dsb function

Wiz · Feb 28, 2015

saw a post about DSB yesterday. Last night while trying to fall asleep I was thinking about them. How it works does not seem to make sense to me. I was hoping someone might be able to clarify it for me. First the idea of a DSb is to create an anaerobic area where the bacteria can get rid of nitrates. Or at least that's how I understand it. So that's to say that you need an area where your circulation will not reach an order to create a lack of oxygen. This much I think I understand. If you create an area where your circulation cannot reach and it depletes the oxygen creating optimal environment for the right type of bacteria, once it cleans the water that is in that area how does it affect the rest of your tank? Meaning if the circulation does not reach that area how does the water with nitrates in and get there to be cleaned? and if it does get there would that not introduce oxygen ruining the optimal environment?

Wiz · Feb 28, 2015

Got my answer. Great article. Says my sand sifting star and cucumber are a mistake as well as my watchman goby. Says sifters don't eat waste but eat the microlife that do. Anyone want to comment on that? Seems to make sense.
Ron Shimek's Website...Deep Sand Beds

Mike J. · Feb 28, 2015

A sand sifting star is probably the worst critter that you could put in a DSB. They will quickly consume all benthic life and then starve to death themselves.
I've had a tank for many years with a DSB. Sometimes I would be neglectful on maintenance. Even when there is an algae outbreak the sand will be nice and clean. All those critters in the sand are eating it. I've even seen that there's layer right above the sand on the rocks and glass that is clean. I've seen the sand move after the lights go out. Another critter that's rough on benthic life is a Coral Banded Shrimp. I wouldn't worry about a Watchman Goby. I've had an Olive Snail in my tank since the very beginning. You can have things dig in the sandbed just not certain critters. It also depends on how deep your sand bed is too.

Wiz · Feb 28, 2015

yeah thinking I'm going to ditch the star and cucumber. And keep the Gobi I love the yellow with blue spots

Wiz · Feb 28, 2015

Mike J. said:
A sand sifting star is probably the worst critter that you could put in a DSB. They will quickly consume all benthic life and then starve to death themselves.
I've had a tank for many years with a DSB. Sometimes I would be neglectful on maintenance. Even when there is an algae outbreak the sand will be nice and clean. All those critters in the sand are eating it. I've even seen that there's layer right above the sand on the rocks and glass that is clean. I've seen the sand move after the lights go out. Another critter that's rough on benthic life is a Coral Banded Shrimp. I wouldn't worry about a Watchman Goby. I've had an Olive Snail in my tank since the very beginning. You can have things dig in the sandbed just not certain critters. It also depends on how deep your sand bed is too.

I used to love my all olive snails. I knew they ate some snails and critters. And did not care. Until I saw one of my two to three inch olives eat a 2-inch olive. I swear to you I saw this. You could see the other olive snail trailing inside his body. At that point I decided the rest of my clean up crew was not worth 1 snail. Lol