Some New Pics

[rutz81]

Do you keep you'd lit, as well? Right now it is 4-5", should I get some more sand to make it atleast 6"??

[Mike O'Brien]

Mine is lit all the time, the fish can go under the skimmer stand to sleep in the dark if the want. I think 4" is fine.

[MRI_GUY]

Let me ask a question if I may. The allure of the DSB is twofold. 1. It serves as a denitrification factory and 2. it serves as a refuge for biodiversity wich can be live food, housekeepers etc. If the sole purpose of the DSB in this set-up is denitrification and the secondary goal is to eliminate the posibillity of creating a P04 sink would it make sense to simply vacuum half of the sand each month. Does that make sence? If the vacuum efluent is strained through a poly pad or cloth any critters can be returned to the tank.

I ask this because for my next tank I was thinking of going Bare Bottom to eliminate the DSB headaches. Could this method allow the benefits and eliminate the drawbacks at the same time?

[Mike O'Brien]

IME disturbing a DSB is not a good idea. That's why I say take out one whole section and replace it. That doesn't really disturb too much.

[gwaco]

: I've been running filter socks since day one, it has always helped to keep particle matter out of the display, and also keep stuff from settling in the sump. I change them every 2 days(before anything really nasty can build up). rutz ,: this is good practice . i change my sock out every other day . a sock is a great tool in our arsenal , and like any other piece of equipment we have ,it only performs well if kept clean . i would politely disagree with whisk on this one , as we sock users are doing the same thing as letting the detritus be picked up in the skimmer , we are physically removing the detritus instead of using a complete mechanical cycle to do it . the bacteria doesn't need big chunks of detritus to do its job , it needs whats in the water column to do it . we don't see things like phosphate , ammonia and nitrates with our eyes like we see detritus , but we know its there , in the water . even though i use a sock my skimmers still skim , i just don't have big chunks of detritus in my skimmate , but all the other stuff is still in it . i haven't touched ( cleaned) my sump since its been set-up ( a year now ) because theres nothing to clean .

[MRI_GUY]

Thanks Mike. Though I am not talking about a fully established DSB with multiple layers and zones. Would it even have time to form an anoxic layer in two to four weeks?

[gwaco]

now the sand part i wouldn't be to crazy about . it seems as though you just put in something the you will have a hard time " controlling " ! i think b.b. method is all about control , and whatever it takes to let you have the control will work .
now what you need to use is this patented bacteria rock !

[rutz81]

gwaco:I was reading your other post about that the other day, keep us informed on how that works for you.