DSB

You need a calcium based sand. A silica based sand
can be used, but a calcium based sand is better.

Wayne Sallee



jthread wrote on 11/29/2007 6:02 PM:
I went and got paver sand at Homedepot out of habit. Am I supposed to use
play sand? The paver sand isn't very consistent.

"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
You need a calcium based sand. A silica based sand can be used, but a
calcium based sand is better.

Wayne Sallee



I got Caribbean Live sand. $55 for 40 lbs. Claims to reduce nitrates. "Real
Aragonite" Whatever that means.

Jim

jthread wrote:
I got Caribbean Live sand. $55 for 40 lbs. Claims to reduce nitrates. "Real
Aragonite" Whatever that means.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aragonite

It's what you want. It's usually comes from calcareous endoskeleton
corals, so it's basically dead coral that has turned to sand by grinding
action.

Hi Jim,

I suggest that you read at least one of these three articles:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

http://web.archive.org/web/200208060.../1/default.asp

http://web.archive.org/web/200012122...wb/default.asp

These are all by Ron Shimek, the guy who essentially "invented" the
concept of using a sand bed to process excess nutrients in a home
aquarium. In a nutshell they each explain why there are basically
three (closely interrelated) things that are important to a
functioning DSB:

1. The range of particle sizes that make up the sand.

2. The depth of the bed.

3. The diversity of the organisms that live in and on the sand.

Subsequent to these articles being published Shimek has added a fourth
parameter: Sand bed area, saying that "edge effects" make it difficult
to impossible to maintain the necessary DSB biological diversity in a
tank smaller than about 40 gallons. IOW: A DSB in a small sump,
refugium, or bucket is pretty much a waste of time in terms of
nutrient processing.

Each article specifically makes the point that the mineral make-up of
the sand is not important so long as there is nothing toxic in the
mix.

It's likely that the sand in your tank is just fine so your next move
should be to buy, beg, borrow, or st...(never mind) a number of
'innoculants' for your DSB from friends' or LFS's tanks and/or
detrivore kits from various on-line merchants. Also, figure on re-
inoculating your DSB periodically (once or twice a year). BTW: The
live sand you bought mainly contains bacteria but it's unlikely to
have much else in the way of infauna.

HTH.

Sedimentarily yours,

Alex

"Tidepool Geek" wrote in message ...
The live sand you bought mainly contains bacteria but it's unlikely to
have much else in the way of infauna.

Unlikely?? Are you kidding?
Will have NOTHING else, becasue nothing else would
survive shelf life in the sealed plastic bag.

But I would mix both sands since the coraline sand
could be pritier than the paver sand - I would put
paver sand on the bottom layer than coraline from bag.

"Pszemol" wrote in message
...
"Tidepool Geek" wrote in message
...
The live sand you bought mainly contains bacteria but it's unlikely to
have much else in the way of infauna.

Unlikely?? Are you kidding?
Will have NOTHING else, becasue nothing else would
survive shelf life in the sealed plastic bag.

But I would mix both sands since the coraline sand
could be pritier than the paver sand - I would put
paver sand on the bottom layer than coraline from bag.

I decided not to put the paver sand or play sand because I thought it would
be ugly and I'd regret it in the long run. I put the Aragonite right over
the old sand. I hope that's OK. Looks real nice now but I have a skylight
there and it likes to grow red slime on the sky light side. Any pointers on
getting rid of it (the slime) are appreciated.

Jim

jthread wrote on 12/2/2007 8:05 AM:
but I have a skylight
there and it likes to grow red slime on the sky light side. Any pointers on
getting rid of it (the slime) are appreciated.

Jim



More details please. :-)

Wayne Sallee

"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
jthread wrote on 12/2/2007 8:05 AM:
but I have a skylight there and it likes to grow red slime on the sky
light side. Any pointers on getting rid of it (the slime) are
appreciated.

Jim

More details please. :-)

Wayne Sallee


I have the (coral life) bright lite on during the day. Should I cut out, the
cl, during mid day when sun light is brightest from skylight. The skylight
is 2.5'x3' so it's pretty big. The tank is also near a big window i leave
open everyday
..

Jim

"jthread" wrote in message ...
I decided not to put the paver sand or play sand because I thought it would
be ugly and I'd regret it in the long run. I put the Aragonite right over
the old sand. I hope that's OK. Looks real nice now but I have a skylight
there and it likes to grow red slime on the sky light side. Any pointers on
getting rid of it (the slime) are appreciated.

Measure phosphates with a electronic photometer...
If you have anything in the range of 0.05-0.09
than you have too much phosphates and you should
use phosphate removers.

"Pszemol" wrote in message
...
"jthread" wrote in message
...
I decided not to put the paver sand or play sand because I thought it
would be ugly and I'd regret it in the long run. I put the Aragonite
right over the old sand. I hope that's OK. Looks real nice now but I have
a skylight there and it likes to grow red slime on the sky light side.
Any pointers on getting rid of it (the slime) are appreciated.

Measure phosphates with a electronic photometer...
If you have anything in the range of 0.05-0.09
than you have too much phosphates and you should
use phosphate removers.

sounds like a light cut down. I was figuring to cut it at 30 min intervals
and see how it goes.

jim