Question about adding depth to substrate

dhughesz28

dhughesz28

Member
Hi all. I currently have about 1.5” of Aragonite substrate in my tank, but I don’t think that this is deep enough to allow denitrifying bacteria to get established. I would like some advice on how to add depth to the substrate. I know the obvious answer is to rinse it and dump it in, but I want to get a little more detail then that. I don’t want to disturb anything that is in the existing substrate, or kick off a cycle. I was thinking that I could just add a little over a few weeks to a month. Like at a fist full or two each day, spreading / sprinkling it around. What would be the optimum depth. I’m thinking around 3” or so….
Im not sure exactly what brand aragonite I bought, or how to describe its size, so here is a pic... The shell on this little guy is about 1/2" long.

Thanks :happyfish
 
Y

yeffre kix

Guest
Your substrate looks very coarse to me. It should be more sand like (sugar sized grains).
4" is a pretty good depth.
 
dhughesz28

dhughesz28

Member
If the sand is to course like stated above, is it even worth it to try and deepen the sand bed to allow the denitrifying bac to establish? Or can you only do this with fine sand??? I would really like to know Thanks a bunch
 
dhughesz28

dhughesz28

Member
From another forum
It's not worth it. A 46 gal doesn't have enough surface area to work as a functioning DSB. Adding any more depth won't have a very big impact on the nitrification or denitrification in the sandbed.
Is this true?? I have seen DSB used in refugiums before, so why cant I have one in a 46gal????
 
fishieness

fishieness

Active Member
hmmm.... i have no idea why it would not. Would surface area realy matter that much?
sorry... i just want to subscribe to this thread because i have been looking to know also. I would like to add a DSB but dont want to make by water super-clowdy or anything.
 
dhughesz28

dhughesz28

Member
If my sand it to course, would adding fine sand in stead of the course stuff help? The LFS where I bought the stuff I have now also has it in sugar size...I was thinking of adding it a scoop full at a time every couple of days mixing it in with the sand in the tank as I go
Any Comments???
 
Y

yeffre kix

Guest
Originally Posted by dhughesz28
If my sand it to course, would adding fine sand in stead of the course stuff help? The LFS where I bought the stuff I have now also has it in sugar size...I was thinking of adding it a scoop full at a time every couple of days mixing it in with the sand in the tank as I go
Any Comments???
IMO the fine sand bed gives a much more natural look as well an better denitrification. The surface are of a DSB is not just the L x W of your tank, smaller grains increase the surface area too.
I would just bite the bullet and remove the old sand bed. I think adding a finer grain sand will just filter down to the bottom anyway. If you have live rock a cycle shouldn't be much of a problem. Use a gravel vac to remove the excess crud from the sand. You can even take everything and put it in a large rubbermaid with PH to circulate the water while you do the change. Its a little work but worth it in the long run.
Just my two cents.
 
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