diy remote deep sand bed w no sump

[garygb]

I have read quite abit on RC regarding remote deep sand beds. I have a 50 gallon with a pair of ocellaris and a damsel and Heteractis magnificas. The tank has a deep sand bed of aragonite sand ranging from about 5 to 7 inches deep. The tank has been set up 4 years or so with the same inhabitants. The only cleaning crew I have is one little reef hermit crab and two large turbo grazers. Despite the elevated nitrates, the inhabitants look fine, eat well, ocellaris pair spawns every few weeks, etc. I normally do around a 20% water change every 2 or 3 weeks. I never vacuum the DSB because I was under the impression that it's not wise to disturb it. (Should I be vacuuming a little on the top?) For filtration, I have a Remora Aqua C protein skimmer. I just added some activated carbon a few days ago. In the past, my nitrates were always undectectable. I stopped testing for the most part. However, the other day it occurred to me to test the nitrates and ph. The ph was fine, 8.4 or so, but the nitrates were very high--as in 60 or more ppm. In the last week or so since discoveriing the elevated nitrates I have done 3 significant water changes (20-30% each time with Instant Ocean Reef Crystals). The nitrates are testing lower, but still around 15 or so.

After researching online, I was thinking of perhaps trying a remote deep sand bed. I do not have a sump, so I'm not sure how I would do this. I'm not at all handy, btw. Has anyone tried a RDSB without using a sump and, if so, how did you do it (make this a RDSB For Dummies)?

Thanks,
Gary