How deep is a nano DSB?

sl-atl · #1 12/27/2007, 05:04 PM

I really like the reasons behind using "natural methods" of water treatment such as live rock and deep sand beds. There seems to be some variation in the literature (books and on-line) as to what the minimum effective depth of a DSB is. I have read that the bed in a smaller aquarium can be less deep, but am getting confused...

Is there an accepted minimum depth in a "nano" system, and if so what type of substrate is that based on (i.e. the particle size(s) etc.)? Since the tank volume is smaller, I'm assuming that getting the depth just right is more critical than in larger systems.

We JUST bought a new 28 gallon Nanocub HQI, and hope to set it up next week. Thanks!

phenom5 · #2 12/27/2007, 07:27 PM

Not sure on the dimensions of that tank, but it may not be big enough to have an effective DSB.

What's the footprint size?

KCZoanthid · #3 12/27/2007, 07:59 PM

5--6" DSB in my 30g Nano. 5" DSB in the refugium for that tank.

6--7" DSB in the 240g tank.

Agu · #4 12/27/2007, 09:37 PM

Ran a 10 for 5 years with about 3" in the front and 5" in the back. Just replaced the tank and went with a shallow sandbed. My other ten has a shallow sandbed. Had both and I'm not sure the space taken up by a DSB is an effective use of space in a nano.

zma21 · #5 12/27/2007, 09:50 PM

It just takes up usable space. Not worth it in my opinion.

JB23 · #6 12/28/2007, 12:05 AM

No sustrate al all in my RSM. Now at 7 weeks all is Well!
Jerry

Saltwaterstart · #7 12/28/2007, 12:08 AM

I use about a 3" sandbed in my 29 biocube.

No nitrates visible when testing. There is some cyano that might get caught in it after some time, but that is not much of a problem.

NewWorldWater · #8 12/28/2007, 01:41 AM

About 3" in my 12g nanocube. Nassarius snails included.

revautosports · #9 12/28/2007, 02:35 AM

How do you guys with nano's like the look of the DSB??? Does it take some getting use to at first???

reefergeorge · #10 12/28/2007, 03:30 PM

Takes up too much space in a nano. Use it for water instead.

NanoReefWanabe · #11 12/28/2007, 09:19 PM

i posted this question in the filtration section but no hits...

would a standard 5 gallon tank filled work to effectively help denitrify a 20?

a 5 g AGA is all the room i have and that i can fit in the stand...i figure that would be about 7-8" of sand...but only a surface area of 8"X12" or so...worth doing or no?....

Sorry about the HIJACK...

racksteris · #12 12/28/2007, 10:45 PM

DSB are a thing of the PASS. There used in Plenums which no uses anymore.

killagoby · #13 12/28/2007, 11:09 PM

Here's some light reading on the subject.

sgschwartz · #14 12/29/2007, 01:49 AM

DSB's are not a thing of the past!!! I have done a lot of reading on the subject and I plan on doing a 5" DSB in my JBJ 28g HQI system. I also plan to stock it with multiple dentrivore kits to get a good selection of flora and fauna in the system.

If you are interested check out writings by Dr Ron Shimek and his forum on marinedepot.com

KCZoanthid · #15 12/29/2007, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by racksteris
DSB are a thing of the PASS. There used in Plenums which no uses anymore.

You mean "PAST" ? Nobody uses plenums anymore?

Where have you been? DSB are all over the place. Thousands of reefers are using them right now--today!! They work great.

You ever heard of controlled plenum wasting? People are using those methods today. It's DSB that water flows through and exits the bottom--albeit very, very, very slowly. Works great. Removes nitrates and wastes toxic "liquor" out the bottom.

I can underdstand the argument that a DSB in a nano wastes space. I have a DSB in a 30g high. Granted the tank is 24" tall. So, 5" or 6" of sand on the bottom doesn't bother me at all. I still have a solid 18" of water depth.

stevelkaneval · #16 12/29/2007, 06:27 AM

i have a 20 long with a 3.5 ish inch sandbed and it even has layers present. i think it helps. it shure looks cool with all the worms and life in it.

phenom5 · #17 12/29/2007, 12:45 PM

I posed this question to Dr. Ron, back when he had a forum here on RC. He said that a DSB in a nano would be effective...at looking like a bed of sand. The small footprint of nanos combined with something called the edge effect (the fact that the micro fauna that make DSB effective at controlling nitrates, avoid hard surfaces) would make a DSB in a nano ineffective. Not harmful, but ineffective, because the micro fauna populations wouldn't be able to increase to the point that they would be effective in di-nitrafication (if that's a word

).

NanoReefWanabe · #18 12/29/2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by phenom5
I posed this question to Dr. Ron, back when he had a forum here on RC. He said that a DSB in a nano would be effective...at looking like a bed of sand. The small footprint of nanos combined with something called the edge effect (the fact that the micro fauna that make DSB effective at controlling nitrates, avoid hard surfaces) would make a DSB in a nano ineffective. Not harmful, but ineffective, because the micro fauna populations wouldn't be able to increase to the point that they would be effective in di-nitrafication (if that's a word ).

makes sense...but i have heard of people using 5gal salt pails full of sand as effective remote DSBs

reefergeorge · #19 12/29/2007, 02:03 PM

I vote to skip the dsb unless it is remote, and set up a fuge. If denitrafication is what you are going for.