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  #1  
Old 07/16/2005, 08:36 PM
jrcastro jrcastro is offline
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Location: Vancouver, WA.
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DSB in a 29gallon reef tank? is it worth it? if so how deep should i go?

I have read mixed things when it comes to a DSB in a small tank. What do you guys think? do you think it will help me out? Whats the beneficial factor of a DSB?planning on a 4" DSB.
  #2  
Old 07/16/2005, 08:37 PM
JCoral JCoral is offline
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im not sure on the dsb but i plan on getting a 29g what is your lighting and skimmer and filter
  #3  
Old 07/16/2005, 08:42 PM
HoopsGuru HoopsGuru is offline
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What do you plan on keeping in regards to livestock (fish, corals, etc.)?
  #4  
Old 07/16/2005, 08:53 PM
killagoby killagoby is offline
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I did not do a deep sand bed because I rely on a Berlin style method, using my live rock, skimmer, and carbon as my filtration. Here's a shot of my 29 gal:

  #5  
Old 07/16/2005, 11:19 PM
jrcastro jrcastro is offline
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Just planning on keeping soft corals & a couple of small reef fishes like pair of clowns.

KillaGoby:
Can you explain the berlin style system for me?
Like your tank by the way.
  #6  
Old 07/16/2005, 11:22 PM
Hawkfishrmyhomies Hawkfishrmyhomies is offline
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killagoby..i dont mean to knock on your tank or nething..but it looks mad fake...photoshop even?
  #7  
Old 07/16/2005, 11:38 PM
SaltyNewb SaltyNewb is offline
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probably just the flash and the camera movement.
  #8  
Old 07/17/2005, 12:43 AM
thereefmaster thereefmaster is offline
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that looks so fake. not saying it is though, just looks it. look at those mushrooms...
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  #9  
Old 07/17/2005, 12:57 AM
badpacket badpacket is offline
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JRCastro.

I have a 29g, and have had good success with a 4-5" DSB. You do lose quite a bit of space/water volume though, however its great for the additional nitrate reduction. Haven't tried just using LR to compare it against though. I normally have a couple anenomes BTA, a couple of Ocellaris, 3-4 shrimp, lots of softies, snails, scarlets, etc.
The only time I started having a problem with Na was when I had a small/med Yellow tang, Coral Beauty, and a goby. Couldn't keep Na below 20-30 without weekly water changes.
Had a minor accident, which wiped out the fish and shrimp... However back to 3 anenomes, Ocellaris and 1 shrimp at the moment and Na are still at 0.

Consider the DSB a great sponge, and disposable. In 4-5 years if you have to, you can always replace it. Next tank though, I'm trying a 1" SB with more L/R to see if it will work as well as the DSB.
  #10  
Old 07/17/2005, 12:58 AM
sherm71tank sherm71tank is offline
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I can't recommend a sand bed to anyone. Since I got rid of mine it has been algae free! It is of course dependent on what you want to keep.
  #11  
Old 07/17/2005, 01:22 AM
Hawkfishrmyhomies Hawkfishrmyhomies is offline
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yeah man...the mushrooms...
  #12  
Old 07/17/2005, 08:15 AM
killagoby killagoby is offline
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It's not fake, it's the flash. Here's some close ups:







  #13  
Old 07/17/2005, 09:13 AM
HoopsGuru HoopsGuru is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by jrcastro
Just planning on keeping soft corals & a couple of small reef fishes like pair of clowns.

KillaGoby:
Can you explain the berlin style system for me?
Like your tank by the way.
If that is the case, I would not use the DSB only because it will take up so much space. In tanks under 30g, without SPS corals or others that require zero nitrates, I would use the extra space for more aquascaping. On tanks this small, it is so easy to do water changes of 10-15 gallons which will keep nitrates well within the range of what soft corals will thrive in (provided you don't wildly overfeed). The addition of a small skimmer would make life even easier.

The Berlin Method is the use of liverock/livesand as the biofilter and strong protein skimmer.
  #14  
Old 07/17/2005, 09:19 AM
kilo kilo is offline
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I have had a 29 for over a year with a 4-5" DSB it has worked out great but I also keep acros and 400 watts MH. I am upgradeing to a 65 when I move in the next couple of weeks. Good Luck
  #15  
Old 07/17/2005, 12:42 PM
romunov romunov is offline
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Go through this one and see if you want to go through all the trouble to finding the right grain size and animals for a DSB.

I would use another method...
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  #16  
Old 07/17/2005, 09:46 PM
killagoby killagoby is offline
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The Berlin Method that I use is this formula:

1. 1.5 pounds of live rock per gallon. In my case about 45 lbs of rock.
2. Strong protein skimming. In my case, CPR's Dual BacPak which runs 2 skimmers and is rated for a 100 gallon tank (with the bio-media removed. I can explain why if you'd like me to).
3. The use of carbon in the filter. In my case, Boyd's Chemi-Pure, which I change every 2 weeks.

I also do a 4 gallon water change every week.

The sand I chose to use in my 29 gallon is very coarse. I was afraid that the strong currents of the 2 powerheads that I run would stir up fine sand, which I believe you need as the top layer of a DSB. I have fine sand in my 75 gallon FOWLR tank and it is sometimes a pain in the @ss...
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