Yet another sand question

[Daddio]

Actually I lied, I have more than one question. Rebuilding from 75 to 150 and will be starting with new sand seeded with some old.

1. Refugium (20x18) planning on using about 75 lbs of oolite/ sugar to get a 4 " depth (sound about right?)

2. Display tank: here is where I have the main questions.

- with a deep sand bed in the refugium, do I need to worry that much about hitting a 3-4" depth there (if I use sugar-sized) or would it be better to have say, 2-3". I tend to slope it from front to back it try and keep the sand a little below the tank frame in the front.

I am trying to save a little money as I am looking at around 8 bags of sand to get a 3" sand bed = about $200

- love the was sugar/oolite looks. I have a mix of predominantly oolite with a little larger grade mixed in - mixed the oolite in after several years so the binding bacteria were already there - never had a "blowing" issue. But I will have much more flow now and am finding mixed opinions on the sugar sized sand - some love it, some think it's the worst thing the ever put in their tank. Just wondering how different you think oolite and special grade compare looks-wise.

 

[Reefing Madness]

For a Deep Sand Bed, weather its in the fuge or DT, you want it 4" or deeper.

 

[fishroomlady]

I have always used a courser aragonite - I have some crushed coral mixed in with it and for whatever reason, I have never had cyano issues....it's probably just circumstance but it seems that fine sand seems to be more prone to cyano - just an observation, I'm not claiming it's a fact.

 

[MrDJeep123]

I think this will help.

Sand

 

[Daddio]

That was a great article. Had to read it a couple of times to get the full story but definitely helps verify that oolite for the DSB in the refugium is a no-brainier.

I may try sugar or oolite sized in the dt and hopefully not have too much of a problem with dust storms. I may have to splurge for the extra few bags... What's an extra $75 at this point anyway... I blew my budget from the start.

Asked the LFS today about what they use and checked out they use... They told me they are moving from the special to the larger grain (about 1/8 inch) in all their tanks and changing it out every so often. They say that the oolite produces too much algae... Maybe oolite doesn't work as well in that environment but I think it looks like crap. Reminds me of that freshwater rock, only white.

 

[Daddio]

Fishroomlady... I like the look that you are describing and tried it in my present tank, really natural looking. How do you keep the mix of sand mixed? Mine ended up looking like I had a whole tank of crushed coral as all the big pieces eventually ended up on top.