substrate question

"Quiet Reef" wrote in message
news
Hi the

Do any of you think it would be possible to use tiny glass beads 1-2mm
in the substrate? They would be inert, wouldn't they?

Thanks,
quietreef

I'm sure you could use this as a substrate, but I think it would only be for
your viewing pleasure. You might do some research on grain sizes of Deep
Sand Beds (DSB) to find out if this would work at denitrification. Also you
wouldn't get any buffering capabilities for your system. I'm also not sure
if detrivores would burrow into glass beads, so it might be a problem
keeping it clean.

Those are just my thoughts. I don't have any real research to back it up.
I did use glass marbles for freshwater fish breeding at one time, and glass
is inert, and won't harm the fish. It is my opinion that you should use an
aragonite sand, and if you don't want to pay a fortune for it, try looking
for southdown/yardright/old castle brand sand at home depot, or your local
landscaping companies. Yard right sand is sold as Tropical Play Sand at
some of these places. If you can't find that, I would at least go with a
decent silica based sand. I do have to say though, that there is debate on
whether silica based sand is good for your tanks, but so far all the
research I have done, has led me to believe that this is all bunk, and it is
ok for your tank. But only you can make that decision. -Chris

I tried the home depot brands,NOT GOOD!! If your going to do a DSB you
should do it right from the beginning or you will get hell,,,Its what helps
support the system and unless you have 20 cent minnows in the tank I would
not mess with the proven way.Trust me I tried

--


www.reeftanksonline.com
www.nydiver.com
ONLINE meeting rooms



"Chris Gentry" wrote in message
news:N_p_d.145516$tl3.49247@attbi_s02...

"Quiet Reef" wrote in message
news
Hi the

Do any of you think it would be possible to use tiny glass beads 1-2mm
in the substrate? They would be inert, wouldn't they?

Thanks,
quietreef

I'm sure you could use this as a substrate, but I think it would only be
for
your viewing pleasure. You might do some research on grain sizes of Deep
Sand Beds (DSB) to find out if this would work at denitrification. Also
you
wouldn't get any buffering capabilities for your system. I'm also not
sure
if detrivores would burrow into glass beads, so it might be a problem
keeping it clean.

Those are just my thoughts. I don't have any real research to back it up.
I did use glass marbles for freshwater fish breeding at one time, and
glass
is inert, and won't harm the fish. It is my opinion that you should use an
aragonite sand, and if you don't want to pay a fortune for it, try looking
for southdown/yardright/old castle brand sand at home depot, or your local
landscaping companies. Yard right sand is sold as Tropical Play Sand at
some of these places. If you can't find that, I would at least go with a
decent silica based sand. I do have to say though, that there is debate
on
whether silica based sand is good for your tanks, but so far all the
research I have done, has led me to believe that this is all bunk, and it
is
ok for your tank. But only you can make that decision. -Chris

I have 75lbs of the Home Depot "Tropical Play Sand" in my reef tank. It is
full of critters, it stays milk white, the fish, snails etc all play in it
and it has the gas bubbles evident of denitrification. I did not even seed
it with live sand from LFS! So what's wrong with it in your opinion?

John

"Rich R" wrote in message
...
I tried the home depot brands,NOT GOOD!! If your going to do a DSB you
should do it right from the beginning or you will get hell,,,Its what helps
support the system and unless you have 20 cent minnows in the tank I would
not mess with the proven way.Trust me I tried

--


www.reeftanksonline.com
www.nydiver.com
ONLINE meeting rooms



"Chris Gentry" wrote in message
news:N_p_d.145516$tl3.49247@attbi_s02...

"Quiet Reef" wrote in message
news
Hi the

Do any of you think it would be possible to use tiny glass beads 1-2mm
in the substrate? They would be inert, wouldn't they?

Thanks,
quietreef

I'm sure you could use this as a substrate, but I think it would only be
for
your viewing pleasure. You might do some research on grain sizes of Deep
Sand Beds (DSB) to find out if this would work at denitrification. Also
you
wouldn't get any buffering capabilities for your system. I'm also not
sure
if detrivores would burrow into glass beads, so it might be a problem
keeping it clean.

Those are just my thoughts. I don't have any real research to back it
up.
I did use glass marbles for freshwater fish breeding at one time, and
glass
is inert, and won't harm the fish. It is my opinion that you should use
an
aragonite sand, and if you don't want to pay a fortune for it, try
looking
for southdown/yardright/old castle brand sand at home depot, or your
local
landscaping companies. Yard right sand is sold as Tropical Play Sand at
some of these places. If you can't find that, I would at least go with a
decent silica based sand. I do have to say though, that there is debate
on
whether silica based sand is good for your tanks, but so far all the
research I have done, has led me to believe that this is all bunk, and it
is
ok for your tank. But only you can make that decision. -Chris

"Rich R" wrote in message
...
I tried the home depot brands,NOT GOOD!!


Was this silica based? Or was it the actual tropical play sand?

Some people have heard about Southdown Sand at Home Depot
and inadvertently bought the regular ole silica, very very dirty
construction
sand not knowing the difference at purchase, thinking they have bought
what they heard about (Southdown)......

John Cassara wrote:

I have 75lbs of the Home Depot "Tropical Play Sand" in my reef tank. It is
full of critters, it stays milk white, the fish, snails etc all play in it
and it has the gas bubbles evident of denitrification. I did not even seed
it with live sand from LFS! So what's wrong with it in your opinion?



