Silica sand

[Mekaeel]

howzit crew.was wondering if can use silca sand for a DSB and the seed it with some live sand and LR?was thinking 8cm of silca and about 5-7cm of live sand.any suggestions?

 

[Ridwaan]

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

 

[Copperband]

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

 

[Smithers]

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

 

[Galibore]

Sounds good to me.

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

 

[Ridwaan]

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

 

[Galibore]

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.

 

[Galibore]

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

 

[Copperband]

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

 

[Galibore]

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

 

[Copperband]

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

 

[Galibore]

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.

 

[Copperband]

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

 

[palmerc]

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

 

[Mekaeel]

awrite,cool crew.guess im going for full sea sand all the way.now do i do a little at a time or boom one shot?i am using fine aragonite in my display,about 5cm

 

[Alan]

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

Would agree here, i have a silica bed that has been running for 4yrs and have about 62 fish in the system now with my nitrates sitting at about 3ppm

 

[Mekaeel]

so you have defniatly had success with silica alan.judging by your system.

 

[2balive]

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?

 

[Mekaeel]

Is the fine white sand you get on beaches suitable?

this is the sand im going for.from the beach

 

[Alan]

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?

The general measure is sugar grain size, as for the sea sand i can't answer as i have never used it but have heard of folk that have and not had any hassels.