DSB Substrate of Choice...

woodymac64 · 04/13/2007, 08:41 PM

Sorry if this subject has been posted before (You gotta love RC's search functionality... or lack thereof

) Anyway:

I was wondering what type of substrate would be best for my DSB or what other RCers have used in theirs. I am planning on having a Pearly Jawfish as my main attraction and I want to make sure that the sand I choose will accommodate him specifically. I am also planning on having some Nassarius or Cerith snails for sand stirring, so the substrate will have to be to their liking.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
woodymac

IslandCrow · 04/13/2007, 09:48 PM

Well, the finer the sand, the shallower the sandbed can be and still give you the benefits of a deep sand bed. I'm currently using a mixture of Caribsea's oolitic sand and some white play sand from Home Depot. As long as it's fine enough you should be good. .2-2.0 mm (sugar size or slightly coarser) is ideal for a 4-6" sandbed. Once you start getting coarser than that, it's going to be tough to get that anoxic layer. The sand size and depth is according to Anthony Calfo and Robert Fenner by the way.

boxfishpooalot · 04/13/2007, 09:49 PM

Jawfish need both small and large stones to construct their burrow. This sand is great for them imo.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=CS0457

drummereef · 04/13/2007, 10:11 PM

I used Caribsea's Fiji Pink for my dsb.

boxfishpooalot · 04/13/2007, 10:45 PM

Another thing. A jawfish habitat in the gulf of mexico usually surrounds this: Imagine with me-

Fine silty white sand with shallow water above it. No more than 4meters deep. Broken chunks of sea shells litter the sand as well as broken branches of dead corals. The seabed is littlered with them.Further down you see a large rock with many little rocks surrounding it. The water is surging and you can feel the waves push you back. The sun is very bright. There are plants growing abundant.. There are lots of cactus macroalgae growing everywhere. In a forest of seagrass. Looking closer, you see yellow headed Jawfish poking out its head in the glistening sun from its burrow. Its constructed of sea shells, small pebbles and broken coral branches. The jawfish is busy repairing it daily as it collapses from the pounding waves or gets re-arranged. Suddenly a swarm of amphipods fly over the well constructed burrow and the Jawfish darts out to eat one....... Getting back to its burrow it feels relieved that it was not eaten by the many predators about. But the Jawfish knows in its burrow its safe from most. looking farther you see a gonipora species, swaying back and forth in the waves. It too is enjoying the plankton that drifts by.

That is a typical jawfish habitat, and is how I would make a jawfish tank

IslandCrow · 04/14/2007, 08:13 PM

Dude, you should be a commentator for the Discovery channel!

Peter Eichler · 04/14/2007, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by boxfishpooalot
Another thing. A jawfish habitat in the gulf of mexico usually surrounds this: Imagine with me-

Fine silty white sand with shallow water above it. No more than 4meters deep. Broken chunks of sea shells litter the sand as well as broken branches of dead corals. The seabed is littlered with them.Further down you see a large rock with many little rocks surrounding it. The water is surging and you can feel the waves push you back. The sun is very bright. There are plants growing abundant.. There are lots of cactus macroalgae growing everywhere. In a forest of seagrass. Looking closer, you see yellow headed Jawfish poking out its head in the glistening sun from its burrow. Its constructed of sea shells, small pebbles and broken coral branches. The jawfish is busy repairing it daily as it collapses from the pounding waves or gets re-arranged. Suddenly a swarm of amphipods fly over the well constructed burrow and the Jawfish darts out to eat one....... Getting back to its burrow it feels relieved that it was not eaten by the many predators about. But the Jawfish knows in its burrow its safe from most. looking farther you see a gonipora species, swaying back and forth in the waves. It too is enjoying the plankton that drifts by.

That is a typical jawfish habitat, and is how I would make a jawfish tank

Good description, you had me til the Goniopora part. I don't think any Goniopora species occur in the Caribbean. Well, at least not since the Pliocene epoch.

boxfishpooalot · 04/14/2007, 10:11 PM

Yes im not sure about the caribbean, but in shallow water goniopora species exist.

what comes to mind is the Red Sea.

04/13/2007, 08:41 PM	#1
woodymac64 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Where I lay my head is home Posts: 35	DSB Substrate of Choice... Sorry if this subject has been posted before (You gotta love RC's search functionality... or lack thereof ) Anyway: I was wondering what type of substrate would be best for my DSB or what other RCers have used in theirs. I am planning on having a Pearly Jawfish as my main attraction and I want to make sure that the sand I choose will accommodate him specifically. I am also planning on having some Nassarius or Cerith snails for sand stirring, so the substrate will have to be to their liking. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, woodymac

04/13/2007, 09:48 PM	#2
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Well, the finer the sand, the shallower the sandbed can be and still give you the benefits of a deep sand bed. I'm currently using a mixture of Caribsea's oolitic sand and some white play sand from Home Depot. As long as it's fine enough you should be good. .2-2.0 mm (sugar size or slightly coarser) is ideal for a 4-6" sandbed. Once you start getting coarser than that, it's going to be tough to get that anoxic layer. The sand size and depth is according to Anthony Calfo and Robert Fenner by the way. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

04/13/2007, 09:49 PM	#3
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	Jawfish need both small and large stones to construct their burrow. This sand is great for them imo. http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=CS0457 __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

04/13/2007, 10:11 PM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	I used Caribsea's Fiji Pink for my dsb. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

04/13/2007, 10:45 PM	#5
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	Another thing. A jawfish habitat in the gulf of mexico usually surrounds this: Imagine with me- Fine silty white sand with shallow water above it. No more than 4meters deep. Broken chunks of sea shells litter the sand as well as broken branches of dead corals. The seabed is littlered with them.Further down you see a large rock with many little rocks surrounding it. The water is surging and you can feel the waves push you back. The sun is very bright. There are plants growing abundant.. There are lots of cactus macroalgae growing everywhere. In a forest of seagrass. Looking closer, you see yellow headed Jawfish poking out its head in the glistening sun from its burrow. Its constructed of sea shells, small pebbles and broken coral branches. The jawfish is busy repairing it daily as it collapses from the pounding waves or gets re-arranged. Suddenly a swarm of amphipods fly over the well constructed burrow and the Jawfish darts out to eat one....... Getting back to its burrow it feels relieved that it was not eaten by the many predators about. But the Jawfish knows in its burrow its safe from most. looking farther you see a gonipora species, swaying back and forth in the waves. It too is enjoying the plankton that drifts by. That is a typical jawfish habitat, and is how I would make a jawfish tank __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

04/14/2007, 08:13 PM	#6
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Dude, you should be a commentator for the Discovery channel! __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

04/14/2007, 10:11 PM	#8
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	Yes im not sure about the caribbean, but in shallow water goniopora species exist. what comes to mind is the Red Sea. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.