Marine Substrates

[fnscasey]

For DSB can use 0.2-1.0 mm Sugar-fine grade sand (sugar-fine grade sand)

Should look very nice in a marine tanks but afraid that might cause the fish to stir up the sand..

Can i mix the sugar-fine sand with 1.0mm to 2.0 mm Medium grade coral sand together(medium grade coral sand) for use in a DSB filtration ?

Heard that 0.2-1.0mm sugar-fine sand is excellent for denitrification and deep sand bed (DSB) strategies seeking natural nitrate reduction (NNR).This is the ideal grain size for most detritivores and sand sand-sifting reef animals. IS THIS TRUE ?

[scooter blenny]

it's the nature of some fish that wiggles its way down the sand. so if u plan to get those fishes, it may be a good idea.

I mixed mine in my tank...

[Cleartank]

Hi, I read the article by Ron shimak and noted that in order for a DSB to serve its fuction, burrowig fishes or non fishes should not be added because many of this fishes either disturb the sand bed or eat the bactiria I think... if you must add such fishes, maybe you can use a mesh to prevent them from going too deep... as for the sand sizes ... Ron also have a particular perportion... for more info, GOTO reefcentral and look under ron shimak DSB.. Cheers

[bawater]

Heard that 0.2-1.0mm sugar-fine sand is excellent for denitrification and deep sand bed (DSB) strategies seeking natural nitrate reduction (NNR).This is the ideal grain size for most detritivores and sand sand-sifting reef animals. IS THIS TRUE ?

yes.

1mm would be the max size. The bigger the grain the deeper the bed would have to be.

sand sifting fishes such as the blue cheek goby would not be advisable if you want a healthy DSB. these fishes will sift the sand looking for small living organisms to eat. In a few days they would have decimated your sand populations.i think serpent stars do the same.

You want these tiny organisms such as worms to burrow into the sand and stir it a little(in the tiny way).

Remember that the DSB will take nearly a year to mature.

[fnscasey]

Aquariums with no plenum can achieve denitrification in a thinner layer of fine sand, but it is not as effective as a thicker layer of coarse gravel over a plenum, and the fine sand method has a higher risk of developing hydrogen sulfide gas (which kills fish rapidly). Author Ron Shimek is a proponent of the use of thick beds (25 cm or more) of fine sand without a plenum. He claims that such thick beds do not have a problem with hydrogen sulfide, and they function well for denitrification. .

Does hydrogen sulfide gas occur more often for fine sand(since fine sand tended to produce lower oxygen levels at night compared to coarse gravel.) ? Does the depth of fine sand play a part for hydrogen sulfide gas ?