substrate choices?

[Annette]

Hey all,
Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m a stark (nearly ravinââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢) newbie. I have been reading this forum extensively for a while as I want to educate myself about how to ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œdo it rightââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ the first time. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m starting to think this is probably an unrealistic goal and I will not self immolate if I make a mistake or two along the way. Any help anyone could offer would be very much appreciated.
My tank is mostly still in the planning stages. I want to eventually have a spectacular reef with corals, clams, anenomes, other inverts and some fish. I would like to use the sump to keep macroalgae for nitrate processing.
So far I have a 36x18x20 - 56g tank with a 1" drilled drain and 1/2" return (empty on the bedroom floor) has corner OF Bx at 10" linear, 3' MH with lunar lights on order, sump with refugium (being built) 48x12x18 will hold ~ 30g more water, and Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m in the middle of staining the stand (also on the bedroom floor.)
My questions at this time are about substrates. I would like to use a DSB without a plenum. I have read a lot of contradictory information. Can anyone offer opinions as to: Exactly what substrate could go in the tank vs what substrate could go in the refugium to acheive my desired outcome? Sand vs mud, sand and mud, sand no mud, mud no sand? Would prefer no BB anywhere. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢d make a joke here but not sure if appropriate.
Thanks in advance,
Annette

 

[dustin Combs]

Annette,

I would suggest going with a three or four inch sand bed. There is a ton of info about southdown sand (playground sand). It is a very fine sugar sized grain that looks fantastic in reef tanks. It is extremely cheap but the drawback is it's tuff to find. You maybe able to find it in the coastal states but us folks in the central states are stuck with the shipping costs. Do a search on RC for southdown or newcastle or yardright sand. I will also look for you.

dustin

 

[dustin Combs]

sand

sand

sand hunt

 

[Annette]

Intend to go with at least 4", need to know if it would be best to have that in both tank and refugium? And then what sort of detrivores to go in each.
Thanks for the sand link , will follow, I'm on the left coast near Puget Sound.

 

[dustin Combs]

some people do some people dont. I run a 4 in southdown bed in the display with 200lbs of live rock and I just have 80lbs of live rock in the sump. I decided not to run a dsb (deap sand bed) in the refugium. My NO4 has been non existant with the dsb in the display.
I would look for species of crabs and snails that won't eat each other. I have encountered this with conches eating all my snails. These buggers are in the sump and fuge now. There are many places online or ebay for snails, crabs, macroalgae. I suggest you use some sort of macroalgae also in your fuge. It is great for NO4 and PO4 absorbtion.
I would look for the sand a garden centers, DIY centers such as lowe's, home depot, etc..
Keep the ?'s coming.

dustin

 

[SaltyNovice]

I'm also in the (prolonged setup stage). I setting up a 120 gal with DSB. I have had a terrible time finding sand that is truly "white". I finally had to order through a building supply here in Amarillo. I haven't got it yet - it's been 17 days and counting. I called the supplier this weekend and they said it is on the way. It cost me 9.00 for a 100lb bag of white "sugar sand". Atleast that is the discription in the catalog. I will see. I ordered 300lbs to go in both my tank and "refug". I went to every Lowe's and HD in the area and finally I got on the phone and started calling all the building suppliers in Amarillo. Seems some school had just ordered this stuff for a play ground, but they ordered several thousand pounds - so I'm kind of in the background waiting on mine. Good luch with the tank!!

SaltyNovice

 

[Annette]

Thanks again for your comments .
It seems to me I read somewhere a concern expressed about using sand that is silicate based. Can someone please elaborate on that?
Annette

 

[GARFVolunteer]

The sand size and shape is what is important. A local guy ordered a pallet of the Yard Right sand and it ended up costing $16 per 50lbs bag. There are many ways to do it right. Dustin's 3 to 4 inches would work as well as any and the benefit is it looks awesome in the tank. My plenum works great but makes for a butt-ugly sand bed...

I have ordered a 150 gallon tank and am planning in lining the bottom with Starboard and having the yard right sand on top of it. The only purpose for the starboard is to keep the bottom of the tank white even if it is blown clear.

My plenum will be in the sump/farming unit. The sand in the display tank is for aesthetics only.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[dustin Combs]

silicate = phosphates. If you aren't sure what you get you can test it will vinager. I think the rule is if it bubbles it is silica. If it doesn't it will be ok for the tank.

 

[dustin Combs]

play sand

play sand

here are some links for sand

yard right sand

 

[GARFVolunteer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6514668#post6514668 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dustin Combs
silicate = phosphates. If you aren't sure what you get you can test it will vinager. I think the rule is if it bubbles it is silica. If it doesn't it will be ok for the tank.

If it bubbles, it is calcium based and the vinegar is dissolving it...

Thanks,

Scott

 

[dustin Combs]

Thanks scott for the correction. I have never done this only heard.