Too much DSB??

[Bob F]

If a Tim Allen reefer with the more "power mentaliy" builds a reef system can it be over done. Is it possible to have too much DSB surface area for the bioload in the tank?

Lets say you have a 200 gal tank and a 100 gal sump with DSB in both and probably 300 lbs of LR. Total bioload is one small damsel. So with hundreds of pounds of potential filtation power but with little bioload many of the bacteria and small critters are going to starve and whats left will be spread sparsely across all that sand and rock like a desert.

Can it get spread so much that most or all of the bio diversity dies off. Are you actually causing problems by having too much capacity?

Bob

[rshimek]

Hi,

Well, in a situation like this the bioload of the sand bed would adjust itself to that in the rest of the tank. In essence, it would be "food-input" controlled. Such a bed would have a bacterial bed throughout it, and probably a sparse populaton of other organisms. They would probably maintain popuations but at a low level and without much or any growth.

I would consider it excessive, but not harmful. If the bioload or feeding regimen were increased gradually the animals in the bed may respond (or the bed may need to be reinoculated) to accomodate the higher load.