Powdered limestone instead of aragonite?
- Thread starter Sripad
- Start date
billdogg
Well-known member
The problem you will have is that because it tends to be larger pieces, it will trap a whole bunch of detritus and need to be regularly cleaned. It will become a major PIA. Way back in the day, all my tanks were set up this way (and with UG filters) I have switched everything to sugar fine aragonite and could not be happier. If cost is the issue, the petsmart by us sell #30 aragonite for $19.99. Yours probably does too. When I set up my 150DT/120 refugium/50sump system, I used over #300 to get it going.
I live in india, it would take me approximately $40 or more for 15 kilos, i have a 36*15*18 tank id probably need more to create a DSB and that would mean doubling my budget or more. Plus i have an unlimited supply of beach sand which i don't mind cleaning , is it Okay to use?
uncleof6
Active member
I figure powdered limestone will just turn to mud, and be next to useless as far as that goes.
Dolomite, calcite, silica sand, (beach sand,) aragonite, are all suitable substrates. Each has advantages, and disadvantages, with aragonite being "best" all around.
For a critter based DSB, I would not consider anything other than sugar fine aragonite. This has to do with fluidity of the bed and grain shape vs. critters trying to live in a smooth vs. jagged/roughA environment.
On the other hand, you could use aragonite in the tank, or whatever you would prefer, and use 60 lbs of beach sand in a five gallon bucket, with nothing else in it--give it ~200 gph of filtered flow, and have yourself a very efficient DSB for nitrate reduction, with little risk--at a fraction of the cost of a full blown in tank aragonite (or other substrate) critter based DSB.
However, I would be very cautious about using sand off the beach--any beach. Well a remote island beach a 1000 miles from nowhere maybe not so much.....
Beach sand, dolomite and probably calcite are all available. I was thinking to make a DSB with beach sand treated with boiling water and if there is a way to do it hydrogen peroxide or bleach. Which of the three is the best and if its beach sand then what's the best way to clean? Also with beach sand can i use sand sifters?
