View Full Version : Conflicting advice for D.S.B
ClownieandBilly
01-31-2003, 8:21 AM
Hi folks,i am getting near the final stages of my preparation for my 120g reef tank.I intend going with a dsb and lr for my filtration with a good skimmer to compliment.Over here in the UK we have a forum "www.reefsuk.com",on here a lot of the experienced reefers have told me that a dsb is not always a great idea as they have experienced them going solid and crashing the whole system.I am a bit confused and unsure of who is giving me the most up to date advice on this subject,you guys from theUS or the guys over here in the UK.What are your thoughts on this?
Corax
01-31-2003, 11:02 AM
What they are refering to is the concept of the sand becoming so densely packed that no water can get in or out, thus creating an entirely anaerobic area... To avoid this, you simply need something to stire your sandbed for you.. The most popular critter of choice for this purpose is the Nassarius snail.. Put in about 1 per gallon and yer good to go =)
musicsmaker
01-31-2003, 10:43 PM
Another possibility is that they are reffering to the sand bed solidifying. This can happen if the pH crashes very low. IMO, if you sandbed solidifies there were other problems in the tank that crashed it. The solidification of the sandbed is just another result of whatever else was going on.
Trick to a sand bed is sandbed critters. They are what make a sandbed work. Many critters that are sold as "cleanup crews" devistate a sandbed. Starfish (any kind besides mini + micro), any sand sifting animal, several commonly available shrimp, and all hermits are animals to avoid in a DSB system. This does not mean that you can't have ANY of these creatures, just that you should be very limiting in their population. Instead of one blue legged hermit per gallon, try one per 75 gallons. hth
I disagree on the hermits... I have a buttload of them in my 55 and my dsb is thriving...
Satchmo
02-01-2003, 8:38 AM
I'm with Raven on this one. Hermits are fine. So are stars, for the most part. There are a few that are no-no's, but most brittles/serpents and common fromias and linkias aren't going to put a dent in a DSB.
musicsmaker
02-01-2003, 10:20 AM
Define a thriving DSB. By the way, what are those hermits eating???
Satchmo
02-01-2003, 10:37 AM
Hermits will eat just about anything they can get: algae, detritus, slow-moving microfauna. But they don't have the ability to dig through the sand to eat most DSB critters.
My definition of a thriving DSB: A bed with enough life to keep the sand stirred enough to prevent oxygen debt. IME, nassarius snails are great for the upper layer, keep it well-turned and nice and white. But you also need the more deep-burrowing critters, most of which seem to be various worms in beds of fine-grade sand.