he said the borrowing animals "rasps"
could expose the anaerobic
bacteria and cause the ammonia to spike in a dsb.

That's stupid.

Yes a 45 is a small tank, but I'd put it at least 2
inches. Just keep in mind that the deeper you make
it , the better, but the deeper you make it, the
more space it will take up. I like to make it
shallower in the front, and deeper in the back. Use
a nice fine calcium sand.

Wayne Sallee




jthread wrote on 11/4/2007 2:50 PM:
Some of you had recommended a dsb for lowering nitrates and i said the lfs
told me not to. I said something about nitrogen bubbles and... well i'm a
nubee and was basically talkin' out my bottom and this is what the lfs said.

Paraphrase: They only recommend 1" of a sand bed "on small tanks" due lack
of real-estate. He didn't say anything about borrowing animal releasing the
bubbles he said the borrowing animals "rasps" could expose the anaerobic
bacteria and cause the ammonia to spike in a dsb. He did say something about
nitrogen bubbles but i don't remember the context.

I'm learning. Sorry for the confusion

I'm considering a dsb in my 45 gal tall tank as it has room. How many inches
do you suggest?

Jim