DSB VS BIOBALLS

[Wayne]

Means he ditched them. They need to be rinsed once a week to ensure they don't become a nitrate factory. They were used in the past, now live rock is used with a lot more success

[cwatkins]

I chuckle each time I see the huge pails of bio balls collecting dust on the top shelf at one of our LFS.

[Timbits]

correct me if i am wrong but to my understanding sand has smaller particle size therefore greater surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize so it is more effective than live rock? or are they the same?

[Doug]

http://96.31.86.198/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=47

Just one of the threads from our superb reference library.

Yes, your correct that sand does have a large area for bacteria to colonize, but a dsb is not required for that purpose.

FWIW, many of us run bare bottomed and just use live rock for the same purpose. One theory is that if the tank/bottom is kept clean, less waste can decompose, thus less waste to create ammonia......nitrite.....so thus less nitrate.

Bioballs are extremely good at what they do, which is converting ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate. Problem is without some form of denitrification, getting rid of the nitrates.

[Timbits]

so i'm thinking of setting up a refugium in my sump just wondering how much sand do you guys usually put in?

is it the more the better?

just wondering how much sand do you need for nitrifying and denitrifying to take place? thanks

[MitchM]

If you're setting up a refugium for some denitrifying benefits, I would suggest using fine sand, 4 inches depth. Be sure that no crabs or shrimp are in your refugium, because they will eat any beneficial life that takes up residence there.
The refugium will not be sufficient to take care of all the filtering requirements that your display tank requires, but it will be very interesting to watch what develops in there after a few months.

[Timbits]

Originally Posted by MitchM

If you're setting up a refugium for some denitrifying benefits, I would suggest using fine sand, 4 inches depth. Be sure that no crabs or shrimp are in your refugium, because they will eat any beneficial life that takes up residence there.
The refugium will not be sufficient to take care of all the filtering requirements that your display tank requires, but it will be very interesting to watch what develops in there after a few months.

i have a 40 gallon breeder which i will plumb to a 25 gallon sump. i have a reef octopus extreme 160 skimmer which i will use. i plan on using this tank as a grow out for juvi clowns so there will be a huge bio-load. i want to keep the tank bare bottom so i can siphon out detritus as it builds up. you said the refugium will not be sufficient enough to take care of all the filtering requirements so what do you suggest i do for filtration? after putting the skimmer in the sump there isnt a lot of room so i was thinking of using a DSB and chaeto......