Paul's RDSB-tank(s)

Paul · 3 July 2007

Hi,
i'm Paul from negeri belanda. I want to tell something about the tanks i have at this moment. I'm reefkeepinng since 10 years. Always with low tech because high tech means high prices and more pumps etc and more electricity bills. After a lecture of Ron Hessing here in Holland about a more biological way of filtration a started 2 tanks with a RDSB in the sump. This set-up is running since january 2007. The tanks are 80x60x50cm and 120x60x50cm together on 1 RDSB. Lighting is 6x39W T5 and 6x24W T5 with KZ Corallight. In the 120cm tanks i want to keep more or less SPS mixed with some leathers, so more current in this tank with a Marea 6000 and a Marea 4400. At the moment only 10 fishes.
In the 80cm tank i want to keep more LPS, buttons and discanemones and more little fish like Eviota, Trimma and pipefish. Have only 1 Marea 4400 for current. No fish present in this one but after the holiday i will start with adding fish. At the moment only some crawling critters to keep some algae away.

The start with the RDSB is easy to install. Just fill up the space where you normally put the skimmer etc with aragonitesand until a 15cm. In the pumpcompartiment now a small skimmer (Sander). The nitrate and phosphate were high: 20-25 and a 0,5. When the bed is filling up with the right bacteria you see this numbers going down. Weeds are growing in the RDSB to take some extra nutrient out and are a shelter for the small live that can be eaten by fish when it gets pumped up into the tanks.

This is all an experiment for me to see how far i can go with bioload running this RDSB. I change water every 2 weeks with 60 liters, add some Biocalcium and add 3 units of dutch jenever (gin) to feed extra the bacteria (a unit is for me the screw on lid of the bottle

Paul · 3 July 2007

Will try to add some more up to date pics later.
So far the first try.
Paul

Adrianto · 3 July 2007

Very nice Tank Paul.
Looking forward to see you in Jakarta soon

hnugraha · 3 July 2007

Hi Paul. Welcome. Always good to share such experiences. I am one of those control-freak nerds, but totally with you in seeking the simplest way to keep this hobby :smt023 Bills do matter.

Question... what's the gin doing exactly here? Is it same thing as vodka method? (makes me wonder why reef loves liquor so much

)

Paul · 3 July 2007

Yes, with the jenever/gin is the same as with the vodka. The sugars in it are fuel for the bacteria that break-down the nitrate and phosphate. I'm not a chemist so can not explain how it exactly but i see that it works it keeps the red slime algae away.
Paul

Js · 5 July 2007

Paul said:
Yes, with the jenever/gin is the same as with the vodka. The sugars in it are fuel for the bacteria that break-down the nitrate and phosphate. I'm not a chemist so can not explain how it exactly but i see that it works it keeps the red slime algae away.
Paul

Sugar work well with coil denitrator & dsb. sugar is a food to keep the bacteria alive.

samson · 6 July 2007

Wau... :shock:
Look at the LR 8)
Beautifull...

Js · 6 July 2007

Paul did you use LR from the beginning you run the system? pardon me if i wrong, its seem like Dead rock

Paul · 6 July 2007

Hi Js,
i used excisting LR from the previous tank i had installed in front of the window of the house. Also, i bought some new LR to give a new burst of bacteria live and i used some old rock i had stored to make a good reefscaping.
In the 80cm tank i have no big algae-eaters yet, so, the weeds are growing nicely. I don't want to put big algae-eaters like tangs in the tanks because they are too fast swimming for such small tanks. I want to use little heremietcrabs, fish like escenius-species.
Salam,
Paul

Js · 7 July 2007

paul can u upload your all sump system u have, so reefer here can learn to settup properly. here they still use bioball, large crush aragonite & fine cotton filter in they mind

Paul · 7 July 2007

terbang sekara!

Js, sorry.
I'm going to the airport now. I've pics with me so meet me in Sunter.
Paul

nanosan · 5 April 2009

Paul said:
Here some pics from a few weeks ago. Have made lots more photos lately but haven't put in the computer yet.

Greetz,

Paul

Well, so far the first try. :?

just try to make people happy with your tank :smt003 :smt003

Paul · 22 October 2010

This set-up has been replaced by another tank of 160x60x50cm. Also only with a sandbed in the sump. Mainly small fish like Eviota.

It's been a long tine ago i was on this forum. Next year august i'll come to Jakarta again for familyvisit. I did a diveholiday in Menado in november 2009.

njadik · 24 October 2010

Paul said:
This set-up has been replaced by another tank of 160x60x50cm. Also only with a sandbed in the sump. Mainly small fish like Eviota.
It's been a long tine ago i was on this forum. Next year august i'll come to Jakarta again for familyvisit. I did a diveholiday in Menado in november 2009.

Hi Paul,

It's nice to see someone using such a simple yet effective method to support the system.
I believe mother nature know best in how to deal with every living create, so it's no surprise
to see you succeed with your new tank. Wish all the best and i'm looking forward to see more updates.

I've been to Menado (Bunaken) before, and I think it had one of the most diverse ecosystem in Indonesia islands.
Hope you enjoy your visit there.

Best regards,
Irsandy

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