Benthic zones in sump.

[cheeks69]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

Robert the sand bed is sitting on a glass plate, the bottom of the sand is cut off from the water going under, imagine suspending a 10 gallon aquarium 4 inches off the bottom of a 40 gallon, fill the 10 with sand, thats the dsb. the water going under the sand has no contact its just a tunnel. I thank you for the effort you have put forth to see this sometimes a concept is very hard to explain

Oh ok I thought you were going to use the egg crate mentioned in the video. I can see it work just don't know if the DSB will be large and deep enough to provide a noticeable ability at NNR.

I don't understand what you're trying to accomplish with that, but it doesn't seem like it will work properly to me...

With providing a benthic zone your creating an environment conducive to the gowth of natural filter feeders such as sponges, tunicates, aiptasia and fan worms etc.

[fishcrazy]

Different strokes for different folks.

I watched the video where he was discussing that this would help a poorly working protein skimmer that had fanworms growing in it. My first thought was to replace the protein skimmer with a good one rather than create a place for detritus to collect to feed benthic critters.

[sasquatch]

Well Robert the hope was some is better than none and it is self generating, couldnt hurt to try,40 lbs of live sand and miracle mud should have some impact my tank is much better than before but thats hard to gauge because of the upgrades to everything else in the last 4 months. Fishcrazy the fact that this (area) is lowest in sump means it is a detrius trap and very easy to siphon off at water change , I would much rather it be here than settling else where

[BoomerD]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benthic


You're still not likely to get a true benthic zone, based on the actual definition of them. What you are trying to do, is basically the same thing that occurs in most refugiums. A "safe haven" for pods, feather dusters, macroalgaes, and such to grow without predation from the fishy population.

Edit: there seems to be some differences in definition on this. Some list it as only the deepest parts of the body of water, others just consider the bottom, (ocean floor) at any depth to be the benthic zone, so under that description, then you ARE creating something of a benthic zone refugium...

[Witfull]

a true Benthic zone is devoid of light though.

[BoomerD]

Originally Posted by Witfull

a true Benthic zone is devoid of light though.

Well, that's what I always thought too Witty, but then I found these:


http://www.fathom.com/course/10701050/session2.html
"Benthic Greek word meaning 'depths of the sea' but applied specifically to the sea floor at all depths to distinguish it from the 'pelagic,' meaning the water column above the bottom."

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00116/benthic.htm
"Benthic, a term meaning bottom is the name of the ocean zone ranging from the deepest parts of the ocean to the tidal affected areas. The most productive region of the benthic zone is the area over the continental margin, which is unaffected by the tides. Many groups and varieties of animals live here, a few are worms, sea pens, crustaceans, stars, and protozoa. The life in this zone is mostly made up of bottom dwellers which get most of their food from dead and decaying organisms. Therefore most of the organisms in the benthic zone are scavengers because they depend on dead flesh as their main food source."

http://www.coast-nopp.org/resource_g...cts/bingo.html
"The benthic zone is defined as the bottom layer of the ocean. The ocean bottom is home to a diversity of organisms known as the benthos. A benthic community may exist in areas that are shallow or deep, warm or cold, or dark or bright. The organisms found in the benthic zone are directly related to the specific habitat type. Several factors control the distribution and diversity of benthic organisms. These factors include the amount of light, salinity or salt content of the water, temperature, food/nutrient availability, and the stability and type of substrate associated with the habitat. Crabs, lobsters, and clams are benthic organisms that may be found in a rocky intertidal habitat. Some near-shore benthic habitats contain seaweeds (non-vascular plants). Kelp is an example of a multicellular seaweed and a representative of the benthic community. This species of seaweed attaches to the bottom via a holdfast, which is a root-shaped structure. Other habitats with abundant benthic organisms may include coral reefs, oyster reefs, deep-ocean environments, salt marshes, estuaries, and mangrove swamps. "

[sasquatch]

Now that was a session!! Theres enough reading to keep me going for a bit lol. ok so back to the question. Is there a benefit from this application? is expanding it of any use? could it be condensed into a modular unit, mommy can I have my meds my brain hurts

[cheeks69]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

Is there a benefit from this application? is expanding it of any use?

Yes of course there is, anything to export nutrients is beneficial IMHO.

Well Robert the hope was some is better than none and it is self generating, couldnt hurt to try,40 lbs of live sand and miracle mud should have some impact my tank is much better than before

yes I agree I have a small section in my sump with a DSB and some LR and I like to think it helps some just can't say for sure how much

mommy can I have my meds my brain hurts

ROTFLOL

[lcstorc]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

mommy can I have my meds my brain hurts

: : :
ROFL
I know the feeling.

Great discussion guys.
Thanks

[boozeman]

[sasquatch]

Wow not one angry word, that is so cool. I promise never to bring up the vodka debate lol.

[Amnestia]

It kind of looks like the size of your sand grains are rather large, if you switch to smaller grains it'll make that 4' dsb a bit more effective too providing more surface area and less flow.

[Basile]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

Robert the sand bed is sitting on a glass plate, the bottom of the sand is cut off from the water going under, imagine suspending a 10 gallon aquarium 4 inches off the bottom of a 40 gallon, fill the 10 with sand, thats the dsb. the water going under the sand has no contact its just a tunnel. I thank you for the effort you have put forth to see this sometimes a concept is very hard to explain

Hi, i just watched the video 6 times Reef Videos ( second top clip from the left)Tell me if i'm wrong because i want to do this in my next 20G sump. From what i've heard, he has no sand at all in the benthic zone just sediment accumulation which is good for the dusters and the likes. The upper level of the crates have a matt preventing a layer of sand to trickle down underneath, where there is no light. The slow water is perfect for the critters who don't need light as he says and the upper part he uses macroalgea . in the third section the return pump. Still from the video, he says he was surprised that a 20 G was so efficient at keeping such a big tank clean and clear.Aptisia is growing in the first chamber of the sump where the skimmer is and its propagation into the main tank is stoped by a UV steriliser in the third chamber. He says that the proof of its working is the fact that they grow there , filtering and that they polish the water. What do you think did i missed any detail of the desing.

[sasquatch]

Basile, think youve got it! my system has be totally remodeled now but that design worked very well for me, i did start running a filter sock on the input side, that cut detritus down to nearly 0, good luck with your project. Steve

[Basile]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

Basile, think youve got it! my system has be totally remodeled now but that design worked very well for me, i did start running a filter sock on the input side, that cut detritus down to nearly 0, good luck with your project. Steve

Ye, thanks. I hope finish it this summer. I just got my lights, a big 1G. My funds are down so got to wait.