DSB or not? (a question about aesthetics and aquascaping)

[Lylelovett]

Hi all,

I'm in the early stages of my first mixed reef aquarium and am starting to think about sand & rock and have a question about DSB (Deep Sand Beds). This question I have pertains to look and layout of the tank with DSB (or not DSB) and not about the pros & cons of DSB for filtration.

My tank is 60x24x24. Since my tank will be viewable from the ends, I bought a 24" deep tank to give me depth to play with - pretty obvious.

If I end up doing a DSB at 5-6" I feel like that is really going to chew into my 24" height - when you subtract water level from the shadow overflow I'm worried I'll be looking at a mere 16-18" of water, versus 20-22" if I went with just 2" of sand.

So my question is, having never aquascaped before, if I went with DSB and 16-18" of water, is that really enough room to do cool stuff, or should I give myself that extra 5-6" of DT back to play with?

Love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks,
J

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Here’s a 20 tall with a 4in dsb.

I would however highly reccomend if you are newer to Reefing , go with a shallow bed. 2in or so.
Lost of stuff happens in a first tank and a modular (take it apart quick ) can be a very good thing.

 

[MamaLovesHerReefTank]

Personally I like a 2" sand bed. I put rocks first then sand. I move the sand around to fill in around the rocks.

 

[Todd L.]

Personally I like a 2" sand bed. I put rocks first then sand. I move the sand around to fill in around the rocks.

Same. I scaped then poured my sand in and had it settle around the rock. My tank is anywhere from 2" in parts to 1/2" in others. I like how its not all one depth, like a line straight across. Also very easy to clean. A few weeks ago my nitrates were beginning to rise, but after a post I read here (stir sand bed daily and frequently clean filter) this week my nitrates have been undetectable.

 

[Reef-junky]

The remote DSB’s I’ve seen look ugly. With only 5 to 6 inches maybe you won’t end up with the same look. Can a 5 inch sand bed crash? Not sure if that’s deep enough to cause the same problems I’ve read about with DSB’s. In any case it just depends on what look you like.

 

[Subsea]

Here’s a 20 tall with a 4in dsb.

I would however highly reccomend if you are newer to Reefing , go with a shallow bed. 2in or so.
Lost of stuff happens in a first tank and a modular (take it apart quick ) can be a very good thing.

First, leave dsb out of your first reef tank. I have 45 years of reefing experience, dsb have their specific maintenance which can be an issue for a newbie. Your question about what looks good can only be answered by you.
You haven’t asked the right question. My recommendation is that you use a 2” aroggonite sandbed with a reverse flow undergravel filter.
Laissez les bonne temps roulee,
Patrick

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/wet-salty-for-christmas-2017.428100/


https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/2...m-on-top-with-30g-ecosystem-mud-macro.421526/

 

[Junglejim]

First why do you want a DSB? I run my reef with a 2 to 4 inch sand bed, but I like fish that burrow and it gives them enough room to play. My goal is to simulate the ocean/reef and whats the reef without sand? I believe it gives more surface area for beneficial bacteria.
Jim

 

[Greybeard]

The purpose of a DSB is (or was) to 'naturally' eliminate Nitrates via anaerobic bacteria. In order for one to work properly, you need a minimum of 5-6" of sugar fine sand, and a good population of micro fauna. In the days when they were popular companies like Inland Aquatics and GARF were selling DSB fauna packs that worked well... these days, IPSF is about the only one left selling some of this stuff, and their selection is limited. About your only good choice is a healthy dose of wet-shipped sand and rubble from one of the Florida live rock facilities, and hope you get good stuff.

I ran a DSB, back in the day. 450 lbs of Southdown sand. I must say, it worked great, for a while. The problem with DSB's is that much of what the DSB is removing from the water isn't really gone, it's just sequestered into the sand bed. There's a very real possibility that it'll come back on you. I won't say always... I've heard of decade old DSB's that are going strong... by mine crashed, hard, after 5 years. Prior to that crash, honestly, it was the easiest to maintain, healthiest reef I've ever owned. Tank would grow anything. Built into a room divider, viewable from both sides, 3x 400w halides, 10,000k Ushio bulbs + 6x 55w Actinic PC's, PM Bullet 2 Skimmer, 100g Rubbermaid sump... It was a fun system, for the times... till it crashed. The other issue, the one the OP asks about, is the 6" or so of ugly sand, with algae, cyano, worms, etc... It's a pretty big loss of space, and an eyesore, to me.

These days, nutrient export methods are so good, folks are DOSING Nitrates to their tanks. Macro algae refugeums, carbon dosing... To me, DSB's really don't make much sense anymore.

Here's my old DSB system, the only photo I have left, I'm afraid... circa 2001. That tank was a 220 xh, 30" tall. Lost a good deal of space to that 6" sand bed.

 

[fishybizzness]

I love the look of a sandbed. I don't think I would ever want a BB tank, doesn't look natural!

 

[Greybeard]

I love the look of a sandbed. I don't think I would ever want a BB tank, doesn't look natural!

When I said I thought they were an eyesore... I was specifically talking about DEEP sand.

I, too, am less than a fan of bare bottom. Just doesn't look right to me. My current tank has a 1-2" sand bed, fairly course (special reef grade) sand.

 

[fishybizzness]

My wrasses and gobies would probably disown me if I removed their sand! Lol