Sand size/type?

[hansmatt]

I'd like to take out & replace the top layer of my crushed arg. substrate. It catches too much detritus & grows some funky colors visible in the lower layers.
What type/brand/grain size are people using? I have a 90g mixed reef with pretty good flow, but would like some finer substrate that stays whiter.

[Jrmass]

Most people that I know are using the Oolite sand... (double ott grain sand). The grain size of this sand is 0.5mm-1.0mm respectively. The sand that I have in my tank is slightly larger than this with that southdown sand. I would say it's probably 0.5mm-2.0mm which isn't very noticable unless you run your hands through the sand and you can feel this sand is courser.

This should help you along...

http://caribsea.com/pages/products/aragalive.html

All of these sands are designed for the home aquaria. I know that Matt from Olde Town Pets carry's the Bahama Oolite sand but, couldn't remember the $$$ tag he had on it when I looked. I ended up getting 3 bags from ebay for $37.80/30lbs after shipping (bought 90 lbs)

Jason

[pogodzib]

I view the smallest grain size oolitic or aragonite sands being sold as being the best. The only problem that I have encountered with really small grain sizes is that it can blow around some until it gets bacteria growing on it, but that doesn't last too long.

[schneijt]

Beware that oolitic sand has INSANE amounts of dust in it! I learned the hard way... :-) Be sure to give it a good rinse. It's a pain in the ***, but it'll be worth it to keep the dust storm to a minimum later on. Just my opinion, of course, but I think a good rise to get the dust and crap out of the sand is very worthwhile. I love the sugar-fine sand in my tank, btw. Just be sure you don't have too much flow hitting it and causing it to blow around and make your tank look like the rolling sand dunes of the Sahara!

I think it's important with any sand to have a good crew of sand stirring critters. I have two cukes, two fighting conchs, lots of assorted snails, a serpent starfish, and hermit crabs. They all do a good job of keeping the sand clean and stirred in the upper layers.

-Joe

[hansmatt]

I have a cuke, and star, along with a decent cleanup crew, but I think the coarse argonite that I have is a bit tough to stir well. I have also noted that many of my snails & conches die over a few months with no apparent cause. I dont' have many hermits left, and originally thought they were the culprits, but now think there may be some H2SO3 (or is is H2SO4?) leaching up from the sandbed and knocking them out.

[Jrmass]

I would lean towards the gas build-up more than the snails and hermits killing themselves (which I know does happen). I'm not sure how much argonite you have but, you could cut it in half and then get the finer sand and just stir up your argonite very slowly. Probably over the course of 2 weeks or so. This will ensure that you don't allow the gas bubble concentrations to get too large and then kill off the whole tank. I know when I did a DSB in a planted tank that I had (Freshwater keep in mind) I used to get a womens hair pick and run it through the sand bed once a week to allow the bubbles to escape. This is difficult in a SW tank as the rock is always in the way though. So, I have yet to even do this technique on my own tank since. But, I did notice a dramatic improvement when I did it as I could see countless bubbles what would leach out of the sand from doing this.

my $0.02

Jas