Critters for a DSB--which?

[blorkiemom]

I'm still trying to work through this whole DSB thing. I usually can figure stuff out, but the more I read about DSB the more confused I get. (Note to self: next life, take chem in high school or college instead of weaseling out of it.) I have read all the links I can find and browsed the "Ask Dr. Ron" forum (over on reef central).

At first, I thought that seeding a DSB with "a few" (I was thinking like 10 for my 75) pounds of LS would be enough to start the necessary processes and in 6 months or so I would have a functioning DSB.

But then I came to understand that I need some bigger critters to move the sand around (not to sift the sand, because creatures that do that are actually eating the good stuff). I am somewhat confused about what, exactly, those creatures would be.

And now I think I've learned that I actually need to seed the sand bed with little bitty creatures . . . like this:

http://www.inlandaquatics.com/prod/prod_detrit.html
Reef Inland's Detritivore Kit.

Leaving aside the whole to DSB or not to DSB issue, do I have this right, finally? If I start with 4 inches of sugar-sized aragonite, add about 10 lbs of live sand from an existing tank, get an assortment of whatever those sand-moving-but-not-sifting creatures are, and then throw in a detritivor kit, will I have a properly-established DSB?

Or am I still asea on this?

 

[seafan]

Try the sand flea (sand sifting crab) There pretty good at that.

 

[phases99]

In time the micro critters should migrate from your LR and populate the DSB. You can also add some Nassarius Snails or any creature that does not deplete the sand bed.

 

[seaham358]

3-4 " of sand and seed as you mentioned. Are you getting LR? If so critters will come on that also. LS will have a bunch of critters in it.. Pods, worms ect. Have any friends with a tank. We trade sand in my reef club, how about a LFS with a mature tank buy some from him....

 

[blorkiemom]

Yes, I'll be getting about 120 lbs. of live rock. At this point, my only source of LS is the LFS and after looking at their LR, I sort of doubt their LS is too swell. I did see some online places that have it, so I might go with that. So I don't need to order a "kit" to seed the bed? That's what I originally thought--but like I said, the more I read the more confused I get. It seems like every book/website/expert has a slightly different, often contradictory set up . . . I guess at some point one just has to stop reading and take a leap of faith!

Thank you for the suggestions.