Is Live Rock Going to Compact a DSB?

[happyclam]

OK, I just added "crud" and cheato algae to refugium/DSB sump. I got the crud from Premium Aquatics, but I'm a little disapointed. I thought the crud would be a mixture of mud, sand, and fragments of live rock, teeming with all sorts of "bugs". But in reality all I got was live rock ruble, 1-3" long, with absolutely no sediment. While it is nice live rock, I wanted something more along the lines of a sediment. But anyway, on to the question: will the live rock ruble (1-4" in long, with most being 2" long) compact by DSB? Also, should I buy some real live sand, to introduce the beneficial sand microrganisms, or will the rock take care of it all?

 

[InsaneClownFish]

There's an easy way to solve your problem. It won't necessarily compact your sand bed. Here's the easiest solution:

1. Take all the LR rubble you have and place it in a clean lint free towel or newspaper and fold over.
2. Take a hammer and smash away- until it turns to dust.


...and yes, it will be just as beneficial like that spread over your current dsb as it will be in larger pieces- bacteria is bacteria.

Good luck!

 

[InsaneClownFish]

PS- don't go smashing things all willy nilly- wear protective googles in case you are messy.

 

[happyclam]

Thanks for the, well actually all, replys to my ton of questions in this forum (7 total)! I looked on line and it turns out that is actually what crud looks like, and that I just had a different idea in my head. Anyway, I'm fine with the crud now the way it is. But do I have to worry that those couple of 4" pieces will compact my sandbed?

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Nope.

 

[JoeyTheReefer]

got any pics