grade 3 sand

[hermit]

any refugium expert can tell me whether a grade 3 sand is suitable 4 the sand bed in the refugium?

why it is inferior as compared to grade 0 or 1 ?

[FuEl]

If you're using grade 3 throughout you will need a deeper sand bed to achieve the conditions needed for denitrification to occur. This is mainly due to the overall porosity of the sand bed compared to let's say grade 0 sand.

You could add maybe a 1-2cm of grade 3 above your dsb if you like. I'm using grade 3 myself and I find that amphipods love to live in the spaces between the grains.

[hermit]

deeper sand bed???

how many inch can depth be???

[FuEl]

deeper sand bed???

how many inch can depth be???

Hmmm..around 5-6 inches if you are using grade 1 sand. If using purely grade 3 I think your sand bed needs to be alot deeper. Not too sure if grade 3 sand should be used to make dsb (it can be done, but would look like an eyesore). Just stick to grade 1 and all should be fine. I personally find grade 0 to be too fine. Just a personal opinion.

[blueheaven]

I highly recommend grade 0 or grade 1 sand.

The difference in surface area is drastic!!!

[lightningstrike]

I highly recommend grade 0 or grade 1 sand.

The difference in surface area is drastic!!!

i agree.......

[nutx]

Hmmm..around 5-6 inches if you are using grade 1 sand. If using purely grade 3 I think your sand bed needs to be alot deeper. Not too sure if grade 3 sand should be used to make dsb (it can be done, but would look like an eyesore). Just stick to grade 1 and all should be fine. I personally find grade 0 to be too fine. Just a personal opinion.

5-6 inches using grade 1 sand?

Then how abt a 12 inches for grade 3 sand, with 3 inches of water column, using a 18inches height tank!

[Eric]

5-6 inches using grade 1 sand?

Then how abt a 12 inches for grade 3 sand, with 3 inches of water column, using a 18inches height tank!

looks ulgy.......hehehe

Eric

[blueheaven]

you got to understand that as the sand bed goes deeper, the oxygen gradient might not be enough for enough to diffuse into the depth, causing an anoxic region.

The anoxic region, instead of converting nitrates to nitrogen gas, it converts it to ammonium which is one of the fuel sources for algal growth, hence defeats the purpose of having a sand bed.

From what I know, a sand bed should not be more than 4 inches thick

[don]

i think grade 3 sand is good for the plenum system,if i am not wrong

[blueheaven]

nah its the same. only plenums use different grain sizes with a cryptic environment in the center.

as I have mentioned, the most important factor is the surface area

[hermit]

ok bro............

no choice stick to the traditional way liao

use grade 0 sand all instead

[blueheaven]

just 2 points for you hermit,

1)If you notice the bottom turning black, that's hydrogen sulfate and its toxic so

never stir the sand bed

2)The key point for sandbeds is the surface area

cheers