Are there any DSB fans, and why do you like them?

[jcnkt_ellis]

So if you have 3-4 inches= Not DSB?
Can you siphon the DSB to help maintain the top clean or does that defeat the purpose?

Also, can I mix the smaller sand (Fiji) with Seaflor Special Grade?
Lots to learn
Adriana

1) 3-4" of common size sand is a DSB and is in the sweet spot depth wise, if you google DSBs there is talk of dangerous gasses being converted in the sand if the sand gets 6"+ deep as new/different bacteria are able to live down there.

2) I would not siphon the top, the whole point of the DSB is to have snails like nassarius to work the stuff on top into the top layer where it can start to be broken down by bacteria/worms/etc... into Nitrogen gas, siphoning off the top creates a food shortage and limits the amount of bacteria/worms/etc in your bed.

3) If you are mixing different grain sizes make sure the smaller grain is on bottom, otherwise no worries.

[OrionN]

4 inches is plenty especially if you use fine sand. I have a lot of current in the tank so I put a layer of coarse shells on top of that to keep the current from blowing the sand around. I have had 10-12 inches fine sand before and did not see much different in term of ability to process waste.
My nitrates always is 0 with heavy fish feeding and heavy fish load. I change water for trace elements and micro nutrients not due to Nitrates

[clamgal]

Minh
How do you keep your nitrates 0?

[OrionN]

The sand bed keep my nitrate at 0. You do need to seed the sand bed to give it a diverse fauna.

[clamgal]

How do you seed your sandbed?

[vordonez]

Good Quality Live Rock will seed your tank.

[OrionN]

I traded sand with a bunch of people after make sure their tanks got no undesirable pests. I got a bunch of sand from the Corpus Christi Bay at peak of summer and added it to my tank.

[OrionN]

I used to live on the Corpus Christi Bay and got a bunch of dead rock into the bay and leave them there for a few months then get them into my tank directly.
I think a diverse fauna is important to get a healthy tank.