An idea

[intensity888]

I was thinking that I wont go DSB intially, becuase if i do, and i decide i dont like it it will be a major pain. However, I am thinking that if i later decide to go deep sand bed by adding it down the raod, i could do it, but i may be a pain becuase it will have to establsih bacteria population in an already established tank.

Any thoughts?

 

[Len]

I think the process of adding or removing a DSB is both a little laborious, although adding a sandbed later on (with pre-rinsed or live sand) should be an easier task. I wouldn't worry about bacterial populations as nature has a way of sorting that stuff out in pretty quick order.

The ideal solution, if you have the room, is to set up a refugium with a DSB. Disconnecting the refugium and removing or changing the DSB is a far simplier task.

 

[intensity888]

I have been considering a refugium, with the miracle mud or and an opposite light schedule.

do you know a good place i can get info on how to set one up?

Do i understand you that you are suggesting the DSB in the fuge as opposed to in the main tank?

 

[LA-Lawman]

why not a bucket DSb in the sump. I have heard that idea passed around for a bit... easy to remove!

 

[ChrisRD]

I suggest you save your money and pass on the "miracle mud". IMO the only "miracle" with that stuff is people paying those prices for dirt... :wink:

If you want to do a lagoon-type fuge with a mud/silt bed just get a bag of tropical playsand (ie. Southdown, Yardright, Old Castle, etc.) from your local home improvement store. This stuff has tons of fines in it (if you don't rinse it) and is an ideal substrate for this type of setup.

 

[intensity888]

Hey Chris,

I have no idea where to find oolitic sand in this area. I have one more place i am going to check. I even wound up getting the number for the old castle people and they now say its not silica free. since you live in richmond va, if you have any suggestions on where to get this i would be greatly appreciative.

 

[LA-Lawman]

doesn't carib-sea make oolitic sand..... i know it is top dollar stuff. I haven't been able to get southdown in 3 years...

 

[ChrisRD]

LA,
Yeah, they do offer some oolitic sands.

Intensity,
I've never actually looked for tropical playsand in the Richmond area but I'll keep my eyes open. Don't worry about the silica thing per your discussion with Old Castle. In fact, if you can't find any aragonite sand locally, there's nothing wrong with using a fine silica sand instead.

 

[intensity888]

Yeah,, my lfs said i could order some carib sea oolitic thru them. I also had a suspicion that old castle saying it wasnt silica free might not be a big deal because based onthe advanced aquarist article

i read there is even some silica in the the carib sea stuff. I thought that might be the company line just to cover their butts. I was planning on doing the simple vinegar test on it anyway just out of curiousity. I found a home depot about 50 miles from here that carries the "new" old castle.