Other sump design beside DSB
- Thread starter Nemo
- Start date
NemoDSB is not expensive.
Welcome to MASA, original name too:49: DSB is really cheap and easy, i bought a 3 ft tank for R150, and use play sand for about 40 bucks, and you are sorted, you have to have the other stuff anyway like skimmers.. so why not just DSB?
Hi Nemo - a very WARM welcome to MASA! I would just like to know why you would NOT want to use a DSB? A DSB is the one the THE best, if not the best filtration methods you could ever use.
A skimmer definitely helps - but I see my DSB as my main form of filtration. With the life rock and skimmer being second.
A skimmer definitely helps - but I see my DSB as my main form of filtration. With the life rock and skimmer being second.
Sheesh never thought a DSB that important, then I'm very glad I got mine up and running!
Mekaeel
Moderator
Play sand is the cheapest option for a DSB.Go for it.You can also throw some macro algea (Chaetomorpha my choice) over the DSB for filteration.LR is also an excellent form of biological filteration.
MtroBoer - I am very pro natural filtration. I feel very strongly the DSB is extremely important in the filtration of my tank. BUT - the DSB works slow - not as fast as a skimmer.... So, a DSB is very good for long term filtration. Skimmer good for short term filtration (ie, if you have overfed accidentally, or overstocked ("accidentally"), or OF a fish or perhaps another invertebrate has died - to remove the crap out of the water before your other lifestock dies as well).....
I would like to also add a mangrove one day when I got the space! Also seems like a very interesting form of filtration, the only problem will be getting mangrove plants here in Kby, or will replace with substitude plants if available.
BTW what are the basics of setting up a mangrove i.e. type of mud specific plants, critters etc?
BTW what are the basics of setting up a mangrove i.e. type of mud specific plants, critters etc?
MtroBoer - I believe that getting/owning mangrobe plants in SA in unfortunately illegal. I too wanted to go that way at some stage, but I was not able to get ANY mangrove plants anywhere in SA.... You get the two types, white mangrove, and the red mangrove. The red mangrove is the better to use.
Maybe I must start a new thread so that I won't hijack this thread! Would be a interesting topic to discuss, especially if we can get hold of suppliers of plants, mud etc. as well as types of plants, critters and mud that's suitable.
But not illegal if you "import" from the states. But still way too expensive over the easy / "cheap" DSB
Thanks guys, I really appreciated to share your experience with me. The current sump which I use was from fresh water sump structure and I found this does not work as nitrate is getting very high. May be its time for me to redo my sump and go DSB route. Please provide pictures of your DSB sump, thanks.
