wonders, confusion , exhaustion

[flamehawk]

As many of you know I recently converted from c/c to DSB using southdown.Just read an article which is by R.Harker on substrates located in the featured article section of reefs.com. It states that fine substrate compacts easily and can trap detritus giving it the lagoon effect. This is why lagoons are always so full of silt. While denitrafication seems to be aided he argues not anymore than other coarser type sand. Now I went w/southdown because of convincing endorsements from this board so I am now hoping all can counter these claims and make me feel once again good about my decision not to mention all the hard work that went into doing successfully.

 

[adrian]

Im not familar with the guy you got the info from, but as long as you have a "live" DSB with detrivores living in the sand you should not have to worry about detritus build up, although some is normal in any reef tank and some filter feeders and of course dertrivores need it in order to survive. Seems to me that the smaller the individual sand particles are, the more tightly compact they are, and he less wastes can be trapped between the particles, where as a larger sized sand will have more area in between individual particles for more stuff to get trapped. HTH

 

[fshhub]

one thing, lagoons are generally stagnant, no h2oflo, could be part of why they have this probleM
another, mother nature has a VERY DEEP sand bed?
as for the fine vs coarse grain,this is common knowledge, the coarser will trap more and and equal density of smaller particles has more surface areA (total) than than a coarse material(each grain wilL have a smaller area, but there are many many x's more particles), which is where your denitifying bacterias live and grow,= more of it to do the job
and last note, this article, when was it written, there is a lot of info out there, and the dsb's debate is fairly recent(several years for the most part), while many books are older
one thing that i can say is i do not regret the switch one bit and do wish that i would have started that way, and no postings will change my mind, for this i am basing on personal trials
GOTA LOVE MY DSB
HTH

 

[up north hermit]

......"hoping all can counter these claims......"
I could list more sites and authors and articles than I have time to type in, but instead of that or trying to baffle you with scientific bull***, I will give you a personal testimonial.
I have been keeping saltwater tanks since 1967... ....that's right folks, longer than most of you here have been on the planet. (I think I just gave away my age )
My reef tanks that I have now, all with 5" DSB's, are by far, bar none, the healthiest, most attractive, maintanence free tanks I have ever had.
I have had EVERY substrate known, of course including none. Corner filters, box filters, canister and power filters. Carbon the size of boulders, floss that could make your hands bleed if you weren't careful handling it. Been there, done ALL that.
Until the next phase comes along, and someone can prove that there is a better way, I am absolutely in awe of my tanks now. They are truely slices of ocean in front of my very eyes.
Well, this is just my experiences. Say, any old timers out there want to start a thread on antiquated aquarium experiences?
My humble .02
Hermit