Starting Remote Deep Sand Bed, DIY in bucket

[alvin]

It looks like my LFS is having a Deal on CaribSea Aragamax Select (.5mm - 1.5mm) or Fiji Pink Reef Sand (.5mm - 1.5mm). Can I use these sized sand for the RDSB? or does it have to be Sugar Sized Sand?
I am probably going to make a Sump with a Protein Skimme as well because it looks like it will be impossible to pump the water from the RDSB bucket back to the tank; planning on putting it under the display tank.
Your feedback will be much appreciated.

 

[apos]

Sugar sized sands are best, since they have the most surface area. I don't know what sizes those sands really equate to though, for all I know they could be as good as what I'm working with, which is just plain fine silica. But anything will work. Honestly though, unless you can find it superduper cheap, even if they have a sale you're still probably spending too much money on sand for this application. It's worth way more in your tank than in a bucket.
And you definately want to have a sump for this application. Not that it's impossible to do with a tank, but a sump gives you that added layer of protection (if something goes wrong, you wont be dumping sand right into your tank) and a more modular approach. A protein skimmer is way more important to have than a RDSB too.

 

[alvin]

I went to lowes today, it looks like they dont' have any "fine" sand. They do have the quikrete playsand, but it's like in a paper bag type bag. yours looks like it came in a plastic bag. It seems very rough, and cost about $5 for 50lbs. hmmm, Home Depot Had Sakrete, looks like the same exact stuff. Does anyone in the Sacramento area know where to get Fine Sand? I might just use the plain aragonite in my main tank then.

 

[apos]

Quickcrete is exactly what I used. Not sure why it came in a different bag, but my plastic bag was 50lbs. Most bags in stores are leaking, so you can probably see the quality of the sand via that. It should be super-duper fine (much more fine than any CaribSea aragonite product you're likely to find)
I still haven't spent much time measuring with a real test kit yet, but on test strips, my nitrate seems lower than usual now that I'm into the end of the first week. Still waiting for the one month mark to really start caring about seeing any results.

 

[alvin]

Yah, the Quickrete they have here seems to be pretty coarse. Not really sugar fine which is what I see from what you got. I wonder if I can ask them to "special" order me some fine quickrete sand.
Ok, well good luck again Apos on your nitrates. Keep us informed =)

 

[alvin]

Oh, by any chance can you like tell me the Model number or whatever number you might find on your version of the Quickrete. People at Lowes are sometime's "Errrr?"
Thanks!

 

[apos]

THe only thing I could find on the bag was "No. 1113"
It was quickcrete playsand, so I think "playsand" is the operative word. They also sell construction sand, but you don't want that. This sand was prewashed and prescreened.

 

[iyachtuxivm]

Bump,
Its been a month, any noticable differance in nitrates? Would like an update please!

 

[apos]

I'll check them again in a little bit: I need a more precise kit. I've made a lot of changes to my system (such would increase nitrates, some would decrease them) so it's going to be hard to tell exactly what did what. We'll see...

 

[apos]

Been testing at 10ppm-5ppm in nitrates and below with my Salifert kit: not a huge drop from my former average (20ppm) but certainly noticeable, particularly as I haven't been seeing any of the higher readings I used to occasionally get (30-40 or so)
However, in the interests of full disclosure, I should also note all the other changes to my system since I began this project:
1) removed filter sponges
2) removed bioballs from a wet dry
3) added a small head of pulsing xenia (which eats trates)
4) had a hair algae bloom
5) Got a better skimmer (urchin instead of a seaclone)
6) System is, of course, more mature in general (more detrivores, more coraline, etc.)
7) Increased feeding variety: flake cyclopeeze with frozen brine/mysis, zooplankton, and bottled (non-live) phyto
8) Fallen behind on water changes
Any one of 1-6 could have contributed to my drop in nitrates, and 7 and 8 could be concealing a significant drop in nitrates by adding more nutrients to my system to balance out any increased denitrification. This is why, of course, we have to rely on those who have the time and money to do real controlled experiments in order to judge causality.
Still, it was a fun and extremely cheap DIY: probably cheaper and easier than building and tuning a coil or media denitrator. And one could very easily use the same simple design to add a 5gal `fuge to their system (remove most of the sand, cut a hole in the bucket lid, shine a light in on some cheato).
My next project is to set up a copepod farm and phyto culture.

