Layering a DSB

[Mike Murphy]

The plenum is down and I have washed and placed my first 40 pounds of aragonite ontop. It filled in at the sides and over the top of the 1 inch plenum but probably needs another bag. At that point I'm going to put a second layer of fiberglass screen down.

I then have one 40 pound bag of pink fiji aragonite and five 30 pound bags of aragamix which is the sugar size grain. That would make 270 pounds of sand in my 125 gallon reef tank.

I also have some large crushed coral to throw in the mix if needed.

Am I placing to much aragamix with this mixture? I want 4-5 inch sand bed.

 

[Mike Murphy]

OK no ideas or maybe I confused you. Let me simplify. I have way more sugar sized sand than the regular aragonite. Can't put the sugar sized sand on plenum screen as it is too fine and would fall through most likely so I need a larger base.

The sugar size will be in the upper layers and not mixed.

Comments?

 

[serpentman]

I hate to say it but its very probable that the smaller grain sand will work its way into the spaces between the larger grains of sand. Plus with the microfauna, etc moving around in the sand, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to maintain layers.

 

[Mike Murphy]

Yeah that thought crossed my mind.

 

[Sk8r]

There will be no layers, due to snails. You'll just have a general mix. I'm trying to get the fine stuff out of my tank because high flow causes it to 'walk' all over and harm corals. I'm going back to medium grade aragonite, personally.
The 'layering' you've heard about involves bacteria, and they will take care of that, themselves.
I'd ditch any crushed coral, though as just part of a mix it will be ok, just unsightly when algae turns the coral bits red. It's when it clumps up it collects nastiness and raises nitrate.
Hate to be so negative, but if you have a high flow tank (really windy) do expect the fine sand to move about, usually where you don't want it. Though it's great for sand-sifting fish.

Whatever you do, pre-wash it all in ro/di water (to avoid phosphates.) the stuff comes in very dusty and will be all over if you put it in without washing.

 

[Mike Murphy]

You're right about the floating about part. I've got about 70 pounds in so far and the wavebox moves things around a bit but not as bad as I thought. My loc line though I have redirected the flow to the surface for that very reason as it blasts the sand away if aimed downward. Been washing the aragonite as I gradually place it in the tank. I have at least an inch covering the plenum so I figure it is a good time to put the secondary screen down and then about 4 inches more of aragonite.