I,m planning a DSB in my established tank. After filling the tank with sand I will add the infauna.

I consider that the fish have a meal. In a new set up you wait some time without adding fish. How can i be sure that the live sand animals establish themselves in the presence of the fish?

Regards,

Ron.

Gorinchem, Netherlands

It is very good to hear from you my friend.

Yes.. it is a very good idea in my opinion to establish the DSB without fishes for some months first. You can add live rock and most other invertebrates (they will help by adding incidental infuana for the sand too). And the feeding of these invertebrates will provide food for the growing infuana by feces, metabolites and scraps of uneaten food. The worms and amphipods will enjoy much of the meaty matter. And you can add a small amount of phytoplankton to spur the growth of copepods too if you like.

This kind of patience and effort will allow a greater diversity of infuana to develop (and they will do so in greater numbers) in the absence of predatory fishes for some months.

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Anthony Calfo

A master in quick replay!! for sure.

I must say that my efforts will take place in a tank thats already stocked! I planning to switch from a BB to a DSB system. So, are there recommendations to give the little animals/detrivore a change to establish despite of the swimming predators!

Regards,

Ron.

Gorinchem, Netherlands

By the way, i,ve read tonight a 34 pages tread you started about the RDSB

Truly amazing simple and working. Now i must give my eyes some rest

Regards,

Ron.

Gorinchem, Netherlands

heehee... I do the best I can when I can Even to the extent of neglecting my personal email as you know But you are alwaus welcome my friend.

Yes... exactly correct my friend. And if we cannot do this, then we must lower our expectations for what the display DSB can do. In a case such as yours with stocked fishes, your DSB will be little more than microscopically alive. But that is OK in my opinion, that is indeed what DSBs are best for (NNR- Natural Nitrate Reduction) and little else.

As such, you may just want to consider a remote DSB bucket or tank as you have been reading about. Thanks for your kind words too The RDSB/bucket thread on RC is one of my favs.

with kind regards, Anthony

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Anthony Calfo

Since I cant get the full advantages of a DSB in an established tank, adding one is not longer an option for me in my current set up. I will however add a remote DSB at it. I,ll post later the progress and results.

Regards,

Ron.

Gorinchem, Netherlands