DSB - Good or Bad?

gio28

gio28

Active Member
i was going to do a DSB in my sump that is 4-6" deep to help lower nitrates...along with cheato. i read that there are pros and cons for those who have DSBs. the pro of course is that they lower nitrates, but the con is that they become toxic with gas when they build huge pockets of it up. i was thinking to solve the gas problem...i could have snails and other sand sifters put in there that would release small amounts of it at a time.
what is your opinion on having one? and for anyone who has one...do they really help lower your nitrates? thanks.
 
gio28

gio28

Active Member
mine is going to have a space of roughly 12X11 in my sump. that is a real good read spanko, i skimmed it but im gonna go back over and read it all cause that is probably the best info i've seen on DSBs. i will also add a few nassarius and other inverts that will sift the sand but wont eat all of the good critters found in the DSB...like and sand sifting star would.
 
king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3114635
What do you mean Blow up????
Meaning the eventual disaster of them releasing their stored toxins. I watched my friend lose close 13k in livestock when his 6" DSB finally barfed it all backup.(dont worry, he was about as pissd as you would be breaking a car window and having to spend 200 bucks, mad...but to his bank account not that detrimental)
Why are DSB now a thing of the past? Why do people now tend to stick to the 1.5-2" area instead? Ask them.
Just a fair assessment. I see DSB from time to time, true.
But they are losing popularity these days for a reason. People are having them backfire in their faces. I havent been around long enough to see the trends and shifts first hand. But I have been around long enough to read the history of alot of different stuff.
And my overall opinion is jsut that...an opinion.
 
king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
note:
running one inside the fuge is different, you have a controlled environment that you can do maintenance on if needed. i myself entertained the idea of a 6-8" DSB in my own sump.
Im leaning towards no, but it is something that I still might keep open forone day.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I have a 4"dsb in my 225g...but I also have lots of sand critters...I have never heard of this "blow up" issue.....HOPEFULLY I never will either....
 
king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
with a good sifting crew you should be fine. when the balance tips and they cant keep up, watch out!
my friends failed because his crew was not enough to keep up, and over time it belched up all the toxins. I think his reef was 5(maybe 6) years old at the time. it happened a while ago. back in 03'.
he runs his new system with less sand now.
 
big

big

Active Member
Nice read Henry.....

I started with one and switched to a shallow one....This was more for looks........ But I transfer that material along with more to my sump and fuge.. The bed there is very deep...Around 8 inches deep 18x36 with water movement threw it......
 
gio28

gio28

Active Member
does it matter how deep it is? im looking for the most efficient and effective depth to lower nitrates.
 
gio28

gio28

Active Member
cool...i'll try that out then.
and as a definite precaution...i will watch for the gas bubbles that could release toxins into the water by having a good sifter crew in there.
 
A

abeandlulu

Guest
All these abivations( cant even spell that) Please tell me what DSB stands for. Im still learning here
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
I hate to end this love fest BUT. When one looks to utilize a DSB in flitration it is used as the substraight in their DT not being added to a small area in their sump. If one is going to separate their sump for adding in denitrification IMO a higher form of algae is the much better choice
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top