Age of your Deep Sand Bed?

[zoechance]

I have a question(s)? How old is your DSB? how old is the oldest living DSB you know? just curious cause I will establish a DSB in my new tank and I see many videos and posts about the pros and cons but don't see really long term follow up.... I like all the pros but if most average reef keepers run into trouble after a few years maybe not so good....

 

[bobbyM]

I have a tank at my house that is 5 years. A clients tank is 18 years and another one that is 20 years old. One more year and it can buy booze. lol

All deep sand beds. I just stir small sections every time I do water changes once a week. That being said, my tank at my house never gets the sand stirred due to my seagrasses.

 

[Downbeach]

My current tank has been set up for 6 years with a DSB. I had an earlier tank that also had a DSB that was 6 years old. I had to break it down because of a move, and didn't see any signs of H2S. I don't touch it, i.e. siphon, stir, etc. I strictly follow the principals set forth in this article:

Ron Shimek's Website...Deep Sand Beds

Using this substrate:

CaribSea Aragamax Aquarium Sand

Using this to activate:

: : : : Indo-Pacific Sea Farms : : : :
and
: : : : Indo-Pacific Sea Farms : : : :

 

[planereefer]

My current tank has been set up for 6 years with a DSB. I had an earlier tank that also had a DSB that was 6 years old. I had to break it down because of a move, and didn't see any signs of H2S. I don't touch it, i.e. siphon, stir, etc. I strictly follow the principals set forth in this article:

Ron Shimek's Website...Deep Sand Beds

Using this substrate:

CaribSea Aragamax Aquarium Sand

Using this to activate:

: : : : Indo-Pacific Sea Farms : : : :
and
: : : : Indo-Pacific Sea Farms : : : :

+1 for the DSB article.

 

[AZDesertRat]

9 years this month. Its 330 lbs or Southdown sugar sized sand in a 100G 5-6" deep. No digging critters and its never been siphoned or cleaned other than the top 1/4" every so often in a low flow corner or behind the rocks. Nitrates and phosphates are non detectable using Salifert kits.

 

[zoechance]

Wow! I am Impressed and Inspired to move forward with my DSB!! I have read the articles on the DSB. They talk about sugar fine sand like 0.05mm but smallest sand I can find is Natures Ocean 0.1-0.5mm or Oceans Direct OOlite at 0.25-1.0mm. Any thoughts on which to use or will both likely be successful if I follow all the other rules regarding depth, etc...?

 

[Downbeach]

The CaribSea Oolite, I'm using is .2 to 1.22, so the Oceans Direct would be about the same. You can get 30#'s of the CaribSea Oolite Aragonite @ $24.99, so a minimum of 2 bags will meet the free shipping requirements at F&S. How big is your tank?

 

[zoechance]

Hi What is F and S? sounds like a great price!!! My tank is 42x24x20 about 87gallons.

 

[zoechance]

thank you so much for your reply and these links!

 

[j.p. harrington]

if your looking for sand to make it i would recommend the sugar fine sand that marco at marcorocks sells this is what ive always used and love it

 

[Downbeach]

Hi What is F and S? sounds like a great price!!! My tank is 42x24x20 about 87gallons.

F&S = Foster and Smith

Here is the link:

CaribSea Aragamax Aquarium Sand

I would think that with your LR that 4 bags would do it.

 

[steamer51]

My DSB has been in my 55 for a little over 6 years now with no problems. I do not syphon and it looks pretty terrible since I over feed but has never crashed. I also have a 100 gallon stock tank full of sand and rock almost to the top keeping it live that I have collected for future builds. Guess I am a hoarder since I can't pass up great deals when people break down their tanks since tanks, sand and sometimes rock don't sell well. Lately I've been getting rock and sand free. The five year old DSB in the stock tank looks great but I only feed the tank enough to keep it "live" sand and rock and there are lots of sand stirrers in there.

 

[zoechance]

Thanks to all of you!! I truly appreciate it. Again I am inspired to proceed with a DSB!

 

[Haddonis Reef]

The longest I have had a dsb is 2 yrs cause I always up grade!:/ but on my final tank says the wife! So the180 has been set up for 2.5 yrs and I try to keep the top layer sterred up w nasseriaus snails.