cycle live sand (berlin method)

[charles1]

What fish shop has the best detrivore kit? I have tried ispf but they had very small portions for the money. How long does it take for a 50 gallon tank that is five inches deep (pure argonite) to establish quality filtration from the sand?

 

[Len]

I've heard good accounts of ISPF, Marine Ecosystems, and Inland Aquatics kits, but I think they are all rather small in portion. That's just the nature of detrivore kits. They're intended to seed sandbeds with a small but very reproductive population of detrivores. I recommend that these kits be added after the tank has cycled but before you have introduced any decorative organisms such as fish or corals that might predate on these detrivores. Give it another 4-6 weeks and these species should have gained a decent foothhold in the system. DSBs take a while longer to mature to their "optimum," but it's a worthwhile wait.

 

[hfmann]

Hey Len,

DSBs take a while longer to mature to their "optimum,"

Never thought about that. How long would you say that takes given a "predation free" environment?

Hal
_________________
CSI: Miami Forum

 

[mkirda]

Never thought about that. How long would you say that takes given a "predation free" environment?

Hal

Hal,

DSBs will take a year or so to really stabilize.
Frankly, I think they take about six months to get even marginally stable.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[charles1]

what are dsbs?

 

[shalegac]

Deep Sand Bed(s) = DSBS

 

[reefNewbie]

deep sand beds