--
Ric Seyler

Its a MUDDY mess at first ,,,Their texture isn't suitable for sand bed
creatures, they seem to release silicates into the water, and also contain
various other minerals that aren't good for your tank ...its your tank
,,,what ever works for you man

--


www.reeftanksonline.com
www.nydiver.com
ONLINE meeting rooms



"John Cassara" wrote in message
...
I have 75lbs of the Home Depot "Tropical Play Sand" in my reef tank. It is
full of critters, it stays milk white, the fish, snails etc all play in it
and it has the gas bubbles evident of denitrification. I did not even seed
it with live sand from LFS! So what's wrong with it in your opinion?

John

"Rich R" wrote in message
...
I tried the home depot brands,NOT GOOD!! If your going to do a DSB you
should do it right from the beginning or you will get hell,,,Its what
helps support the system and unless you have 20 cent minnows in the tank I
would not mess with the proven way.Trust me I tried

--


www.reeftanksonline.com
www.nydiver.com
ONLINE meeting rooms



"Chris Gentry" wrote in message
news:N_p_d.145516$tl3.49247@attbi_s02...

"Quiet Reef" wrote in message
news Hi the

Do any of you think it would be possible to use tiny glass beads 1-2mm
in the substrate? They would be inert, wouldn't they?

Thanks,
quietreef

I'm sure you could use this as a substrate, but I think it would only be
for
your viewing pleasure. You might do some research on grain sizes of
Deep
Sand Beds (DSB) to find out if this would work at denitrification. Also
you
wouldn't get any buffering capabilities for your system. I'm also not
sure
if detrivores would burrow into glass beads, so it might be a problem
keeping it clean.

Those are just my thoughts. I don't have any real research to back it
up.
I did use glass marbles for freshwater fish breeding at one time, and
glass
is inert, and won't harm the fish. It is my opinion that you should use
an
aragonite sand, and if you don't want to pay a fortune for it, try
looking
for southdown/yardright/old castle brand sand at home depot, or your
local
landscaping companies. Yard right sand is sold as Tropical Play Sand at
some of these places. If you can't find that, I would at least go with
a
decent silica based sand. I do have to say though, that there is debate
on
whether silica based sand is good for your tanks, but so far all the
research I have done, has led me to believe that this is all bunk, and
it is
ok for your tank. But only you can make that decision. -Chris

Yes, Southdown gets very milky, but as soon as the bacteria starts
taking over
it settles out. And that very fine texture is beneficial to a DSB.
Southdown isn't
silica sand it's calcium based, so it can't release silica into your
tank, and Southdown
is absolutely the proper grain shape for sandbed creatures.

Sounds like you did what I described in my previous post in this thread.
Bought the wrong stuff.........

It is wise to screen Southdown for any foreign particles or objects.
As it's not intended for reef tanks and could have foreign debris in it.

Rich R wrote:

Its a MUDDY mess at first ,,,Their texture isn't suitable for sand bed
creatures, they seem to release silicates into the water, and also contain
various other minerals that aren't good for your tank ...its your tank
,,,what ever works for you man




--
Ric Seyler

yes problem got the wrong stuff,,,, I just think when you spend 1000 bucks
on stuff in your tank why would I put play sand that is not made for my
tank....Its not that I disagree with you. I just would not do it

--


www.reeftanksonline.com
www.nydiver.com
ONLINE meeting rooms



"RicSeyler" wrote in message
. ..
Yes, Southdown gets very milky, but as soon as the bacteria starts taking
over
it settles out. And that very fine texture is beneficial to a DSB.
Southdown isn't
silica sand it's calcium based, so it can't release silica into your tank,
and Southdown
is absolutely the proper grain shape for sandbed creatures.

Sounds like you did what I described in my previous post in this thread.
Bought the wrong stuff.........

It is wise to screen Southdown for any foreign particles or objects.
As it's not intended for reef tanks and could have foreign debris in it.

Rich R wrote:

Its a MUDDY mess at first ,,,Their texture isn't suitable for sand bed
creatures, they seem to release silicates into the water, and also contain
various other minerals that aren't good for your tank ...its your tank
,,,what ever works for you man



--
Ric Seyler

Rich, I am pretty sure it is the same stuff you are paying for. I have
CaribSea also but because I could not find the "Play Sand".

When I started putting together the costs for a DSb for a 200G aquarium
CaribSea the cost of the samd started coming in at $400. At that cost, play
sand looks better except that I cannot find it except on Ebay for the same
cost as CaribSea.


"Rich R" wrote in message
...
yes problem got the wrong stuff,,,, I just think when you spend 1000 bucks
on stuff in your tank why would I put play sand that is not made for my
tank....Its not that I disagree with you. I just would not do it

--


www.reeftanksonline.com
www.nydiver.com
ONLINE meeting rooms



"RicSeyler" wrote in message
. ..
Yes, Southdown gets very milky, but as soon as the bacteria starts taking
over
it settles out. And that very fine texture is beneficial to a DSB.
Southdown isn't
silica sand it's calcium based, so it can't release silica into your
tank, and Southdown
is absolutely the proper grain shape for sandbed creatures.

Sounds like you did what I described in my previous post in this thread.
Bought the wrong stuff.........

It is wise to screen Southdown for any foreign particles or objects.
As it's not intended for reef tanks and could have foreign debris in it.

Rich R wrote:

Its a MUDDY mess at first ,,,Their texture isn't suitable for sand bed
creatures, they seem to release silicates into the water, and also
contain various other minerals that aren't good for your tank ...its your
tank ,,,what ever works for you man



--
Ric Seyler

On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 18:10:04 GMT, Quiet Reef
wrote:

Hi the

Do any of you think it would be possible to use tiny glass beads 1-2mm
in the substrate? They would be inert, wouldn't they?


They will work. I've seen it before. I've been thinking of trying dry,
dead beach sand...once I sift the cigarette butts and other tourist
trash from it.