Dsb using oolite sand

skyshrimp · 04/10/2011, 06:01 PM

Just been thinking about replacing my sand bed using oolite or very fine sand for my sand. Just wanna know is it worth it. At the same time I have easy sps and mostly lps corals. Just looking for opinions on the matter. I currently have the caribsea reefgrade sand which is about 1mm to 1.5mm grain size. The oolite seems like it looks so much better.

steamboat · 04/10/2011, 07:15 PM

if your sand bed is old (1.5 years+) ---i would be a little worried about stirring up a bunch of crap that could mess up the chemistry in the tank.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/11/2011, 06:04 AM

I had deep sand beds with oolitic aragonite for years. To be honest, I'm not sure they did anything useful long term, although I think they probably did for a while. In any case, when I reconfigured the system, I declined to replace the deep sand bed, and went with organic carbon dosing (vinegar) into several large rock filled refugia, macroalgae, skkimming, GAC, and soemtimes a phospahte binder. I'm happy with that set up now. I have a thin oolitic sand bed (0-2") in the main tank for aesthetics and to root certain organisms (like halimeda).

skyshrimp · 04/11/2011, 06:27 AM

Thanks I think I may reduce the level of my sandbed to snout 3in from 5in.

Greg 45 · 04/11/2011, 06:32 AM

Randy which sand are you using .
I just removed a old sand bed (what a mess)
Which sand would you recomend grain size or brands.

04/10/2011, 06:01 PM	#1
skyshrimp Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: madison heights, va Posts: 470	Dsb using oolite sand Just been thinking about replacing my sand bed using oolite or very fine sand for my sand. Just wanna know is it worth it. At the same time I have easy sps and mostly lps corals. Just looking for opinions on the matter. I currently have the caribsea reefgrade sand which is about 1mm to 1.5mm grain size. The oolite seems like it looks so much better.

04/11/2011, 06:04 AM	#3
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I had deep sand beds with oolitic aragonite for years. To be honest, I'm not sure they did anything useful long term, although I think they probably did for a while. In any case, when I reconfigured the system, I declined to replace the deep sand bed, and went with organic carbon dosing (vinegar) into several large rock filled refugia, macroalgae, skkimming, GAC, and soemtimes a phospahte binder. I'm happy with that set up now. I have a thin oolitic sand bed (0-2") in the main tank for aesthetics and to root certain organisms (like halimeda). __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

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04/10/2011, 07:15 PM	#2
steamboat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 68	if your sand bed is old (1.5 years+) ---i would be a little worried about stirring up a bunch of crap that could mess up the chemistry in the tank.

04/11/2011, 06:27 AM	#4
skyshrimp Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: madison heights, va Posts: 470	Thanks I think I may reduce the level of my sandbed to snout 3in from 5in.

04/11/2011, 06:32 AM	#5
Greg 45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bayonne,N.J. Posts: 1,159	Randy which sand are you using . I just removed a old sand bed (what a mess) Which sand would you recomend grain size or brands.