Dsb, What Size Grain

[atmmachine816]

I'm making my refugium so I can put a dsb in it but should I have the water go under and come up through it before returning to the tank or should it just spill onto and go over it?

thanks

 

[Redstratplayer1]

A DSB will not work unless it is 6 or more inches tall .
If you are using a moded HOB there will not be room.
Just use LR Rubble in the HOB.

 

[atmmachine816]

I thought 3" was a dsb, guess not.

 

[Redstratplayer1]

0-3 is not a DSb
4-5 is a DSb but it will not work the right way and is just a waste of space
6 and up will work as a DSB

 

[andywg]

It depends on grain size. If you can get the smallest grain size then 3" will function as a DSB, but most sand will require a 6" bed (according to Bob Fenner).

Water should flow over the top of a DSB, not through it, unless you have a very large DSB you would not get any anoxic zones to appear.

 

[atmmachine816]

That's what I thought about it going over. It's normal aragonite sand so it's probably not fine grain enough?

 

[atmmachine816]

It's approx. 1-2mm in diameter, is this too small or too big?

 

[andywg]

Too big. You need the tiny, sugar like grain that is around 0.5mm and under.

 

[atmmachine816]

They sell real fine grain reef sand in 5lb bags at my lfs, do you think that would work ok?

thanks

 

[andywg]

Check out here and decide for yourself:

http/www.wetwebmedia.com/deepsandbeds.htm

 

[sianeds]

Great link andywg Is making me think about changing my substrate when I move house.

 

[atmmachine816]

Thanks, I think I'll go without a sandbed in there.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Hey I've have a few questions, I figured I'd post here 'cause it's relevant.
1. Could you use a sand that doesn't buffer the water at all for your DSB? Would the buffering substrate you put in your display be enough to keep the PH stable at the right level? The reason I ask is that the sand I use for FW, play sand, is much cheaper, and it's still fine grain. Could you just use that and put a handful of the aragonite (spelling?) in there with it?

2. How -long- does a DSB need to be? I understand that it should be 6 inches or more in depth, but what about length and width? I have a 2.5g that is 8 inches high but would it be worth it to use it as a DSB because of the small volume?

 

[Redstratplayer1]

DSB Size LxWxH

There you go n3ont3tra its all in the link .

 

[n3ont3tra]

Err... That's a little too technical for me. Could you dull it down some, please? I skimmed it, and just don't understand much of it.