 

[apos]

Just a note: things are going fine, and trates no longer a worry (though again, can't prove it's the RDSB). But I have added a bubble tower of sorts where the bucket returns into the sump: I built it out of a 2inch wide piece of PVC tube with a cap on the top. I put a hole in the cap where the return spout goes in, and dremeled out teeth at the bottom of the pipe for the water to leave. This dramatically reduced bubbles from the bucket in my sump.
I've also been seeing some minor buildup of sand at the bottom of my sump: if I had to do things again, I might not fill the bucket quite as high with sand, or use such a fine sand up at the top of the bucket.

 

[knockout]

how often should one change the sand in the bucket? should one use new sand or rinse and back in the bucket it goes?

 

[lordraptor1]

the quickcrete play sand is model number 111351 and is listed on lowes website as 3.40 a bag. now i have a question, i have broken down my 55 gallon tanks and it had an aragonite sand bed in it. could i used that for a rdsb? i have a half of a 5 gallon bucket that was originally in my 105, and with what i have in my 55 i could fill the bucket. would this be good or should i just get the playsand?

 

[lordraptor1]

also lowes has grey 5 gallon plastic buckets for like 3.00, they are in the paint dept and they IMHO work better than white ones because light does not shine through them as easily.

 

[lordraptor1]

Originally Posted by Apos
http:///forum/post/2467133
Really depends on the height and distance the powerhead is going to have to move the water, but that's probably not going to do it.
i am curious as to why you said the pump probably wouldnt work? in your original post in this thread you stated
+Either a cheap penguin 145gph pump, or a hagen aquaclear 50 to power system
basically saying something between 145 GPH and 270 GPH. i would think one could even go so far as a maxi-jet 1200 (295GPH) at a cost of between 20 and 25.00 NEW from a shop

 

[salt210]

if anyone is thinking of this try it with as much surface area as possible. I just started one of these on tuesday for my 210. I used the quickrete playsand and a rubbermaid container from the home improvement store. I only went 7" deep tho. In the few days its been going I have seen a slight decrease in my nitrates.

 

[lordraptor1]

i am actually building one now LOL. hopefully it helps me out in my 90, i do nto have much bio load and do not overfeed but i cannot seem to get my nitrates below 40 for more than a couple of weeks. i have tried bare bottom and a sand bed and i am running baremottom because in the tank it is (although not as neat looking ) easier to maintain as i dont have to vac the sand, just the bottom LOL

 

[apos]

While a harder DIY, I'm actually more of a fan in theory of the algal turf idea at this point (because it handles more than just nitrates: also controlls algal growth in the rest of the tank). But, I no longer have my system around anymore (had to move) so will just have to wait and experiment when I can get one up again.

 

[topcat]

Thanks for your post on making a RDSB.
I would like to know if an algae scrubber can also perform and replace the purpose of a RDSB ?
The scrubber can reduce nitrate through the growth of algae and also cool the tank by evaporative cooling. And I think they will not affect the phosphates and calcium levels.
Algae Scrubbers : http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/topic/73162-mega-powerful-nitrate-and-phosphate-remover-diy/?hl=algae+scrubber

 

[novahobbies]

Why'd you ressurect a 7-month old thread just to advertise your scrubber?

Sheesh.
Is it just me, or do some of the scrubber people remind anyone else of the door-to-door religious fanatics that come knocking with their pamphlets?
"Good morning! Have you accepted Algae Scrubbers as your aquarium's personal lord and saviour?"
Disclaimer: This post is not meant to make fun of any particular religious organization. It is the purpose of this post purely to make fun of individuals who come trolling in long-forgotten threads for their own dubious advertisements. The author of this post apologizes to anyone who wrongly assume that this was meant as a commentary on religious organizations, even though said assumptionist individuals are clearly tossers.