DSB Particle Size?

T

themadbutcher

Guest
I'm currently in the process of setting up my new 150 gallon tank (converting from a 55) and had a question about sand particle size on a DSB....
I have searched the forums and the web quite a bit and it appears that southdown play sand is the perfect choice for particle size (sugar sized).
The apparent expert Ronald Shimek had a great article about particle size at: http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/a.../1/default.asp
My plan would be to use either:
90% southdown sand with about 10% live sand from saltwaterfish.com
go 100% southdown and buy a couple different detrivore kits, or
go maybe 50% southdown, with a mix of carib-sea aragamax sand, and live sand
Since this is my first DSB, I'd like to go as cheap as possible, and spend the savings on additional live rock. I'm just not sure how much difference the sand mix would make?
Thanks a lot for the replies,
Tom
 
cboyfan2020

cboyfan2020

Active Member
if it were me I would go 100% Southdown and just get to know some fellow reefers in the area and ask them for a cup of their established sand. this will jumpstart your sand bed the cheapest way I think.
 
ocellaris_keeper

ocellaris_keeper

Active Member
OK,OK - So Live Sand isn't as exciting as Live Rock. Live Sand does something LR will never do - Remove Nitrates!!!!
I like the concept of mixing the sand types - great way to save money and get a larger LS DSB.
Get a 1/4" piece of tubing and cut it into strips long enough to go cross ways in your tank. About 6 inches apart.
Place 1" of Southdown Play sand/mixed with 10% carib-sea aragamax sand, and live sand in the tank and place the tubing on top.
Place a piece of plastic screening overtop the tubing (the tubing is holding up the screen)
Cover the screen with 3" of 50% Live Sand and 50% Southdown sand (Southdown first then the Live Sand..or mix them)
You should never have another nitrate problem again.
 
finland

finland

Member
Mad, not to change the subject, but where do you plan on getting southdown. Being a fellow Wisconsinite, I have not found it anywhere. If they sell it in the Milwaukee area, let me know where.
 
T

themadbutcher

Guest

Originally posted by Finland
Mad, not to change the subject, but where do you plan on getting southdown. Being a fellow Wisconsinite, I have not found it anywhere. If they sell it in the Milwaukee area, let me know where.

I picked 4 bags up from www.coraldynamics.com. They sell it for $9 a bag, and the shipping to Milwaukee was $15.25 each bag.
Tom
 
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