I have experimented with a bare bottom, and have
found it to be interesting, but not as good in the
long run.

I have found that while having a refugium with deep
sand bead is beneficial, the remote deep sand bead
is not able to do the same as a deep sand bead
located in the main aquarium where the action is at.

Wayne Sallee



Mark Cooper wrote on 3/1/2008 12:25 PM:
KurtG wrote in
:

Any good recommendations for Detritus build-up? I inherited a 100
gallon tank with a DSB, but I've been battling high nutrient loads
since I got it. I suspect that the DSB is loaded with detritus.

--Kurt

I have gone without a dsb and have had much better results. They are
fine if you have the right maintenance, but without the right setup it's
a detritus sink. I read a thread on Reef Frontiers where Anthony Calfo
discussed that the successful dsb tanks have great flow, a great
skimmer, and a balance of bioload, cleanup crew and dsb fauna. He stated
that for most hobbyists it will save a lot of headaches if you go ssb or
bb.

He recommends the remote dsb as a trouble free option while reaping the
benefits of a dsb.