Marine Substrates

[fnscasey]

For DSB can use 0.2-1.0 mm Sugar-fine grade sand (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/SystemPIX/untitled4.jpg)
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(http://www.wetwebmedia.com/SystemPIX/untitled3.jpg) 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 ?

 

[Guest]

Yes, and Yes.

 

[MT79]

I've been very successful w/ this mix, large on top of course. NNR is great in my tank.

 

[fnscasey]

I've been very successful w/ this mix, large on top of course.

I meant mixing the sugar-fine sand(0.2mm-1.0mm) and medium grade coral sand(1.0mm-2.0mm) together !

 

[fishfreek]

You will find that even the finest of particles in the sugar grain size sand will remain on the bottom of the tank fairly well after its had time to be populated with bactera.

At the begining even the slightest movment close to teh sand will disturb it to a small cloud but after a few weeks it will take mre and more movment to see the same cloud burst.

 

[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 ?

 

[steve-s]

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 ?

It is more the depth and lack availabile free O2 that will have anything to do with hydrogen sulphide. It is a byproduct of anaerobic bacteria as they consume obligate O2 soucres. Anoxic bacteria IMO, are more prefered than anaerobic unless in a controlled environment such as a seperate fuge or coil de-nitrator.

Cheers
Steve