Deep Sand Bed

eisaiasjr · 02/22/2008, 10:16 AM

Hello:

I am been looking around EVERYWHERE to find a good article that explains explisitly how to contruct a DSB.

I am looking to do a refugium with in my sump in which i will put a DSB and macro algea.

can someone tell me how to contruct it? I have been reading that you need to make it layered... however I have some questions:

What sand mm to use?
How deep each sand layer?
How many layers?
What order of mm sand? bigger to smaller? or the other way around?

Thanks again!

Estefano

marduc · 02/22/2008, 10:27 AM

Over time different particle sizes tend to stratify themselves, For the most part go with smaller grain sizes, then raid every local reefers sand bed you can for sand to seed the microfauna, perhaps siphon out the bottom of a LR holding tank at your LFS too, go 90% smaller particle size, 10% other is a good ballpark figure, still try to keep them smallish though IMO. With borrowing and raiding of others sandbeds, you will get a range of particle sizes more than likely.

This is all ballpark figures, there are articles explaining in detail what is a good mix of particle sizes, just too lazy to look them up, it does not need to be an exact science anyhow. Go mostly oolitic or sugar sized, and throw in a bag or two of slightly coarser and you should be fine

papagimp · 02/22/2008, 11:05 AM

Check here for some great info on sandbeds. Also, I'd recommend picking up Dr. Ron Shimeks booklet "deep sand bed secrets"

http://www.ronshimek.com/Online%20Articles%201.htm

Marduc hit it on the head pretty darn close there. 90% small ooltic sugar fine grain sizes to about 10% larger courser grain sizes (smaller than cc though).

Layering the sand would be used in constructing a plenum system, which is a little different than a DSB. Defaintly look through the link posted above. That man is a genious when it comes to DSB's.

eisaiasjr · 02/22/2008, 02:04 PM

all the links to the Deep sand Bed are broken

can someone help me out?

somewherre · 02/23/2008, 05:15 AM

Try this one: http://www.ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm

02/22/2008, 10:16 AM	#1
eisaiasjr Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami Beach, FL Posts: 421	Deep Sand Bed Hello: I am been looking around EVERYWHERE to find a good article that explains explisitly how to contruct a DSB. I am looking to do a refugium with in my sump in which i will put a DSB and macro algea. can someone tell me how to contruct it? I have been reading that you need to make it layered... however I have some questions: What sand mm to use? How deep each sand layer? How many layers? What order of mm sand? bigger to smaller? or the other way around? Thanks again! Estefano

02/22/2008, 11:05 AM	#3
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Check here for some great info on sandbeds. Also, I'd recommend picking up Dr. Ron Shimeks booklet "deep sand bed secrets" http://www.ronshimek.com/Online%20Articles%201.htm Marduc hit it on the head pretty darn close there. 90% small ooltic sugar fine grain sizes to about 10% larger courser grain sizes (smaller than cc though). Layering the sand would be used in constructing a plenum system, which is a little different than a DSB. Defaintly look through the link posted above. That man is a genious when it comes to DSB's. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

02/22/2008, 10:27 AM	#2
marduc Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 780	Over time different particle sizes tend to stratify themselves, For the most part go with smaller grain sizes, then raid every local reefers sand bed you can for sand to seed the microfauna, perhaps siphon out the bottom of a LR holding tank at your LFS too, go 90% smaller particle size, 10% other is a good ballpark figure, still try to keep them smallish though IMO. With borrowing and raiding of others sandbeds, you will get a range of particle sizes more than likely. This is all ballpark figures, there are articles explaining in detail what is a good mix of particle sizes, just too lazy to look them up, it does not need to be an exact science anyhow. Go mostly oolitic or sugar sized, and throw in a bag or two of slightly coarser and you should be fine

02/22/2008, 02:04 PM	#4
eisaiasjr Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami Beach, FL Posts: 421	all the links to the Deep sand Bed are broken can someone help me out?

02/23/2008, 05:15 AM	#5
somewherre Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Castleton on Hudson, NY Posts: 68	Try this one: http://www.ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm