Matured DSB?

[pangz]

Hi all, i was pondering. When reefers say that DSB will mature after 6 months or more, how do we know that our DSB has really matured and the system is finally stable? Any tell tale signs that i can look out for?

Thanks.

[blueheaven]

A mature DSB will have bubbles forming at the lower levels (not the top!!!)

And you will notice many burrows by worms, etc

[giantbicycle]

A mature DSB will have bubbles forming at the lower levels (not the top!!!)

And you will notice many burrows by worms, etc

yar and you will most prob see your N03 lowering or somehow of exporting going on..but the most signeficiant is the bubbles like what blueheaven had said

[pangz]

Oh.. okie, so that's how to differentiate a matured DSB. Thanks.

Btw, what are those bubbles stuck at the top part of the sand? Harmful to the tank?

[giantbicycle]

Oh.. okie, so that's how to differentiate a matured DSB. Thanks.

Btw, what are those bubbles stuck at the top part of the sand? Harmful to the tank?

dont stir the buble up....

[blueheaven]

Those are probably oxygen bubbles from diatoms

[pangz]

oh ok, thanks! Should have posted this thread earlier. Stirred up quite a lot of bubbles just now.

[blueheaven]

Actually what harm is there to stir up the bubbles?

Just don't stir up the sandbed!!!!!

[lightningstrike]

Actually what harm is there to stir up the bubbles?

Just don't stir up the sandbed!!!!!

if u disturb the dsb too much, u will release hydrogen sulphide(bubbles), which will kill ur LS rapidly.

[blueheaven]

yah but hydrogen sulphate only forms at lower anaerobic areas so unless you really turn the sandbed upside down, you will not release the toxin

Anyway the concentration is so small that it probably would not cause any significant damage

[lightningstrike]

yah but hydrogen sulphate only forms at lower anaerobic areas so unless you really turn the sandbed upside down, you will not release the toxin

Anyway the concentration is so small that it probably would not cause any significant damage

Is Eric Borneman turning his sandbed upside down? i dun think so.

An excerpt from his article on Reefkeeping Online Magazine Oct 04:

Some aquarists had been suggesting that it might be a good idea to stir sand beds and release the accumulated detritus for removal by skimmers and to provide particulate foods for the corals. Already long considering the lack of particulates in the water column and ways to provide them, but not having given much thought to sedimentary microbiology or changes to water chemistry by stirring these sediments, it sounded like a good idea. So I stirred my sand beds a few times over a period of a week. Initially, I was impressed as the coral polyps opened and fed on the material that clouded the water column. A week later, most of my Acroporids began sloughing tissue, and I had my first really serious bout with what was then called "rapid tissue necrosis." It wiped out most of my corals, and it spawned my interest in what would eventually become one of the major subjects of the dissertation that I am now in the process of completing.

Lesson Learned: Sand beds are great, but are best left alone. They harbor huge populations of microbes, many of which are opportunistically, indirectly, or directly pathogenic to aquarium inhabitants (and humans). The changes in redox that occur in sand beds, along with disruption of anoxic pockets that may contain hydrogen sulfide, wreak havoc on all manner of water column parameters and can result in the death of virtually every fish and invertebrate in the tank. They are not nutrient bombs, but do need to be understood for proper function in an aquarium.

The original article can be found here.

[marcvelous]

Is Eric Borneman turning his sandbed upside down? i dun think so.

An excerpt from his article on Reefkeeping Online Magazine Oct 04:

...it sounded like a good idea. So I stirred my sand beds a few times over a period of a week.

No, he didn't turn his sandbed upside down but he DID stir it a few times over a week.

From experience, DSB is better left alone. Long time ago when I was more ignorant, I had the same idea and stirred the DSB of my previous tank.

The result is not as disasterous but not great either.

To achieve the same purpose, best to improve water circulation and have sand-shifting crew than to stir the DSB.

[blueheaven]

Yah sandbed dynamics are still very vague. That's why I am on a research team on this subject

[riot]

I have been running a dsb for the past one year, and to tell you the truth, it does not appeat to work. I have worm tracks all over, but my nitrates are hovering 30ppm with no change.

[blueheaven]

Read my article on sandbeds, you'll know

Its not just say that you have worm tracks, etc your DSB is working.

A DSB functions on the diffusion of oxygen to create a anoxic region which is very low in oxygen but not totally anaerobic.

[lightningstrike]

I have been running a dsb for the past one year, and to tell you the truth, it does not appeat to work. I have worm tracks all over, but my nitrates are hovering 30ppm with no change.

hi riot,

could it be due to:

1. inaccurate testkit?

2. DSB not deep enuff?

3. area of sand exposed?

4. grade of sand used?

5. denitrification of DSB can't keep up wif ur high bio load?

juz me poor 2 cents.

[riot]

It could be entirely possible. I have a three feet tank crammed with LR, so that might mean I have a greatly reduced sandbed area. I think the point is that before one applies a dsb, you gotta work out if it will work in your system. In my case, it didnt and hence other methods of filtration must be sourced out.

[KennethK]

Any pic of the bubbles in a DSB? Wat grade of sand is best?

[RAV-65]

Any pic of the bubbles in a DSB? Wat grade of sand is best?

zero would be best, but i guess alot of people would argue about #1 being better....

[pangz]

But if i don't stir the DSB, the the algea growth is pretty unsightly. I guess after reading all advices, i will leave my itchy hands to myself don't stir up the sandbed. Thanks