Did we reach a desicion on the DSB BB debate?
- Thread starter Mouse
- Start date
I think Galleon leaves his hat at BB, but thinks sand (not a Dr style DSB) can work if flushed to keep it from filling and releasing phosphates.
The discussion is different than a God discussion, because there is much evidence that DSB's don't work the way many people think they do (dr style), while there is no evidence to support them working that way.
I think it boils down to if you want sand, you gotta take care of it like any other filter.
The discussion is different than a God discussion, because there is much evidence that DSB's don't work the way many people think they do (dr style), while there is no evidence to support them working that way.
I think it boils down to if you want sand, you gotta take care of it like any other filter.
As a follow up to the last few comments, were there any opinions as to what exactly would accomplish "flushing" of the sandbed? Mechanical stirring or partial syhoning? Or can "flushing" also be accomplished by biological organisms from fish an down to bethnic organisms?
What I am getting at is this: Assuming that Galleon is correct that sandbeds need to be "flushed" of phosphates. Are there organisms that one can endevor to add to the reef tank to accomplish this goal? And if so, what are they?
What I am getting at is this: Assuming that Galleon is correct that sandbeds need to be "flushed" of phosphates. Are there organisms that one can endevor to add to the reef tank to accomplish this goal? And if so, what are they?
I don't think there really are organisms that will do it. Perhaps the sand sifting gobies would help more than the critters they eat.
Since the set up of my tank I have been flushing by pointing a powerhead at the sand every six months or so, while running a filter sock on the overflows and a canister filter with a micron cartridge. My idea is to keep the bed cleaner, so it fills more slowly.
I would never, ever stir an older sand bed - I would be afraid that there would be too much bad stuff in the sand, and putting it in the water would be detrimental to the critters in the tank. Using a gravel vacuum might work tho, cause a lot less of the ickies would go into the water.
Since the set up of my tank I have been flushing by pointing a powerhead at the sand every six months or so, while running a filter sock on the overflows and a canister filter with a micron cartridge. My idea is to keep the bed cleaner, so it fills more slowly.
I would never, ever stir an older sand bed - I would be afraid that there would be too much bad stuff in the sand, and putting it in the water would be detrimental to the critters in the tank. Using a gravel vacuum might work tho, cause a lot less of the ickies would go into the water.
I really likes that thread, but my question was never answered 
Better luck this time..
My questions are:
How is the phosphate stored in the sand bed? As detritus? As larger organisms? Bound to the calciumsubstrate? And in what proportions?
I want to know how to handle my (3 year old) sand bed which is starting to develope algae on top of it (started after 2,5 years). If the chiemically bound phosphate are only minor part, than it would be possible to take out the sand, clean it and then reintroduce it. Yes it seems radical, but anyway... If the opposite is true then that would not help very much since a lot of phosphate are still in the sand when it is reintroduced.
/Klas
Better luck this time..
My questions are:
How is the phosphate stored in the sand bed? As detritus? As larger organisms? Bound to the calciumsubstrate? And in what proportions?
I want to know how to handle my (3 year old) sand bed which is starting to develope algae on top of it (started after 2,5 years). If the chiemically bound phosphate are only minor part, than it would be possible to take out the sand, clean it and then reintroduce it. Yes it seems radical, but anyway... If the opposite is true then that would not help very much since a lot of phosphate are still in the sand when it is reintroduced.
/Klas
Galleon is MIA this week, but I will give it my best shot.
IIRC it is not bound to the substrate. Phosphate is very bio active and everything wants to 'eat' it.
This is the problematic question, cause we don't know. Each system is different.
IIRC, taking out the sand an cleaning it should work either way.
klask":38h47szl said:
IIRC it is not bound to the substrate. Phosphate is very bio active and everything wants to 'eat' it.
This is the problematic question, cause we don't know. Each system is different.
IIRC, taking out the sand an cleaning it should work either way.
As I recall, the reason to have a DSB was to convert nitrate to nitrogen gas. BBers, how do you export the nitrate?
The notion that the DSB becomes impacted with phosphate and crashes makes sense to me. I would still like use a DSB for the nitrate removal and perhaps with DSB maintenance such as replacing a whole section of DSB once a year would eliminate DSB crashing.
Does this make sense??????
The notion that the DSB becomes impacted with phosphate and crashes makes sense to me. I would still like use a DSB for the nitrate removal and perhaps with DSB maintenance such as replacing a whole section of DSB once a year would eliminate DSB crashing.
Does this make sense??????
As I recall, the reason to have a DSB was to convert nitrate to nitrogen gas. BBers, how do you export the nitrate?
The notion that the DSB becomes impacted with phosphate and crashes makes sense to me. I would still like use a DSB for the nitrate removal and perhaps with DSB maintenance such as replacing a whole section of DSB once a year would eliminate DSB crashing.
Does this make sense??????
The notion that the DSB becomes impacted with phosphate and crashes makes sense to me. I would still like use a DSB for the nitrate removal and perhaps with DSB maintenance such as replacing a whole section of DSB once a year would eliminate DSB crashing.
Does this make sense??????
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