DSB or Starboard?

[pickle311]

I've been researching my brains out trying to figure out how I'm going to set up my 120. I'm stuck between DSB and Starboard. I like the more natural look of the sand better, but I also like the clean look of the starboard. But it doesn't look natural at all. I'm more concerned with the longevity of the tank and I keep reading horror stories about DSBs and crashing peoples tanks. What are your guys experiences and what do you suggest?

[kaiser]

I would go with a little sand in the tank 1 to 2 inches of aragonite and put the southdown DSB in the fuge. I ran a setup like that on a 125 and it worked well and looked good. The aragonite doesn't cloud the tank water when it gets stirred up. and if the DSB should crash it is in a seperate tank which should make it easy to change out.

[JeffCo]

It also depends on what you want to keep. If you are going SPS then I vote for BB, it helps keep the nutrients low while you skim out all the waste. If you want to keep LPS and softies then go DSB. Just make sure you seed it well with some critters and live sand of fellow reefers.

[pickle311]

it will most likely be a mixed reef like I have now. Only a few SPS, but mostly LPS. If I do go with DSB, should I just pull the sand out of my current tank and put it into the 120 with some new sand. I currently have a 40 gallon that's been running for close to a year and a half. There's tons of critters in the sand. I think I have about 70lbs of sand in my tank. I was hoping I could use that and buy about another 100lbs of Argonite (sp)

[donniekim]

When you stir up that old sand bed it'll stink like hell! I would rinse it,(the sand), real well before I put it to use again. Mybe catch a cup or 2 or 3 before it gets stirred up

Donnie

[JeffCo]

If you are going to use it, I would skim about the first 2" off the top of your live sand and add it to some new sand.

[Ross]

Personally, i like starboard. They dont look good at first, but after they get covered in zoos and polyps they are AWESOME!

[phage]

If you have proper flow and critters in teh bed to keep it stirred, it will not stink or (IMO) crash. I have had mine for 5 years (moved multiple times) and the person i bought the tank from had it for at least 2 years before that. The only reason it would ever smell is it not getting the things it needs to keep it healthy. Everyone has what has "worked for them" because most of us have no way of telling if something is actually working other than stuff didnt die, but i've liked my tank with a DSB more than i've liked other tanks that didnt have one.

[ratboy]

Ive used DSB in my tanks for about 5 years now (previously Jaubert method) and havent had any problems with crashing. Ive moved dsb tanks and Ive only had 1 of my own that stunk and was cemented in places (too little flow in my 40). As long as the DSB has enough critters and fauna the sand stays well mixed and you dont get cementing or dead spaces that produce H2S. Using a mixture of grain sizes in your DSB helps to minimize compacting as well. DSB also work to buffer your tank and release Ca as acids disolve sand from the lower pH at depths. If a DSB is working properly you should have to add sand periodically as your sand bed breaks down.

[GaryP]

OK, here's a question for you. What takes the place of a DSB for nitrogen cycling in a bare bottom or starboard bottom tank?

Gary

[MIOR6485]

BB all the way!!! Have had my 200 gallon running for six months with 0 nitrates and I have done no water changes. No mysterious algae bloom either. check it out.

[thedraven]

Although Im personally running a 1" deep sandbed in my 72, Ive been admiring the clean looks of the starboard tanks. Admittedly, Im not a huge fan of the dsb look.. sludgey slimy looking sand riddled with bubbles - It seems downright unattractive to have a few inches of tank glass showcasing this. I too had the unpleasant stinky experience when tearing down my 75 gal and removing the dsb. Im much happier with my current setup. No offense, just my preference.

[Sunhutch]

Correct if I'm wrong but I dont think 1" would be considered a "deep" sand bed. According to what I've read it needs to be 3"-4" with grains of varying size. Scubasteveo posted some links about it before he was setting up his current system. Personally I love my DSB, been up and running for over 2 yrs now with no problems. I havent seen a tank with starboard in person, the pics I've seen however do look nice.

[ansonluna]

Does anyone have any pics of a starboard bottom? I am really interested in what it looks like.

[Sunhutch]

Here's a pic:
http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=5718&high light=starboard

[thedraven]

Sunhutch, right you are!! My 1" sandbed definitely isnt a dsb, but I dislike the term barebottom (which to me implies absolutely no sand). Call it odd, but I like to be more specific. :grin: