How to tell if DSB is working

netboy · #1 01/07/2008, 07:47 PM

I have a DSB in my fuge (about 6.5 inches deep) for the past 8 months or so and I thought there were supposed to be little bubbles developing in the sand. I have nothing. The sand looks like it did from day one pretty much. I am not debating on taking it out and just adding more live rock. Nothing is wrong with the tank, Nitrates are barely detectable using salifert, but i never had a nitrate problem in the first place. Any help would be appreciated.

Pmolan · #2 01/07/2008, 07:55 PM

I had a similar experience. I have 2-18gal rubbermaids filled with sand in my sump room. The other day I was moving around some mangroves and stuck on in there. I was surprised that there were no bubbles. The sand bed in the display, maybe 2" always releases bubble by the goby. My exports are chaeto, RDSB, and baby mangroves. I routinely never do water changes and barely have nitrates. I have to believe its doing something,

netboy · #3 01/07/2008, 07:58 PM

Just weird to see all kinds of bubbles in my shallow sand bed in my display and nothing in my dsb in my fuge. Can I be doing too many water changes? I do about 10% weekly.

Sk8r · #4 01/07/2008, 08:00 PM

YOu'll see them only now and again: remember it works 24/7, even when you're not there.
If you have 0 nitrate, 0 ammonia and you have fish and corals, it's working.