Paul B
Well-Known Member
Fiskisser, I just wrote this on another Forum to answer a similar question. I think it will fit here also.
I think I also explain why even adding microorganisms IMO will not help. I think the only thing to do with such a bed is to remove some of it in a few years, clean it and put it back.
Don't forget, this is my theory and mine alone. I take full responsibility and know that most, if not all hobbiests will disagree. In 20 years we will know the truth.
I think I also explain why even adding microorganisms IMO will not help. I think the only thing to do with such a bed is to remove some of it in a few years, clean it and put it back.
Don't forget, this is my theory and mine alone. I take full responsibility and know that most, if not all hobbiests will disagree. In 20 years we will know the truth.
The technology as to how they work is not flawed, but the technology as to what keeps them working is flawed.
DSBs have been around for 20 years or so, where are the tanks that ran these systems 20 or even 15 years ago?
There are a handful of even 10 year old DSBs. I know of two.
Any substrait in a closed tank will fail eventually. Even my RUGF.
The difference is the size of the particles. Smaller particles will clog sooner. The theory of a DSB is that organisms populate the sand and burrow down to the lower levels there by letting in water to be treated by the bacteria to remove nitrate.
Everyone knows that will work, initially. As the bed matures and detritus accumulates, which is composed largely of dead bacteria, the anerobic or anoxic areas (yes I know they are different and I called Bob Goemans to tell him of his mistake)
Can not support any life except for certain bacteria.
Pods, worms, crabs, or anything else can not live there nor can they visit there even for a few seconds. Eventually, that layer will not have any water circulation and it will become anoxic. Totally useless for our purposes because no water can get there to be treated. There is no animal life there due to no oxygen. The spaces between the sand grains will clog with dead bacteria and detritus and if you drilled a hole in the bottom of such a tank, I doubt any water would leak out.
The waste materials that get treated in a DSB do not magically get beemed to another dimension. There is always some solid waste materials in an aquarium and it does not take much of this to clog sand.
Another thought is while these organisms will dig in the substrait, after a few years many of these minute animals will no longer re produce. After a short while most of the bed will be very barron.