which is better sand or crushed coral

[homer]

I have heard alot about the Southdown sand on the forum, but I live in Florida and can't get it here. What risk would I have by collecting my own from some dive spots or jetty's. Our sand is very fine grain can it be too fine?

 

[joejdsn]

as long as you're not going to set up a plenum, the grain size shouldn't matter. the caution would be to make sure that the sand you collect isn't polluted.

 

[homer]

I currently have a 250gal with CC and will be taking it down to remove mantis shrimp(I think)and move my LR.I just wanted to know what are the benefits of using sand or should I leave the crushed coral.

 

[Mouse]

Avoid crushed coral like the plage, go for a DSB (deep sand bed) 3-4 inches of Oolitic grade arragonite sand, your live rocks should seed it and nature will work its wonders. Try to elevate the rocks off the sand if possible to avoid dead spots and increase surface area. Put in a couple of cucumbers for detreus controll and thats it. No sand sifting star fish, they will destroy the fauna and infauna you have lovingly cultured.

And if you could set up your DSB in a refugeum then all the better leaving the tank with a regular depth sand bottom (i'd still go Oolitic). This will further protect your sandbed life and hopefully provide the rest of the tank with a little food.

[ February 20, 2002: Message edited by: Mouse ]</p>

 

[dragon0121]

Worry about the grain size. If you want a fully functioning DSB for filtration, then you will want to maximize the fauna that lives in the sandbed. Best guesses and quick looks at the critters available to the average hobbiest, the advice from Dr. Shimek is to go with a DSB from 4"-8" and the majority of the grain sizes smaller than .2mm. Think silt here!

These grain sizes allow a maximum population of fauna, available to the hobbiest, to flourish in the sandbed.

Something to consider. If you place your DSB in the main display, then all of the detritus falls on the sandbed, where you want it. It can be processed quickly and efficiently. If the DSB is in the sump, the detritus will settle to the bottom of the main display, not onto the DSB in the sump. I would consider this a bad thing!

[ February 21, 2002: Message edited by: dragon0121 ]</p>

 

[Ben1]

The main problem with CC is that it traps to much detritus, and cant complete the nitrogen cycle the way a DSB can. Ron also suggest some larger grain as in 10% SP. Sea Floor grade. I used 10% Sp. seafloor grade and a mix of oolite and southdown.

I would think collection of sand from the reef area would do as long as no pollution or legal issues are there.

FWIW there is a ton of info on DSB systems in the library and if you use search, try this!

 

[Anonymous]

Here is the link you want to read. HTH

 

[KanUCme]

sand(aragonite), beware of the crushed coral that looks like sand.

 

[Ben1]

KanUCme, all the CC I know of is argonite, the difference is just grain size.