Is all sand the same?

Sand isn't just "sand"... There are a lot of different types of sand, collection methods, and pollutant potential. There are a LOT of differences in sand. I would never take sand from the beach and put it in my tank, you don't know that someone didn't pour there beer/gas/whatever in that spot yesterday and you don't know what unwanted organisms may inhabit the sand. Also there are different types of sand..

Take Silicia compared to aragonite. Aragonite can provide a ph buffer, can slowly release trace elements and calcium into your system where silicia has been accused of bleeding nitrate and phosphate into a system (I have never seen definitive proof of this but many believe it).. Aragonite is also smaller and more rounded which allows more water flow around it giving it an advantage especially when used in DSB.

So, tl;dr... sand isn't just "sand". Your tank represents a significant investment, don't screw yourself early by trying to save a hundred bucks on sand. Get some stuff that is guaranteed not to bring unwanted chemicals/organisms into your system.

Most people don't understand how BB/SSB/DSB all works. OR that there are actual advantages and disadvantages to each set up. It's not about right wrong, or that there is no difference. It's just a difference of approach that has a common goal.

A BB, allows for easy cleaning and you depend on your mechanical filtration (sponges, filter socks, skimmer etc) to remove the detritus and build up from your system. You use very high amounts of flow to keep and debris in the water column to be removed by one of the aforementioned methods.

A SSB (your bed) Works as follows


And a DSB works like this:


Now there are a lot of differences in how we utilize a DSB in aquariums. (remote dsb, DSB in a bucket, refugium DSB or DSB in a display.

Where people tend to screw up is thinking that only one way works. They all work, just in different ways and with slightly different types of maintenance.

 

And... I probably went to far for the purposes of this thread... but what ever!

 

I think that your response was dead on and necessary. K+

 

Thank you!

 

I agree also. I have also heard the same things about silica based sands causing problems. I haven't tested nor do I wish to try. ;D

 

Silica sand is fine. It will NOT release phosphates nor nitrates into the water column. I have serious doubts it will release Silicon into the water column....it's pretty much inert. The only problem I see with Silica Sands are the sharp edges. One of it's nicknames is "sharp sand" and it is used in sandblasters for that reason after all. If one wanted a diamond goby or jawfish, this probably wouldn't be a good sand for you.

The amount of pH, Calcium, etc buffering that one gets from aragonite sands is so miniscule that I wouldn't even consider that as a factor. Once it is covered by bacterial biofilms, all of the chemistry that the DSB proponents tell you will happen.....WON'T. lol I would consider the round grains as a factor though (which is why I use it).

 

if you do i would boil it or something before putting it in the tank

 

I fully agree, I don't believe the hype on phosphate/nitrate from silica and the more I research the subject the more I see that the buffering capability of argonite sand is oversold in these debates (it happens, just on a very small scale) I didn't mean to overemphasize it if I did.

Another consideration, (although, this may be so small it's negligible as well) argonite is more porous allowing for more bacteria growth. Any input on the validity of this argument?


I think the real thing to take away for the OP is to get your sand new and IMHO made for aquariums (they just have more reason to be careful and not end up with something in my tank killing fish that I can't even test for like some chemical).