Question how much sand 4 DSB 125G FOWLR (1 Viewer)

[Guest]

OK so I'm going to dump my plenum-Jaubert silica /crushed shells for sugar fine aragonite in my old 125.

How many lbs will I need for DSB?
How much recommended LR?
Should I expect spikes?
If so how long to cycle again?

Keep in mind I'd like some softies down the road.

MARSHian help is the best.

 

[Guest]

There is a formula out there somewhere to figure the amount of sand you need. I can not remember off the top of my head. I have 250lbs in my 135, so that should give you some idea. One piece of advice I can offer is to go to the hardware store and buy 2.5 or 3 inch pvc pipe. Cut the PCV into pieces equal to the depth of your DSB and sink it into the sand. Use this as the base for you live rock structure. It provides a secure footing for the rock work and saves you a little $$$ by not sinking expensive rock under the sand.
HTH,
cyn

 

[Guest]

I'd just go with about 1" - 2" sand bed the DSB trend is dying out and besides if your tank is 24" high and you put a 6" DSB now a quater of your tank is sand. The purpose of the DSB is to keep nitrates at zero with a FOWLR that is not a concern. Read up on the DSB, to keep it working the way Dr. Ron intended you need to be recharging it ever 9 - 12 months with detrivore kits which can be expensive. When you decide to go with some softies I would put in a refugium wich will help get rid of the nitrates. I think you'll probally have some spikes when removing your substrate so I would have water change water available. As for LR 1lb per gallon will be fine. Just my opinion.

 

[Guest]

DSB good advice noted

Thanks for ideas!

good PVC tip Cyn & Tcarlson - nice info & foresight man.

grateful MARSHian student

 

[ScubaMedic]

Reefcentral has a dsb calculator on their home page.