved some sand around and dust storm city.
Protein skimmer is picking-up just a little. Temp at 80 (house is hot; get's up to 84 until I point the ac vent at the tank).
Am0, Ni0, Nitra30ish (tapwater is 25!), Ph8.1, SG1.023.

This morning: Water is somewhat clear. All fish are fine. Parameters are fine. TANK IS NOT CRYSTAL CLEAR. :mad:

Dreams of an eel are reconfirmed dead. Fish #7 will be an emperor angel.

:)

OrionGirl
06-30-2003, 9:35 AM
Actually, as long ar you provide lots of rock work for an eel, you should be fine. Our used to hide under a rock that he'd burrowed under, but then we crated a wall of rock for him, and he rarely ever touches the tand other than going after food. Just a thought!

Hebdizzle
07-03-2003, 7:23 PM
what did you do with your other fish? get rid of them or get another tank?

SamsonNY
07-03-2003, 7:42 PM
Got rid of the f/w fish.