Thanks a2twenty, got the RDSB working

[BIGGUNSAR]

Took a bit of trickery. but got it working, with a sea salt bucket, two 6 feet hoses, one half inch, and one inch wide. 1/2inch is attached to the maxijet 1200, and the other is the return.

Took my tank perams. 20ppm nitrates. Been 20 ppm for 2 weeks.

In one week, take another test, adn post it. That will be on saturday each saturday. For one month.

Let's see if the Remote Deep sand bed works

Ps, cost run down

hoses 13 dollars
bulkhead fittings 8 dollars
maxijet 40 dollars
aquarium safe sealer foam 5 dollars
6 tie wraps 1 dollar
instant ocean Sea salt bucket free (used all the salt in it)

So total was 67 dollars.

If this gets my nitrates down to 0. I will shut off my skimmer and see if the RDSB still keeps the nitrates to 0. If so, I will keep my skimmer off permanently. No sense running a skimmer when a skimmer's main function is to remove nitrates.

[liv]

good to hear!
...but your skimmer does more that just that.
It clarifies the water by oxydising yellowing agents, adds oxygen and removed excess food/nitrates are some of its functions. I also found that it keeps plancton on check by nucking them. you don't want your water turning greenish yellow on you.

over time ( months ) your water may/will get yellow/green. One easy way to fix this would be to do water changes. since you are ocean side, i'd do a water change every two weeks of about 10G.

[Seahunter]

well said Liv. The skimmer will remove organics in your tank before they reach the nitrogen cycle. It also keeps the gas exchange regulated.

Keep us updated on the RDSB. Id love to hear how it goes.

[a4twenty]

and i agree with both of them :b7:

you can't rely just on the RDSB, it's part of the whole system and needs to work with everything else to be effective.

just remember to keep the light and detritus out and you should be fine.

[mdugly]

What sand did you use ?
Suspect it will take a bit before the RDSB is seeded/effective.
Starting to take readings now may be a bit too hopeful, but will be interesting none the less...

-mike

[BIGGUNSAR]

What sand did you use ?
Suspect it will take a bit before the RDSB is seeded/effective.
Starting to take readings now may be a bit too hopeful, but will be interesting none the less...

-mike

Thanks for the help guys. I used half beach sand at the bottom, and half argonite. HOpe that helps.

It should take a month to seed. So I have read.
But can't hurt, I will take readings until either the nitrates drop, or 3 months time elapses.

[BIGGUNSAR]

Okay new reading as of today.

1 week of the RDSB and my reading was about 18. Too light orange to be 20ppm, and too dark orange to be 10. My test kit only does 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, 80, 100.

Begining of last week, when the RDSB was started i was a dark 20ppm. So in other words, it was for sure 20 to 22ppm.

Can't wait for next week...I guestimate about 15 ppm will be the reading.

I will update you guys then.

Have a great weekend.

[bebitte70]

Do you fill the bucket all the way up or halfway? I will try and get a rdsb working in the future tank.

[a4twenty]

Can't wait for next week...I guestimate about 15 ppm will be the reading.

i'm gonna guess 20ppm, it should take 3 - 4 weeks to get going.

the good news is the beach sand must have been clean or you nitrates could have gone up.

[BIGGUNSAR]

Do you fill the bucket all the way up or halfway? I will try and get a rdsb working in the future tank.

8/10th's full of sand, and then put the bulkheads on and run the pump to pump the water fast over the sand.