Dsb Question

reeferman1

reeferman1

Member
I'm in the process of setting up my 90 ga reef. I have 4"-6" DSB. I have heard it is not a good idea to have sand sifting stars or fighting conches because this will distrupt natural filtration and bacteria growth. Any experts out there that can shed some light on this subject. Thanx. :notsure:
 
bigarn

bigarn

Active Member
I don't know about the fighting conches but sandsifting stars will deplete the sandbed of beneficial critters pretty quickly. Once this is done, they often end up starving to death down the road.
 
shnabbles

shnabbles

Member
Get a TON of nassarius snails.. They stay in your sand bed, dont eat anything good for the tank... and are fun to watch surface and dive back into the sand... they should be called submarine snails the way they dive and pop out of the sand bed.
you can find 100 snail lots on the worlds largest auction site for like $20 they are small.. maybe half the size of a dime..
i found a LFS that had some jumbo ones and i picked up about 12... they were almost triple the size of smaller ones...
when ever you want your sand bed stirred up all you do is drop in some mysis shrimp and watch these guys surface and run around on the sand bed
 
reeferman1

reeferman1

Member
Yes, I have some in my existing tank that I'll transfer after the new tank has cycled and has been running for awhile. Thanks for the great advise!
 
sw65galma

sw65galma

Active Member
Originally Posted by bigarn
I don't know about the fighting conches but sandsifting stars will deplete the sandbed of beneficial critters pretty quickly. Once this is done, they often end up starving to death down the road.

I don't think 1 sand sifter will go thorugh a 6" DSB ....in a 90 gallon tank.
I'd personally recommend 1 and 1 only...Also the conches really clean the sand...They would be a definate recommendation on my list....
i have a 6" dsb in my 300 and I love my conches...If it wasn't for them, my sand bed would be a mess..
 
sw65galma

sw65galma

Active Member
Originally Posted by bigarn
I don't know about the fighting conches but sandsifting stars will deplete the sandbed of beneficial critters pretty quickly. Once this is done, they often end up starving to death down the road.

Big arn this is true...but not in a size tank and dsb like he is providing...
 
sw65galma

sw65galma

Active Member
Originally Posted by Reeferman1
Sw65-Thanks for the advice. :happy:

NP, if you have something always stiring up the sand bed, that's good...
But if it's only doing it once and a while, it's not as good. could be harmful.
So if you do decide to get things that stir, get enough for the whole bed.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by sw65galma
I don't think 1 sand sifter will go thorugh a 6" DSB ....in a 90 gallon tank.
..
A single sand-sifting star will deplete a DSB in a 4' 90 gallon tank in about 2 months. That's 2 months before the DSB is non-functioning. I don't know if it would starve or not.
Fighting conch are good.
100 Nassarius is far too many. Try 10.
Be sure to get at lease some high quality live sand. DSB's don't work with just bacteria.
You do not want a lot of animals stirring up the sand.
 
jer4916

jer4916

Active Member
i have 2 sand sifting stars in my 125 gallon reef,...they seem to be doing fine...and they keep the sand nice and white.
i wouldn't have a tank without them... imo
~chris
 
sw65galma

sw65galma

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
A single sand-sifting star will deplete a DSB in a 4' 90 gallon tank in about 2 months. That's 2 months before the DSB is non-functioning. I don't know if it would starve or not.
You do not want a lot of animals stirring up the sand.
Before i knew anything, I had a sand sifter in my Hex 46 for over 6months...he's still alive and in my 300 now...
the 46 was my least problemmatic tank...never had to touch it...
I don't believe it will go through an established DSB in a 90 in 2 months...
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by Reeferman1
Bang Guy-I have 140 lbs. of LS.
OK. I'm just checking that you have live sand and not just sand with bacteria.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by sw65galma
I don't believe it will go through an established DSB in a 90 in 2 months...
We just have different opinions. Nothing wrong with that.
 
dogstar

dogstar

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
We just have different opinions. Nothing wrong with that.
I agree, so i will just say that I have had the same 2 SSS in my 4 to 5 in. SB for 2.5 years with two SS tiger gobies and the biolife in the sand is healthy as well as the whole system from from what I see. my gobies as well as myself often stir the sand and cause the bubbles to rise and I have never seen any harmfull effects from this like I know many ppl. say can happen.
Anyway thats whats happens in my little water world.
I feel that the organisums can reprduce much faster than the SSS will depleat them. I always see tiny worms and miro stars ect. hanging out the gobies mouths as they take scoops of sand to feed.
 
euphoria

euphoria

Active Member
I've had my SSS for about 6 months and it's still alive and doing well. I used to have lots of small creatures and pods crawling around before, but the unfortunate thing is that I added a UV sterilizer and a SSS at the same time, so I am not sure which of those depleted my tank of the pods.
 
sw65galma

sw65galma

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
We just have different opinions. Nothing wrong with that.
Which is rare, i usually agree with everything you say
 
sw65galma

sw65galma

Active Member
Originally Posted by Reeferman1
Bang Guy-I have 140 lbs. of LS.
I didn' think that would give you 4-6" of SB throughout the tank..
I had 150lbs in my 54 corner bow and it wasn't more than 4"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top