DSB question

[quietreef]

Hi there:

I have 2 questions and I'm going to ask them under different subject lines. I'm in the planning stage for a new 120G reef, and there's something I don't understand. I've read and read and read and I get the importance of a DSB and would like to have one, but I don't understand whether you are supposed to add creatures that move the sand around or not. I read that the DSB is supposed to be undisturbed to go through the chemical changes to remove nitrates, so don't critters defeat that purpose?

Thanks,
quietreef

 

[Anonymous]

This is a debated topic right now. Take a look at this thread:

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... 13ec431bc8

Then let us know what questions you have!

 

[quietreef]

HI again:

Okay I read that thread and reread an article about DSB's by Shimek and another by Jonathan Lowrie. So my new question is who has a successful DSB, how long have you had it, and what's *your* recipe?


quietreef

 

[Anonymous]

My Recipe:

Fine grain oolitic sand (Oldcastle, used to be Southdown)
Live sand harvested from the caribbean for the initial start
Good water flow
No sand sifters!!!!

I also swap sand with fellow hobbiests at every opportunity. Diversity defines the health of the sand bed in my opinion and diversity declines with time unless you add different critters from other sand beds.

 

[polcat]

I agree with guy, sand "sifters" are different than sand "critters". A good diversity is key to a well maintained DSB.

 

[romunov]

"Sugar size" sand is too coarse, it needs to be really really fine. :wink: I used flour like calcite sand (0-0,2mm).
Adding a good live sand (not the bagged one) helps a bunch. Swapping is ok, as long as you don't get flatworms or other pests.

 

[ChrisRD]

"Sugar size" sand is too coarse, it needs to be really really fine. :wink: I used flour like calcite sand (0-0,2mm).

Why is sugar size too small? How come it's necessary to use flour size particles for a DSB, even though the real live sand that is collected from wild reefs isn't that fine?