DSB in refuge or main tank question??

[milomlo]

Ok I am not sure if I should make a DSB or not. I was going to put a DSB w/ some rock rubble and cheato in my refuge. But was told not to do anymore than 1" of sand and no rock. I think because the tank is more tall than wide and I may not have enough surface area?

Anyway thought I would get ideas and opinions. Pictures of my sump/refug are below. My DT will be 100 gallons and this sump/refug is a 45 gallon tank.
The dimensions on my fuge side of the tank are 14L x 12W x 18.5T
***)
What about putting a DSB in the back of the DT and having it get shallower toward the front???

 

[lion_crazz]

If you are going to do a deep sand bed, I would recommend at least doing 4-5". Anything less will be useless and not beneficial at all.
You could do a deep sand bed in either tank.
Personally, I see no problem in putting live rock and sand in your refuge. I have a deep sand bed in my refuge, and I have 20 lbs. of rock in there as well. My refuge currently is a 20 gallon. When I make my 75 the refuge, I plan on it holding about 90 lbs. of live rock.

 

[milomlo]

So you don't think the lack of surface area will be a problem? I am not sure what was actually meant when the person told me I wouldn't have enough surface area, BUT.... that is why I am asking u guys.
I don't know exactly how many gallons my fuge side will hold. I know the entire sump/refug combo is 45 gallons. The dimensions of my fuge area itself are above.

 

[lion_crazz]

If it completely full, your fuge will hold about 15 gallons of water.
Gallon based on dimensions formula = [(LxWxH)/231]
I do not think you will have surface area issues. You may just need to make sure there is extra water movement at the surface because it is so tall.

 

[milomlo]

OK do you mean "surface of the water" or "surface of the sand" ? Sorry I am unsure as to what the person meant by surface area.
Thanks a bunch!!
Anyone else have an opinion to offer?

 

[lion_crazz]

Surface area is refers to the surface at the top. The more agitated the water is at the top, the more surface area you have. The more surface area you have, the more oxygen you have. Oxygen is absorbed by your water via the surface.

 

[milomlo]

OH well I could probably put a power head or somthing in there near the top. What u think of that?
OR I could cut that pipe shorter that goes into the fuge and have the water drop into the fuge closer to the top instead of lower in the fuge. Thoughts on that?

 

[lion_crazz]

Well, you do not want too much water flow in the fuge, so I would probably just go with the pipe idea, as opposed to the powerhead.

 

[acrylic51]

I agree somewhat with lion, but your fuge should have enough flow in it to make the chaeto tumble.....You get better, more vigorous growth that way.......As far as DSB that is a very debateable topic, and personally I'm not a fan, but to each his own, but the statement "anything less than 4-5" is useless......I could pull countles articles up about where the nitrification and denitrification proces takes place in the sandbed, but again to each his own.
I personally would put the DSB in the fuge, in case things go wrong you can isolate the fuge from the rest of the system....I see nothing wrong with putting LR in your fuge.....the rubble rock is great for your pods as well

 

[anthony17]

exactly what would a DSB do in a fuge??? does it help take nitrates out of the water???

 

[celacanthr]

I wouldn't put it in the refugium/sump.