Best Sand Type for DSB

[NPage]

So what is the best sand type for a deep sand bed?

Here’s what I'm looking to do…
75g reef tank with 90 – 100 lbs of LR and a 4” – 5” sand bed.

I plan on stocking it with; (in no particular order)
2 Clowns and host anemone
Some Chromis, a Goby or two, some PJ Cardinals, Dartfish, Firefish, maybe a Blenny
Sps and Lps corals
Cleaning Crew, Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Star, maybe a Linckia
Tridacnid Clams

My concern with the substrate is what size and shape is best for a DSB?
Which will function better and be less prone to crash the tank?

Here are the two I'm down to. (or open to any other suggestions) I included their “sales pitch description”

Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand
This grade of aragonite is specifically engineered for plenum type nitrate reducing beds or anywhere a deeper bed is called for. The pore water space created by the precision grading also allows maximum pH support and dissolution of calcium carbonate. This is a very versatile product! Grain size 1.0 - 2.0 mm.
CaribSea's Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand

Tidal Marine Meridian Oolitic
Meridian™ is an all natural oolitic (spherical or egg shaped) aragonite substrate for all reef and marine aquaria. Meridian™ is the premium aragonite substrate for the reef aquaria. It's grain size (a fairly uniform .25 - .50 mm)
Seachem's Tidal Marine Meridian Oolitic

And BTW, I’d rather not go the Southdown route. Maybe I'm a cynic, but it seems like a bit too risky to save a few bucks.

Thanks all.

[fat walrus]

I would go with the Seaflor Special Grade. The Oolitic sand is really too fine and is hard to keep down with good flow.

[Rob]

the southdown stuff is great, IF you can find it.
one thing to note beyond Fat Walrus's post, is that 100 Lbs will very well not be enough to create a DSB. a 5" sand bed usually tanks at least 2 Lbs per gallon.
i would look at putting about 150-175 Lbs in there..

also note when you are first setting it up, the DSB will look VERY big. you might measure it to see 6" or 6.5" and say WHoa!!...
no worries, in a few weeks this will settle an you will have the depth you were after..

[NPage]

Thanks Guys.
Rob, BTW your PodCasts are a God send to those of us new to reefing.
Thank you!

I didn't want to get into too much details and bloat the first post.
I plan on getting 2 boxes of 45 lbs Fiji Premium online and about 40 - 50 lbs of base rock from a LFS for the foundation. I'm also looking at about 140 -160 lbs of sand. My tank is 48" wide and 18" deep.
Do you think that's enough sand?

Also I read on some other posts that some people are putting eggcrate under their rocks. Anyone have an opinion on this? Logically, it seems to me that would inhibit some of the natural flow and filtration.

Nick

[Rob]

check out Amphibiuos tank journal here

he has some great tips for something similar and better. he also includes reason for doing this..

as for the sand... 160 is what i would do if i were you..

[Amphibious]

to Talking Reef Community, NPage.

This is such a great site. You're going to love it. It's a family of reefers with the usual sibling rivalries. The subject of DSBs, is one of my favorite.

Being a proponent of DSBs for more than 10 years, I can speak with some authority on them. Of course with anything "reef" there are people on the other side. So, you either love them, hate them or no nothing about them.

My first suggestion is to read an article by Dr. Ron Shimek, the Guru of DSBs, a controversial man in his own right. The article is here. After reading the article you will better understand the function of a DSB and why we recommend a specific grade of sand over another.

Thank you, Rob, for directing NPage to my tank thread. If you read it, you will understand I have a specific method of setting up a DSB that works for me.

Originally Posted by NPage

And BTW, I’d rather not go the Southdown route. Maybe I'm a cynic, but it seems like a bit too risky to save a few bucks.

I'm not sure why you feel this way about Southdown sand. Southdown is merely a brand name for Aragonite sand which is an Oolitic sand which is the exact same sand you will be buying from Carib Sea or Seachem. The only difference is grading, packaging and price. Aragonite Oolitic sand all comes into the country from one source in the Caribbean. It comes in by barge and currently makes entry into the U.S. in two ports, Miami and Fort Pierce. The Ft. Pierce entry is for Carib Sea exclusively. The reason I know this to be a fact is I took a picture of Carib Sea's last shipment coming into the Port.



I didn't know it was Carib Sea's until I went to the Dockmaster and offered to buy 20 ton of it. He informed me I'd have to talk to them. So, this is what your sand looks like as it enters a U.S. Port. It's known in the trade by many names but it's all Aragonite, an Oolitic sand. By any other name, it's one and the same, just different prices and different packaging. I've used the cheap stuff for more than 10 years. It works just as good because it the same thing and saves you lots of money.

[NPage]

Looks like I have a lot of reading to do. Thanks for heading me in the right direction.

Amphibious, my concern with the Southdown is exactly what you said was the difference, the grading and packaging. I'm concerned about getting the bag that was shoveled off the warehouse's oily floor. (maybe I'm being a bit over paranoid)
Also there is not much play sand in stock here in Chicago this time of year.

[Amphibious]

Yes, finding Aragonite packaged as play sand is getting difficult.

I may have a source here in FL but getting it to IL would be cost prohibitive I think.

I wouldn't worry about getting the the oil soaked sand off the floor. Not likely to happen.

[NPage]

Thanks for the offer, but i think have to go with the pricier stuff. The shipping out weighs the savings.
I read Dr. Shimek's article and am a little confused about particle size.

He states that a majority of the sand should be between 1/4 and 1/16 mm.
That seems really fine to me. Ive read in other posts that the sugar fine sand blows around and may get too compact.
The Tidal Marine Meridian Oolitic is 1/4 to a 1/2 mm. Should I go with 120 lbs of that and 40 lbs of the 1 to 2 mm stuff?

I'm not asking anyone to break out the digital calipers, but any idea what size particles you guys have?

[CarmieJo]

Hi Nick,

to TR. Here are my thoughts in regards to grain size: I use Southdown which is sugar fine. It created a HUGE sandstorm which cleared in a week or so. Now normal circulation does not stir it up. Even if it gets stirred up from powerhead shifts, cleaning, etc it clears in a couple of hours.

[NPage]

Thanks CarmieJo,

I plan on using 2 Maxi-Jet 1200s modded with the wide stream modification. I hope that keeps the circulation diffused enough.
I can't find Southdown anywhere. Honestly at this time of year, I'm having trouble finding any sand other that the tubes to weigh your car down. So I'm going with the CaribSea Aragamax Sand (0.2 to 1.22 mm grain size, oolitic)

You mentioned in your sandstorm post you wished you had known about the garbage bag trick.

What is the garbage bag trick?

[CarmieJo]

Put the sand in your tank, cover it with a big garbage bag and put a plate on top of the bag. Then pour your water into the plate letting it overflow into the aquarium. Once the tank is full gently remove the plate and garbage bag!