DSB Sand Recommendation ASAP?

[Dustin1300]

I'm putting in an order for substrate at PA before midnight for thanksgiving sale...I'm certain I will use Tropic Eden Reef Flakes for DT but am trying to figure out what sand to use in fuges....

One fuge will be DSB with live rock on top and another will be DSB with mangroves on half and chaeto on the other half....6" depth is what I was planning for so does it matter what sand I use for DSB? I'd assume the finer the better and no reason to purchase the higher end Tropic Eden substrate if not needed...

Options:

- Tropic Eden Aragasnow Sugar Size Sand 30lb - $37.99
- CaribSea AragMax Sugar Sand 30 Pounds - $24.99

I was planning on buying the AragMax to save $13 a bag and once I am to stage of adding water to tank I'll plan on getting live sand and putting an inch over top to get the appropriate critters and bacteria.

Thoughts? Opinions? Sound like good game plan?

 

[bif24701]

I would get sand that vary in size, the second choice is great but its all the same small size and may inhibit nutrients penetrating the DSB. A mix of sugar size and reef grade would be great. Caribsea live sand is a get mix.

 

[bif24701]

I would only buy dry sand and seed it with a cup of sand from a friends established tank or a small bit from your LFS.
As I said before, mix the grain size. But if you'd have to buy more sand then sugar fine will work well.

 

[Dre59]

Do some heavy research on what type to use. Here are some youtube videos that might help to understand on what type of sand to use.. Keep us posted : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL8rihCxnfE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YYDTXCQ2XA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Dustin1300]

Great videos dre. Based on that video sugar sized sand is the best form of dsb if you are not having a lot of flow. Since I am using this sand for fuge it seems that sugar sized is best. My main display is going to have reef flakes as I don't want sand storms and will be utilizing ssb...in total, I'm hoping to have a 48x18 area and 24x18 inch area in fuges utilizing a dsb of 4-6 inches.

From the earlier poster that was outlined you mentioned having different sizes....if you have a larger size then that means a deeper bed is needed? So I'm not sure I see the benefit?

I've still got to determine dsb depth on mangrove garden and recommended sand size...other parts are normal with live rock and macro algae but mangrove is new to me

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[bertoni]

If you want a live DSB, the finer sand likely is best, but a mangrove will require or do better with something more like mud, I think. There are various products in that category.

 

[bif24701]

To answer your first question:
Yes, it sounds like a fine game plan. lol

The second question:
Yes, you would need a deeper sand bed with a mixed grain size, the benefit would be more area for denitrifying. I would go 5-6" of a mixed sand. For sugar fine only, I think 4-5" would be plenty. Just over two inches and you will begin to get denitrifying bacteria with an all sugar fine sand.

 

[Dustin1300]

Thanks Bertoni and bif. I've done little research on the mangrove garden and might actually be something I add to my system a couple months after I've got the rest up and running. The refugium and DSB are of larger concern right now as I've got 80 lbs of live rock in a Brute container!

With the DSB I'm planning on having ~5 inches of sugar sand and then seed about another inch of live sand so it matures quicker. I may look into some DSB packages as well to help expedite the maturity so the DSB becomes effective.

I'm not adding the DT until a later date ~6-12 months as I want the tank to mature and will just be using my 140 gallon frag tank to start grow out and fish here and there. Being very patient for this build and was why I ended up not ordering the sand as I was doubting myself

 

[bertoni]

You're welcome! That plan seems reasonable to me.

 

[bif24701]

Great planning! No problem.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

FWIW, I never thought my deep sand beds contributed much if anything to the long term health of my system, and when I redid my refugia, I removed them.

My filtration is done by skimming, GAC, GFO, macroalgae growth, and organic carbon dosing (vinegar).

 

[tmz]

I removed most of mine as well. Shallow beds or none at all work just as well for denieification,ime with pools of deeper sand for animals that need it like certain anemones, wrasses , etc. .

 

[Dustin1300]

I'm going with SSB in DT but I'm referencing a fuge only...just live rock, DSB, and water movement!

 

[tmz]

I have one of those. I keep it unlit. It's about 7 inches deep with about 5 inches of live rock stacked on it to assist advective flow. I put it in to reduce nitrates. It did not do so in any noticeable way . It doesn't make a mess and does at least provide some extra surface area for bacteria and sponges . I don't know how far down necessary nutrients go for denitriierying bacteria though.I suspect most of it beyond and inch or two down is pretty sterile.