Sand Sifters and DSB

[dseiler]

I want to put in a DSB, but I have a couple of questions. I asked before, but never got a very good answer, if one at all.
1) When I put it in do I need to remove the live rock that is in there, or can I put it around it? Why?
2) I have a couple of sand sifting starfish, not brittle stars but I can't remember what they are called. They burrough down into my CC and come back up someplace else. Would they be ok in a DSB?
3) What critters should I have to help the system?
Thanks for your help in advance.

[ April 25, 2001: Message edited by: Dseiler ]

 

[bobber]

Are you replacing the CC with the DSB? How much LR do you have? Can you put it all on one side then do the other side? You can put the sand around the LR, it will give it more stability. As for the sand sifting star-NO. They will eat the critters that live in the sand. It will destroy what you are trying to achieve. The critter that you want are called detrivore kits. There are two places online where you can get these kits. I suggest two because diversity in a DSB is key. I can't name the online stores but I can email the names to you. Remember to reseed the DSB every 12-18 months with the detrivore kits. If you have any gobies in your tank, these will not work either for the same reason as the star. Good luck and HTH--Bob

 

[dseiler]

Thanks for the help, I have the sand sifters and gobies, so I guess a DSB is out of the question. What other recomendation would you have for bringing the nitrates down. I have a 55 gal with a ton of LR, the CC, a millenium 3000 filter, UV filter and protien skimmer. I have thought about putting a sump under the tank with live sand and plants, but I just don't know.
My nitrates are at about 40 and it doesn't matter what I do they are always there. My corals seem fine and are growing, but this BB talks about nitrates at <10 and I can't begin to get there. Do the nitrates leach out of all the live rock and that is why they don't go down even after a water change?
Thanks again for your help

 

[efrank]

Go ahead and put 2 or 3 inches of LS over your CC. (after you vaccum the CC)
The live sand has bacteria that is good for your tank. One way to keep the sand clean is to put the devotise kits in. Another way is to keep sand sifters in your tank to keep the sand from building up stuff on top of it.
I did this about 1 month ago and it is working great. There are a few sharks on this board that have the same set up. (i.e. LS with sand sifters)

 

[dseiler]

Originally posted by sammystingray:
[QB]At this point I really like your idea of a sump with macro algae to feed off of the nitrates, but you will need a light. QB]
What type of lighting would you recomend. It seems kind of crazy to put a lot of money into lights that just will be growing plants. If it is necessary so be it, but if not I would like to save something for my kids education.
Who am I kidding this hobby has already spent that. At least they like looking at the tanks too.

 

[bobber]

There is a plenum system that you can run with LS and still be able to keep the star and goby. Do a search on the board for DSB or Plenum and you will find a ton of material on the matter. That way you can make up your own mind of what your tank needs. HTH--Bob

 

[johnnysalt]

Dseiler,
You ARE taking all your cc out right? IMHO, don't put the ls over the cc. why leave the nitrate factory (cc) IN the tank? take it all out and put in as much live sand as you can afford at a time....with live sand you can still continue to add it eventhough you animals in the tank....after you take out the cc, just pour the ls slowly into a bowl at the bottom of the tank to reduce cloudiness.
I agree with Bobber....NO sand sifting stars!...nor any star with knobs; chocolate chip, etc. go with a blue linkia...totally reef safe! Have fun!

 

[bayouguy]

From what I gather, there are a large number of enthusiasts who feel the DSB on top of a plenum will work fine, with or without CC.
I am running a setup right now which involves a 55g UGF, capped with 2-3" of CC and aragonite, covered by a screen with 55# of live sand on top. My tank is new but seems to be doing well and the setup came recommended from a LFS who has some pretty serious reef setups using an identical configuration. Take a look at their DSB/plenum tank: (I wish this was mine)

 

[shoddy mac]

I never did see an answer to the lighting question that was adked or maybe I am just missing something... but if some one could answer the question it would be helpful...