Remote Deep Sand Bed{ Plans, products?}
I have been reading up on the benefits of a Remote Deep Sand Bed and found several good articles about how they are miracle works at removing nitrates. I was wondering if anyone had good plans for making one or any horror stories about them. Since this is such a great nitrate reducer why aren’t there products out there for a RDSB. The sites I found with plans seemed like they have a good thing going 1. http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=28096.msg187500;topicseen 2. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=595109&perpage=25&pagenumber=1 I don’t have too much of a problem with nitrate but it looks like a DSB would help anyone’s tank out looks cheap and easy + I have a lot of extra sand should I get into this. What size pump would I need for a 5 gallon bucket.

basically all you need are 2 uniseals of whatever flavor you decide to plumb with, a bucket and some sand. i've never heard a bad thing about them. some have even daisy chained them together for an uber sandbed system. if i had the room i would too. the flow should be just enough to keep the detritus from accumulating on the sand, 300 gph? maybe less? i bet an MJ1200 would be fine. Welcome!

Ok so will a 600 Gph pump work or is that too much? Im thinking its too much against the syphon intake. other then deciding pump factors Ive got a 200 gallon salt mix bucket full of sand already too go i think its more like a 10 gallon bucket (is that overkill?) I am questing if i should paint it black to keep out light or if that will even matter. I think i would rather keep it small but if i can do it with junk i got around the house i whould be happy. i am also afraid of a disaster in my rental house. thanks for reading and throwing in your comments When i build it i will take pics so if anyone elses builts we can refer them to this thread :bannana:

yeah 600gph is a bit much i would think, what about a tee off of the return? according to what i've read, the bucket needs to be dark for the goodness to take place. a closet,paint,whatever you have will work.

I haven't read into them too much but am thinking of plumbing one into my new system. Let us know how it goes if and when you do. Pictures are fantastic as well :D Oh and.... :welcome:

when i get around to it i will def document and post this

Deff. a + IMO!! I have a RDSB on my display at the shop, it has 10 fish and gets fed 3-5 times a day, before adding the RDSB the Nitrates would stay around 15 with weekly 10g water changes. Since adding the RDSB the Nitrates are 0 with 10g weekly WG's. IMO gravity fed is better then a pump! If you have a sump system just T off the drain to have one section dump into the RDSB, for this purpose you only need 50-100gph. If you use a 5 g bucket build a stand for the bucket to get it higher then the sump. Drill the bucket and put a bulkhead on it (use silicone to get a good seal) and plumb it to where it just gravity feeds into the sump. DSB are great natural filters and very easy/inexspensive to run

with it off of the drain wouldnt that add to the amount of detritus that accumulates in it?

gotcha! thanks.

sweet gravity feed makes this an ezier cheaper project.. I will be plumbing inline with my canister filter. so now im in the process of getting supplies. I would think it would be better w/o a sock filter b/c detris would practically be stuck in in system. just my toughts.

I'm not a fan of filter socks but they are always an option if you want to clean or change them 2-3 times a week. If you are running any sponges or media in the canister removing (as long as you have live rock) that will help a ton with Nitrates. Not sure how you would gravity feed with a canister though.