Silica Sand for DSB

S

snow999ball

I did a little research and most of the threads I happended upon were 4 years or older, and after seeing the pace of change in this hobby just since I started I figured it would be good to ask for better clarification and new ideas about silica sand.

I have some extra silica pool filter sand that I did not need for my cichlid tank and I would like to put it towards the DSB that will be going into my newly made sump, but not at the cost of endangering my corals and fish.

Are there any problems that could occur by using the silica sand towards a DSB?

Thanks for any and all help.
 
Some people say yes others say no. Just like others will argue a Dsb is good vs not good. IMO I would not go with a Dsb. But if you twisted my arm and said run one, sand is cheap enough I would just buy some non silica sand.
 
@ss95003 wrote:
Some people say yes others say no. Just like others will argue a Dsb is good vs not good. IMO I would not go with a Dsb. But if you twisted my arm and said run one said:
Why would you not do a DSB?

Still trying to get opions cause seems that the whole DSB thing is split 50-50 between good and not good.
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How big is the tank first of all. The issue with silica sand is silica and its supposed link to hair algae... however, I have yet to see anything that really points to it. The other issue is that is sharper... so sand sifters like jawfish etc can cause some issues by cutting their mouths and gill slits. They are against the DSB rules though..... so they shouldn't be in the tank to begin with.

Just food for thought.. but to the DSB question. If the footprint isn't large enough, a DSB isn't recommended. So start there....
 
@snow999ball wrote:
[I]@ss95003 wrote:[/I][quote="Some people say yes others say no. Just like others will argue a Dsb is good vs not good. IMO I would not go with a Dsb. But if you twisted my arm and said run one said:
Why would you not do a DSB?

Still trying to get opions cause seems that the whole DSB thing is split 50-50 between good and not good."]

Multiple reason here are my major ones.

1. like Dave said you need a large foot print to make this work properly.
2. there are issues long term with DSB.
3. seeing a dsb through the glass is unslightly to me.
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ok so for some clarification.

1. The DSB will be going in the refugium underneith the sump. I agree with y'all of the unsightly look in a DT.

2. The tank itself is a 54 corner, with the sump being a 55 long (filled to about 45-50 gallons).

3. The refugium itself will be about 30 gallons with a footprint of 32"L X 12"

What could these long term issues with DSB be? I've read about the ammonia pockets and such but am wondering if I may still be missing some of the cons.
 
Some have noted that a DSB has about alimited life. At some point it goes down hill and nukes your tank.


Also silica is very hard. Any sand caught in a magnet can scratch your tank. Silica way sharper and harder that a calcium based sand.
 
I am far from an expert on this subject so take that with a grain of silica sand. :)
The gas pockets as you talked about, detritus tends to settle in great amounts. And I have just read over time they become a nitrate factory versus a remover. You have to ask your self what is the main goal for the DSB? If the main goal is denitrification, I would say some sort of carbon dosing (vinegar, vodka, sugar, or bio pellets) will out perfom the DSB, with any KNOWN long term issues.
 
The reason for the large refugium is to have a large area to store rocks, rubble, macro to raise large numbers of micro/macro fauna that can make it's way to the tank. as well as possibly a frag rack and "QT" (the QT would be just to make sure the fish is eating w/out being pestered/outmatch by other fish).

I figured since I have the sand and the room, I would just add that to my list of natural filtration devices and if it helped great and if it didn't oh well, but I wanted to make sure it would no harm the inhabitants or cause a large negitive impact.
 
So I just got the thought of mabey putting the silica sand in there for depth, then capping it with some reef sand, so that the sharpness of the silica would not affect anything.
 
@snow999ball wrote:
So I just got the thought of mabey putting the silica sand in there for depth said:
Dunno if that will work. Larger sand rises to the top. Also if they are different densitys it could cause it to mix or migrate to the top.
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