DSB Heresy - Page 27

BigDaddy · #**651** 04/30/2007, 07:12 PM

I don't remember if it's just wrapped or if I glued it on the bottom.

daven · #**652** 04/30/2007, 07:15 PM

Well, I'm setting up my 180 now. I have decided to go ahead and do this. I figure there is little to no risk because if I don't like it I'll just quit using it.

BigDaddy, just curious, why didn't you glue the cpvc?

BigDaddy · #**653** 05/01/2007, 12:29 AM

It's a very tight fit, so I figured I wouldn't need to. So far so good.

DougSupreme · #**654** 05/01/2007, 12:38 PM

once you put the sand over the plenum, the piping is NOT going to pull apart on its own

daven · #**655** 05/01/2007, 02:33 PM

Did you go with sand over the plenum directly or a layer of cc then sand?

DougSupreme · #**656** 05/01/2007, 03:32 PM

I just wrapped the plenum with the landscape fabric like you would wrap a present and then put the sand directly on top of that.

BigDaddy · #**657** 05/01/2007, 04:16 PM

I put a layer of crushed coral over the plenum (about 2") and then put a double layer of drainage cloth between the crushed coral and the sandbed.

BigDaddy · #**658** 05/01/2007, 04:19 PM

The crushed coral is suspose to allow a more even flow into the plenum and prevent short circuts which would limit the plenum's effectiveness.

reefez · #**659** 05/01/2007, 06:09 PM

I would hate so see the first couple layers of gunk on top of the landscape fabric after a couple years. Sounds like a drian begging to clog.

BigDaddy · #**660** 05/01/2007, 07:49 PM

I can see around the edge of my tank and see the drainage cloth and the crushed coral layer. It looks basically the same as when I installed it three years ago.

I might dig up a portion of the sand bed to see if there's any buildup on the drainage cloth. But, there doesn't appear to be from the edges.

Steve 926 · #**661** 05/02/2007, 10:57 AM

Has any one considered using a fine fiberglass screen

I would think that it would not clog as easily

What's yopur opinion

Thanks for the reply

Steve (@^ 926

SPC · #**662** 05/02/2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve 926
Has any one considered using a fine fiberglass screen
I would think that it would not clog as easily

What's yopur opinion

Thanks for the reply

Steve (@^ 926

That's what is used with a true plenum.

Steve

BigDaddy · #**663** 05/02/2007, 12:51 PM

If you use the crushed coral method. You want to make sure the sand grains don't get sucked through the screen. If the holes in the fiberglass screen are small enough then it would work.

Steve 926 · #**664** 05/05/2007, 08:33 AM

Thanks for the reply Big Daddy.

This thread has been an interesting & confusing read. Is there a reason why you did not use egg crate over the pvc. I think that it would require less pvc & provide more of an open area that would allow easier drainage of the waste. I understand your theory of the drainage cloth ( I now own 300 ft. smallest roll available) however I am concerned about it cloging over time. most of the info. I have read about plenums seem to use the egg crate & screen.

Do you drain the CPW on a regular basis, & how much is drained off ?

AND MOST IMPORTANT !! How has it been working over the years.

I am interested in the long term results ( who ins't). The speculation is that a DSB life span with or without a plenum is about 4~ 5 years until it needs to be replaced. This CPW method may prolong that indefinitely.
I appreciate your opinion & experience with this, I hope to be able to answer these questions myself to someone else in the future that may be interested in this CPW setup also.

AS ALWAYS
Thanks For A Reply

Steve (@^ 926

BigDaddy · #**665** 05/06/2007, 12:05 PM

The reason why I didn't use the egg crate had to do w/ uniform drainage. If you tried to drain an egg crate plenum you would short circuit the plenum and only drain from a portion of the bed (the area w/ least resistance). The method proposed by ldrhawke creates uniform drainage (the part of the pvc plenum farthest from the drain would have holes closer together thereby reducing resistance) w/o short circuiting. Mine isn't perfect, but the water I drain weekly does not smell very good.

I have not found the drain cloth to clog. I will in the future dig up a portion to see. A living sand bed is suppose to process detritus the deeper you go the finer the particles until most of the waste is in suspension. So it shouldn't clog the drainage cloth.

I drain 5 gallons once a week. My total system volume is 440 gallons. Some thought it was too much. But, it seems to work for me. ldrhawke recommended draining a small amount each day.

My system has been up for 3 years now. The bed is full of life and everything looks good. I will keep updating this as the years go by.

Again, I'm not a marine biologist, but if your going to have a DSB this approach makes sense to me. And the water you drain doesn't look or smell good. So, why keep it in the tank.

Steve 926 · #**666** 05/07/2007, 10:29 AM

Once Again

Thanks for the reply Big Daddy.

Is the top layer of your sand a fine, or sugar fine ?
I am trying to decide which one to buy, & how much of it.

Steve (@^ 926

Henry Bowman · #**667** 05/07/2007, 10:34 AM

Where do you get the drainage cloth and / or what is it. Hope this has not already been answered..

TIA

Steve 926 · #**668** 05/07/2007, 11:13 AM

Lowes Has a roll of white about $20 for 300 feet !!!!!!!!!!!
It was the smallest roll they had at the time.
I hope to use the other 290 ft. on a LARGER TANK

Steve (@^ 926

BigDaddy · #**669** 05/08/2007, 11:20 AM

I have about 5 inches of southdown on top of the crushed coral layer.

Steve 926 · #**670** 05/08/2007, 08:11 PM

Thanks for the reply Big Daddy

I appreciate your advice. I have tried to find some southdown, But so far no luck in New Jersey. Thinking about some Caribe special reef sand from Drs. Fos/Smith.

Once Again,
Thanks For your Time

Steve (@^ 926

BigDaddy · #**671** 05/09/2007, 12:27 AM

In New Jersey, home depot sells it as old castle, I believe. Just buy a bag and drop some grains in vinegar and see if they bubble. If they do its good.

drstupid · #**672** 05/11/2007, 11:28 AM

steve, last year i got 300 lbs of caribsea sand at a better price than F&S before shipping just by talking to the manager of a not very good LFS that normally doesn't even stock caribsea substrate (world wide aquariums). you're buying a lot of sand, they'll give you a big discount and just get it from their supplier, who will almost certainly have it.

Steve 926 · #**673** 05/11/2007, 11:45 AM

Thanks Big daddy

Oddly enough there is a plant for Old Castle products about 30 min. away from my house.
I spoke to them and their reply was the Co. making the aragonite was no longer in business. (these people have a better secret than the winning lotto numbers !) The product that they supply to HD & Lowes they say is a limestone base ( Kolorscape W/ Ply Snd) The size of the sand is sugar fine or possibly smaller. it does not Fizz with the vinegar test. The bag contains a warning that it may contain a small amount of silica in it. I read on the forums that there are people that have used this type of sand with no problems. How long, they do not say.
My concern is it's size & possible sand storms in the display. I would like to have some gobbies & wonder if this sand is OK ?
The last thing I want to do is to tear it all down & replace the sand.

As Always

Thanks for your input

Steve (@^ 926

Steve 926 · #**674** 05/11/2007, 11:46 AM

bump

BigDaddy · #**675** 05/11/2007, 11:48 PM

I think that sand would be fine. When the bacteria weighs the sand down you shouldn't have any more sand storms.

Mine was cloudy for quite a while ( I think it took a week w/ the skimmer to clear things up). But, now even when the clown stirs things up it doesn't cloud the water.