4ft New Tank

[nivlahog]

Hi, I would like to find out if I am using a Fluidized Reactors, do I still need to create a DSB? Or just lay a thin layer of sand in the tank will do?

[d88p]

better to have sand at the bottom no matter wat equipements u have

[arcanehacker]

Well the usefulness of DSB is pretty debatable.. But there is not really a need to have one. I also think unless you have a deep tank, DSB covers much of your tank's depth.

Also even if you want to harness the usefulness of a DSB, it must really mature.. probably in a few years (I think).

[madmac]

Besides liking the look of sand, sometimes its more what you'll like to keep. Some things jus need sand, while others don't really care if there is sand or not, but what sand does to the system.

[nivlahog]

I guess the main purpose of sandbed is to beautify the tank, however can I check out hw do you guys actually maintain your tank for long without nitrate breakdown? by filters in the sump or ....I mean how do I actually get rid of the waste if there is no DSB to help to break down the unwanted stuffs in the tank???? Confused, pls help to enlighten me......

[nivlahog]

Btw mine is a 4 x 2 x2.5 ft tank...

[arcanehacker]

Like I said, dun expect a DSB to conrol your nitrate in a short time. It really needs years to get it mature enough to do that.. by then you'd probably have denitrator, micro algae and stuff to do that for you..

No, sumps and filters do not control nitrate.

[d88p]

Btw mine is a 4 x 2 x2.5 ft tank...

add the sand in, it will also act as a form of protection in case some rocks falls

[hammy]

Hi, I would like to find out if I am using a Fluidized Reactors, do I still need to create a DSB? Or just lay a thin layer of sand in the tank will do?

normally the FR is used to control PO4 by using phosphate remover media . a DSB is used to control nitrate .

a DSB has to be at least 6 inch deep for it to work well.

as for mi , i dun employ DSB , just a thin layer of sand to creat the look. nitrate is controlled by many other factor

[rogersoh]

I will go for DSB too.

Current my tank size is too small to have an effective DSB. What I planned to do is to have a seperate sump for the DSB.

DSB need time to have sufficient of the bacterial to remove the nitrate. Before that I am doing more partial water change between 15 to 20% every week.

For effective DSB, it must have sufficient depth about 4 to 6 inch. The water flow must be strong to prevent any debris from settling down and decary in the sand.

There is this article in reefcentral How Sandbeds Really work