Did I FUBAR my attempt at a DSB?

Pete Harcoff · 07/12/2006, 09:43 PM

About 4 months ago when I intially set up my reef tank, I decided to try a deep sand bed. I'd read the various pros and cons, and the pros seemed to outweigh the cons.

Unfortunately, one thing I didn't pay much attention to was grain size. All I remember was reading something about how crushed coral was too coarse and that a DSB needed something finer. But I didn't know exactly how fine. I'd also read that aragonite was recommended for a sand bed, so I picked up some Carib Sea aragonite and used that.

However, doing some recent reading, I think the aragonite I used was too coarse. I used "Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand" which has a grain size of about 1-2mm. I should note I also mixed in about 5 pounds of this finer stuff, I'd previously thought about using in my f/w tank, as well as a bit of fine sand I got from a fellow reefer. But the vast marjoity is the Seaflor stuff.

My sand bed is about 4" at the front to about 6" at the back. I do have some worms in it, but I've noticed they've favor the area where the finer substrate is. While there are some in the coarser stuff, I wonder if it's not good for them?

So I'm looking for recommendations. Is there any harm with my existing setup? Will it still function as a DSB or would I be better off replacing it? And if I do replace it, would it be acceptable to just siphon out some of the Aragonite and replace it, or should I replace the entire bed from scratch (not something I look forward too)?

masterqaz · 07/12/2006, 09:51 PM

i wouldent go as far to replace the whole thing. A mix of different coarse sand would be fine as that is how it is in the ocean. I think that your best bet is to siphon out a good majority of the aragonite and through in some really fine sand and just mix the 2 grades together. I'd just make 2/3's of the sand really fine and the other 3rd the aragonite. This is all just in my opinon.

MJAnderson · 07/12/2006, 10:18 PM

I almost did the same thing. Had the sand bought and came on here to do a search to see if it should be rinsed and ran across several articles about going with 100% oolite sand. I know many people run DSBs on just what you're using. I think it works, but not as well. My local LFS owner and I almost came to blows over grain size. All of his tanks have always run with larger grain sand. Before removing what you have, get an expert opinion and do a search on "disturbing a DSB". There have been a few threads about the pitfalls, although after only 4 months I'm not sure you have the same issues.

bertoni · 07/12/2006, 11:07 PM

1-2 mm is very large for a functioning DSB. If it's not causing problems, I probably wouldn't replace it, but I doubt it's doing much filtration. If you do replace it, I'd toss all the existing sand and go for the finest-grained sand availabe in that product line. That's what I used, and it's okay, not great. Still rather coarse.

07/12/2006, 09:43 PM	#1
Pete Harcoff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 196	Did I FUBAR my attempt at a DSB? About 4 months ago when I intially set up my reef tank, I decided to try a deep sand bed. I'd read the various pros and cons, and the pros seemed to outweigh the cons. Unfortunately, one thing I didn't pay much attention to was grain size. All I remember was reading something about how crushed coral was too coarse and that a DSB needed something finer. But I didn't know exactly how fine. I'd also read that aragonite was recommended for a sand bed, so I picked up some Carib Sea aragonite and used that. However, doing some recent reading, I think the aragonite I used was too coarse. I used "Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand" which has a grain size of about 1-2mm. I should note I also mixed in about 5 pounds of this finer stuff, I'd previously thought about using in my f/w tank, as well as a bit of fine sand I got from a fellow reefer. But the vast marjoity is the Seaflor stuff. My sand bed is about 4" at the front to about 6" at the back. I do have some worms in it, but I've noticed they've favor the area where the finer substrate is. While there are some in the coarser stuff, I wonder if it's not good for them? So I'm looking for recommendations. Is there any harm with my existing setup? Will it still function as a DSB or would I be better off replacing it? And if I do replace it, would it be acceptable to just siphon out some of the Aragonite and replace it, or should I replace the entire bed from scratch (not something I look forward too)?

07/12/2006, 11:07 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	1-2 mm is very large for a functioning DSB. If it's not causing problems, I probably wouldn't replace it, but I doubt it's doing much filtration. If you do replace it, I'd toss all the existing sand and go for the finest-grained sand availabe in that product line. That's what I used, and it's okay, not great. Still rather coarse. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/12/2006, 09:51 PM	#2
masterqaz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oakville Ont. Canada Posts: 551	i wouldent go as far to replace the whole thing. A mix of different coarse sand would be fine as that is how it is in the ocean. I think that your best bet is to siphon out a good majority of the aragonite and through in some really fine sand and just mix the 2 grades together. I'd just make 2/3's of the sand really fine and the other 3rd the aragonite. This is all just in my opinon.

07/12/2006, 10:18 PM	#3
MJAnderson Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Posts: 2,633	I almost did the same thing. Had the sand bought and came on here to do a search to see if it should be rinsed and ran across several articles about going with 100% oolite sand. I know many people run DSBs on just what you're using. I think it works, but not as well. My local LFS owner and I almost came to blows over grain size. All of his tanks have always run with larger grain sand. Before removing what you have, get an expert opinion and do a search on "disturbing a DSB". There have been a few threads about the pitfalls, although after only 4 months I'm not sure you have the same issues.