mistybellis
Premium Member
Okay, so I am setting up a new 75g tank and I stopped by the LFS (which is 2 hours away from me -hahaha), and I checked out his tanks.
The guy really seems to know his stuff. He has 3 beautiful display tanks (180g) with an overflow and a refugium with lots of Caulepra. His substrate choice was:
Natures Ocean (Premium Marine Substrate)
Seaflor Aruba Puka Shell (distributed by Caribsea)
There was approximately 1/2" of substrate scattered across his tank floors. He said that the refugium and LR was his method of denitrification (I think) and that a DSB was a bad idea because it would turn into something like rock or cement over time.
He also said that you had to have a ton of sand sifting critters for the DSB to do it's job adequately, and that if not properly maintained, it would cause serious nitrate problems in your tank.
He went as far as to say that he had several customers over the past year that had a bad nitrate problem in their tank and that they didn't know why. When they removed the DSB, problem was solved. I think they started relying on the fuge or something.
Which brings me to my dilemma:
I need help in deciding what to put as my substrate.
I purchased the following (rather prematurely and without further investigation):
150 lb Southdown Sand
20 lb Natures Ocean Premium Marine Substrate Samoa Pink Sand
20 lb Caribsea Arag Alive, Live Aragonite Reef Sand
18 lb Seaflor (Caribsea) Aruba Puka Shell
I have an overflow and sump with PS currently being built by Lifereef. My plan is to add a refuguim ASAP. I currently have approximately 70 lb of cured LR (30lbs of which I have had in another tank for about 3 years). I don't know exactly what type of theme I am going with in my tank, but I want to be ready to handle a pretty good bioload.
Should I use a combo of the above listed for my substrate? Should I forego a DSB?
I am trying hard to do the right thing as I go. If I use a DSB, can anyone point me toward threads that discuss proper maintenance of this type of substrate? I plan to keep this tank for MANY YEARS and I really want it to thrive!!!
The guy really seems to know his stuff. He has 3 beautiful display tanks (180g) with an overflow and a refugium with lots of Caulepra. His substrate choice was:
Natures Ocean (Premium Marine Substrate)
Seaflor Aruba Puka Shell (distributed by Caribsea)
There was approximately 1/2" of substrate scattered across his tank floors. He said that the refugium and LR was his method of denitrification (I think) and that a DSB was a bad idea because it would turn into something like rock or cement over time.
He also said that you had to have a ton of sand sifting critters for the DSB to do it's job adequately, and that if not properly maintained, it would cause serious nitrate problems in your tank.
He went as far as to say that he had several customers over the past year that had a bad nitrate problem in their tank and that they didn't know why. When they removed the DSB, problem was solved. I think they started relying on the fuge or something.
Which brings me to my dilemma:
I need help in deciding what to put as my substrate.
I purchased the following (rather prematurely and without further investigation):
150 lb Southdown Sand
20 lb Natures Ocean Premium Marine Substrate Samoa Pink Sand
20 lb Caribsea Arag Alive, Live Aragonite Reef Sand
18 lb Seaflor (Caribsea) Aruba Puka Shell
I have an overflow and sump with PS currently being built by Lifereef. My plan is to add a refuguim ASAP. I currently have approximately 70 lb of cured LR (30lbs of which I have had in another tank for about 3 years). I don't know exactly what type of theme I am going with in my tank, but I want to be ready to handle a pretty good bioload.
Should I use a combo of the above listed for my substrate? Should I forego a DSB?
I am trying hard to do the right thing as I go. If I use a DSB, can anyone point me toward threads that discuss proper maintenance of this type of substrate? I plan to keep this tank for MANY YEARS and I really want it to thrive!!!