Sump & sand ?

irishsea · 12/10/2007, 01:28 PM

I just moved into a bigger tank with sump and was wondering if i should use aragonite sand or aragonite gravel? Thanks.

BCreefmaker · 12/10/2007, 01:45 PM

sand, gravel might require vacuuming. plus sand works better as a bio-filter and buffer.

lastduke · 12/10/2007, 01:48 PM

Do we need the sand in the sump?

how about bare bottom with LR?

BCreefmaker · 12/10/2007, 01:56 PM

most people use a section of their sump to have a small DSB so its at least 5-6" deep. if you have lots of LR in your sump you will need to have at least 20-25x turnover in your LR section for it to be fully effective.

lastduke · 12/10/2007, 02:21 PM

5-6 inch? will not create a No3 problem?
what's the downside of bare bottom LR section?

BCreefmaker · 12/10/2007, 02:43 PM

it will only create a problem if the water flow is too low over the top of the sand bed it also needs 20 to 25x turnover to keep organic debris from accumulating. the downside to LR section is it won't have the same ability to make nitrogen gas to complete the nitrogen cycle, however LR will make much more zooplankton for your main tank.

12/10/2007, 01:28 PM	#1
irishsea Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Eíre Posts: 317	Sump & sand ? I just moved into a bigger tank with sump and was wondering if i should use aragonite sand or aragonite gravel? Thanks.

12/10/2007, 01:45 PM	#2
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	sand, gravel might require vacuuming. plus sand works better as a bio-filter and buffer. __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

12/10/2007, 01:56 PM	#4
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	most people use a section of their sump to have a small DSB so its at least 5-6" deep. if you have lots of LR in your sump you will need to have at least 20-25x turnover in your LR section for it to be fully effective. __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

12/10/2007, 02:43 PM	#6
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	it will only create a problem if the water flow is too low over the top of the sand bed it also needs 20 to 25x turnover to keep organic debris from accumulating. the downside to LR section is it won't have the same ability to make nitrogen gas to complete the nitrogen cycle, however LR will make much more zooplankton for your main tank. __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

12/10/2007, 01:48 PM	#3
lastduke Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland,Oregon Posts: 1,323	Do we need the sand in the sump? how about bare bottom with LR?

12/10/2007, 02:21 PM	#5
lastduke Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland,Oregon Posts: 1,323	5-6 inch? will not create a No3 problem? what's the downside of bare bottom LR section?