someone explain dsb?

[Avid_Aquarist]

ive been looking for sand and all i can find is "quick-crete"
is silica bad in sand?
should i use a deep sand bed or a shallow sand bed?
what depth of sand is perfered?

 

[gcvt]

Here's a DSB article you might find helpful:
http://www.rshimek.com/reef/sediment.htm

Silica-based sands are fine if you can't find Southdown/OldCastle etc. Grain size is very important though; I've never seen any QuikCrete, or other Home Depot type sand, that has a small enough grain size for a DSB. I went with #125 mesh silica-based sandblasting sand (~4" deep) and it's worked very well.

 

[saltyc]

I couldn't find any aragonite sand in my area. Finally came up with some really, really fine white silica sand like they use in ashtrays. Works like a charm! My only problem so far is I have a hard time not vacuuming it up!!

 

[Avid_Aquarist]

thanks for the article!
should i get the sand to screen out and use the smaller particles?

 

[GoBlue]

I've started reading about DSB with interest. I understand if aragonite sand is available (which here in Nashville, it doesn't seem to be readily available at Home Depot or Lowe's....haven't looked much further, yet), it will contribute to the calcium & carbonate buffer. The silica sand, however, would not have any buffering capabilities....yet obviously many of you use it just fine. What am I missing? Is the calcium carbonate of aragonite overrated as a buffer (for both the calcium & carbonate sinks)?

Jim

 

[GoBlue]

Oh, and one more thing.... What about the oh-so-feared hydrogen sulfide that Fenner & others describe in the anaerobic parts of sand bottoms?

Also, can the fish that like to burrow make tunnels with a sand bottom? Seems that the bottom would be too packed for them to do this....

Jim

 

[mogurnda]

Is the calcium carbonate of aragonite overrated as a buffer

SOmewhat. You'll get some buffering with aragonite, but if you have significant calcification, the slow dissolution of the sand won't keep up.

Also, can the fish that like to burrow make tunnels with a sand bottom? Seems that the bottom would be too packed for them to do this....

It doesn't pack down that much. In fact, burrowing fish can make a real mess of a DSB. Burrowing worms and things seem to have no problem getting through it.

What about the oh-so-feared hydrogen sulfide that Fenner & others describe in the anaerobic parts of sand bottoms?

Another reason for very fine sand is that very little debris will get into the bed, so the potential for decay and putrefaction is limited. Now that people are starting to actually measure oxygen levels in DSBs, it's not clear that they are particularly anerobic (or even hypoxic) anyway.