SRC Member darren Posted November 11, 2003 SRC Member Share Posted November 11, 2003 My DSB is about 3 months old. Lately i've noticed a dark spot developing at a corner of my DSB, at a bottom corner(pic 1). Within 2 weeks, the dark area has expanded to almost covering the entire surface(pic 2). anybody knows if this is normal, and if its not(i suspect), what could be the reason? any help will be greatly appreciated. thanks! regards, darren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member darren Posted November 11, 2003 Author SRC Member Share Posted November 11, 2003 pic 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member shiraz Posted November 11, 2003 SRC Member Share Posted November 11, 2003 hmmm DSB maturing? but thats a damn DEEP dsb u got there.. hmmm just 1 question.. what pump do u use to run your 2014?? Quote The world is such a wicked place,war btween the human race. People work to earn their bread,while across the sea they're counting dead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member darren Posted November 11, 2003 Author SRC Member Share Posted November 11, 2003 its not really deep, its 6". its only a 2013, not 2014. i'm using a weipro 3000 with the skimmer. darren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryansimon Posted November 11, 2003 Share Posted November 11, 2003 could be water seeping through? don't know just. wild guessing. may be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member darren Posted November 11, 2003 Author SRC Member Share Posted November 11, 2003 not likely is water seeping through. is a dsb suppose to remain dry underneath the surface?? anyway i added most of the sand after water. so its wet right from the start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Achilles Tang Posted November 11, 2003 Share Posted November 11, 2003 That's natural. Probably some hydrogen sulfide produced as a result of denitrification. Harmless levels. Just don't dig up your sandbed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member darren Posted November 11, 2003 Author SRC Member Share Posted November 11, 2003 so it means my dsb is now functional? as in it has started in reducing nitrate? thanks AT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member Fireclown Posted November 11, 2003 SRC Member Share Posted November 11, 2003 Hmm.. that looks familiar! I've got those dark spots in my DSB too. I thought they were algae! haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alentino Posted November 11, 2003 Share Posted November 11, 2003 i think it's likely to be pockets of hydrogen sulphide production due to complete anoxic conditions in the sandbed. sorry to hijack this thread but i have a question about using DSB in sump. is it ok if a just make a DSB in sump without converting it to refugium, that is without 24 hrs lighting and stuffs? Quote "Less technology, more biology" --- John Tullock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuEl Posted November 11, 2003 Share Posted November 11, 2003 Of cause it is ok..but your DSB will only remove nitrates. Why people add algae and lights over their DSB is to help remove other nutrients besides nitrates..for instance phosphate. Quote Always something more important than fish. http://reefbuilders.com/2012/03/08/sps-pico-reef/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member CooL_anakin Posted November 12, 2003 SRC Member Share Posted November 12, 2003 Is the hydrogen sulphide harmful? I've got a dark patch in a corner of my refugium. a lot darker than darren's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acanthus Posted November 12, 2003 Share Posted November 12, 2003 hydrogen sulfide is definitely harmful if too much, reason being- dead water (still), its stink if it serious. remedy:- usually with DSB, u need worm, brittle star, snails,etc to work on n inside the sandbed, to give breathing space. alternatively, b4 start yr DSB, try using many straws with lot of holes n put them sticking out of the sandbed, overtime u will see bubbles coming out from the straws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Achilles Tang Posted November 12, 2003 Share Posted November 12, 2003 Acanthus, that is bad advice. You should NOT disturb a DSB or it'll never perform its denitrification work. These anoxic areas/anaerobic areas is where denitrifying bacteria thrives... causing these areas to get oxygen means you'll them them off. Hydrogen sulfide is normal and will eventually find a way to dissipate out on its own by diffusion. No harm will come to your reef inhabitants as such. If you disturb the deep sand bed and release hydrogen sulfide all at once, then its your own look out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member nleong Posted November 12, 2003 SRC Member Share Posted November 12, 2003 well, I know I lost a few frags when my PH loses its grib one day and blow up the whole sand bed in my old tank. so better heed AT's advise, dun disturb your DSB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member derf Posted November 12, 2003 SRC Member Share Posted November 12, 2003 Acanthus, that is bad advice. You should NOT disturb a DSB or it'll never perform its denitrification work. These anoxic areas/anaerobic areas is where denitrifying bacteria thrives... causing these areas to get oxygen means you'll them them off. Hydrogen sulfide is normal and will eventually find a way to dissipate out on its own by diffusion. No harm will come to your reef inhabitants as such. If you disturb the deep sand bed and release hydrogen sulfide all at once, then its your own look out. Hi, Wat I read on DSB is that it needs bristtle worms to stir the inside so that it'll will not clog up and eventually crash. so wat is correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asfur Posted November 12, 2003 Share Posted November 12, 2003 So many opinion around DSBs, i want to experience in DSBs system, but still confuse because there is no conclusion. AT's, sorry not mean to against you, but i ever read that denitrification will give good effect if do in the right way, but it will har the system if the flow is too slow because it will produce hydrogen sulfide and will harm the system. Any comment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alentino Posted November 12, 2003 Share Posted November 12, 2003 yup AT, that's what i read in many books too, you need some suitable critters, note the word suitable, to stir up only the top layer of sand to prevent total anoxic region in the DSB which will then cause hydrogen sulphide build up. isn't that correct? Quote "Less technology, more biology" --- John Tullock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member CooL_anakin Posted November 12, 2003 SRC Member Share Posted November 12, 2003 http://www.rshimek.com/reef/sediment.htm This should help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryansimon Posted November 12, 2003 Share Posted November 12, 2003 what I'm going to do is I'm going to have a DSB in the main tank. up to five inches of it. and ontop of the fifth inch., I'll lay down a thin netting and ontop of that netting, I'll lay down a one inch thick of Grade 1 sand. this will allow my sand sifters to go through the sand, whilst preventing them from touching the main seabed. (= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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