Let's talk sand, shall we?

[FishWife]

We are about to stock our refugium and the sand calc. tool says we need 142 lbs. for our 6" deep sand bed.

 

CAN we or can't we use Home Depot sand? If not, why not... I know, diatoms, right? Those aside, how hard can it be to buffer as needed if using HD sand and not aragonite? Are packing issues real, or are they real or boggeymen?

 

(AND, could you please speak from experience (not theory) as much as possible on this one? We have a REALLY limited budget, and I'd rather buy live rock for the display than expensive sand)

[yauger]

We are about to stock our refugium and the sand calc. tool says we need 142 lbs. for our 6" deep sand bed.

 

CAN we or can't we use Home Depot sand? If not, why not... I know, diatoms, right? Those aside, how hard can it be to buffer as needed if using HD sand and not aragonite? Are packing issues real, or are they real or boggeymen?

 

(AND, could you please speak from experience (not theory) as much as possible on this one? We have a REALLY limited budget, and I'd rather buy live rock for the display than expensive sand)

 

have you thought about a bare bottom tank? we have several members in WAMAS who have spectacular displays that are bare bottom. that way you can focus on your live rock structure and not have to worry about sand storms caused by increase flow.

[jnguyen4007]

I use aragonite sand. Live sand is expensive and not necessary as live rock will eventually populate your sand for you as well. I think some folks here use sand similar to what you can get from places like Home Depot, but I would imagine that you have to do some serious rinsing to remove as much of the dirt off of the sand before you can add them into your tank.

 

James

[FishWife]

Thanks, guys: but I'm thinking about my REFUGIUM, not my tank. Am putting in a RDSB. I want to denitrify, but also hear about problems like these:

 

1. Presence/introduction of diatoms in silica sands (Home Depot garden variety sand)

 

2. Packing down of HD (Home Depot) sand renders it ineffective.

 

3. There's no buffering/calcium advantage to non-argonite sands.

 

Anyone got ideas on those topics FOR MY REFUGIUM? (Not shouting; just clarifying! )

 

TIA!

[yauger]

Thanks, guys: but I'm thinking about my REFUGIUM, not my tank. Am putting in a RDSB. I want to denitrify, but also hear about problems like these:

 

1. Presence/introduction of diatoms in silica sands (Home Depot garden variety sand)

 

2. Packing down of HD (Home Depot) sand renders it ineffective.

 

3. There's no buffering/calcium advantage to non-argonite sands.

 

Anyone got ideas on those topics FOR MY REFUGIUM? (Not shouting; just clarifying! )

 

TIA!

 

142 lbs. for our 6" deep sand bed for a fuge? you must be planning on the worlds largest fuge... I don't think you will need fuge of that size especially if you going the route of being cost effective...

[FishWife]

142 lbs. for our 6" deep sand bed for a fuge? you must be planning on the worlds largest fuge... I don't think you will need fuge of that size especially if you going the route of being cost effective...

 

 

LOL. We are planning a big, multi-tank system. To that end, though I only have currently a display of a bow 80, we have cannibalized our 75 gallon tank (old one) as our sump. We've just baffled it, and it came out with a 26" X 17.5" fuge. Note that it's not THAT much sand: we're talking 90 lbs. /cu. ft. according to ReefCentral's calculator... So, 1.75 cu. ft. or so of sand; about the amount in a 75 gal aquarium with 3"-4" bed. We wanted an adequate sand bed to eventually handle about 300 gallons of display (between two tank locations we plan in the future, all on one water system.

 

Suffice it to say, we think it's the right size for the future... question is: are there any REAL problems with non-aragonite?

 

TIA!

Edited September 4, 2007 by FishWife

[mogurnda]

Thanks, guys: but I'm thinking about my REFUGIUM, not my tank. Am putting in a RDSB. I want to denitrify, but also hear about problems like these:

 

1. Presence/introduction of diatoms in silica sands (Home Depot garden variety sand)

Pure myth. Silica sand is as soluble as glass. You will get an initial diatom bloom whether you use silica or aragonite, then it will go away.

 

2. Packing down of HD (Home Depot) sand renders it ineffective.

Mine still works after 3 years. The worms seem to be quite happy to keep it stirred.

 

3. There's no buffering/calcium advantage to non-argonite sands.

Unless your demand is minuscule, the amount of buffering from aragonite will be inconsequential. I have used deep aragonite beds in multiple tanks, and have still needed to supplement Ca and alk even when I had few stony corals.

 

If you are using a DSB solely for denitrification, then HD sand is fine. The only benefits to real aragonite sand, IMHO, are the lighter weight and rounded shape of the grains, which will make it easier for some of the infauna to colonize it.

[yauger]

LOL. We are planning a big, multi-tank system. To that end, though I only have currently a display of a bow 80, we have cannibalized our 75 gallon tank (old one) as our sump. We've just baffled it, and it came out with a 26" X 17.5" fuge. We wanted an adequate sand bed to eventually handle about 300 gallons of display (between two tank locations we plan in the future, all on one water system.

 

Suffice it to say, we think it's the right size for the future... question is: are there any REAL problems with non-aragonite?

 

TIA!

 

ahh, still a bit large in my opinion but it can't hurt only help...

as for the Sand at home depot I have heard of a southdown play sand that is silica free you can use. I know that that particular line of sand is discontinued but the YardRight/OldCastle Tropical Play Sand can still be purchased in some locations which is reef safe I believe. try this link to find some locations or even call your local home depot to see if they can order it for you so they can absorb the costs of shipping.

 

http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/products/...alplaysand.html

[lanman]

This is my concern:

 

Silica. Golden brown films that spread across the glass, substrate and decorations are growths of diatoms. Diatoms require a compound called silicate (SiO2-). Silicate enters the aquarium most often via tap water. If your tank develops this type of algae, the only satisfactory solution is to use RO water, not tap water.

 

But - I have no first-hand knowledge.

 

bob

[steveoutlaw]

I would look at some of the "getting out of the hobby sales" and see if you can get the sand from some of these tanks.