DSB in a bucket

[TheReefGeek]

I went through the first 5 pages of the RC thread again to check. Here are some quotes from Anthony Calfo:

If you have to buy bucket and sand new... the bucket will cost you more

He also states:

A DSB bucket should literally cost less than $20 to make (most of which is the cost of the bulkhead unless you skip that altogether and let the bucket gurgle/overflow its sides while sitting in a large open sump)

If he was referring to aragonite, hook me up with that supplier! He never states what to use, but does give this advise, so I mixed up the part about fusing:

The finer sands are better IMO for NNR.

aragonite only fuses when you allow your pH to drop low and usually rapidly as with misdosing calcium supplements (too much kalk too fast, for example) or having unstable pH (dropping very low at night).

It's easy with good water quality/stability to avoid having aragonite fuse.

I'm so very strict about maintaining a strong and stable pH (8.3-8.6... never lower than 8.3 at night)... I have yet to have aragonite fuse. I recommend high and stable pH for more than a few good reasons aside form this issue.

Also states this about silica sand:

silica is OK for the DSB bucket and use in general.

The issue of leaching silica is generally overstated if an issue at all.

The real disadvantage of silica is its shape. Unlike oolitic sand (round/fluid moving), silica is angular and sharp - it locks in place and packs tight. As long as you prevent solids from accumulating/penetrating... there will be no problem with silica sand here.

For flow, Anthony states:

not much flow is needed... just enough to keep any solids in the stream suspended and moving on/along. Simply observe and increase as/if necessary

SO, from that I take it he steals his aragonite sand, because it is not that cheap. JK, some people have access to Southdown sand which is that cheap.

If you have a few spare hours to read the 30pg post, here is the link:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...9&goto=newpost

[adidas]

I almost got through the thread on RC lol its a long one

[TheReefGeek]

Nice! They have some good pictures on there for those who can't quite imagine what it is like.

[Pansy-Paws]

Here's Anthony Calfo's latest feedback on RDSB's.

http://www.marinedepot.com/FORUMS/Topic20039-13-1.aspx

I'm in the process of setting one up myself, so we'll see ....

[TheReefGeek]

Maybe its just me, the above link isn't working.

[Tang_Man_Montreal]

Well,
I tried this on a friend's set up. He couldn't get nitrates lower than 50-70 before. It's been running for ~8 weeks now, and nitrates are now between 2 and 5.

I'd venture to say that it does work.

[TheReefGeek]

Any more details for us? What is your friend's setup, what size RDSB did he setup, what kind of sand, how much flow? Was this the only thing that changed?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Pansy-Paws

Here's Anthony Calfo's latest feedback on RDSB's.

http://www.marinedepot.com/FORUMS/Topic20039-13-1.aspx

I'm in the process of setting one up myself, so we'll see ....

Just fixing the URL... nothing else to add.

Matt

[mark]

http://www.marinedepot.com/FORUMS/Group8.aspx

Was wondering where Calfo and other where hanging out since leaving reefcentral.