Silica sand

Why not use sea sand Mekaeel...you are close to the beach...

However, there are guys using silica sand(poolsand) as DSB.
Another alternative is maybe try using playsand.

There was a debate in another forum that silica sand might leach silicates into the water....I think

 

I was told the same thing Ridwaan, and that i should rather use very fine aragonite for my dsb

 

I would stick with the sugar fine (oolitic) aragonite. Done some reading on it and that seems to be the best.

 

Sounds good to me.

I know many aquarists that use silica sand, myself included.

 

Eish...but the price on Caribsea Aragonite is steep!

Guess it gives you what you payed for..
I use Caribsea Aragonite as a DSB with some Caribsea Aragalive...Excellent results

 

Ridwaan, I think playsand is silica based, but I am not sure of this.

There is no proof thus far as far as I know that silica sand will leach per se. The playsand I have always been using says on the bag that it is inert, does not contain metals or any cancer causing agents (not that it's applicable).

But, I must add, that if I were living close to the see I would have used natural sea sand (very fine) mixed with some oolithic aragonite.

 

I like aragonite but the price makes it near impossible for me to buy in large quantities.

 

what about sugar fine crushed coral? Much cheaper than aragonite.

 

Yeah but according to Shimek, not suitable at all because it will damage (cut) the small crustaceans and worms because of sharp edges.

 

Gal do you really buy the good Doctor's resoning on this one?

 

Unfortunately my knowledge/experience is too faint to make a call on that. One would assume that a leaned person like that won't be going around spreading hogwash. But then again, stranger things have happened.

I do mix in some CC, but very little, maybe a cup per 5KG.

If there are reasons to doubt Shimek, then please share as I don't want to blindly follow certain philosophies if they are wrong.

 

nope Gal no reason, just wondering why most DSB's i've seen makes use of 2mm crushed coral. Possibly cost?

 

IMO as long as the grain size is correct you can use whatever you want (silica, crushed coral, aragonite, sea sand)

I think the claims made for aragonite (in terms of buffering) are over-rated, but if you think it looks good go for it. I would use aragonite in main display for appearance purposes only, but would not waste my money using it as a DSB substrate.

Clinton

 

Grain size

What is the correct grain size for a DSB?

How do you measure it practically?

Is the fine white sand you get on beaches suitable?