I did not use live sand on the sand bed. I was told to use crushed
coral. I now know that this is the wrong thing to do. I know that when
you use a substrate you really want a big amount of diversity in the
sand. Lots of bugs and things. But my point is if a tank can run fine
without sand why use it if you are a beginner. I have only had this
tank running for about a year now. I thought I had read enough on reef
tanks to know what I was doing but then when I got into it I found out
that I had not. All the books ever tell you about sand beds is that you
want at least 2 inches of sand. They don't warn you that you have to
have the right amount of bugs and things in the sand to keep it working
right. If a sand bed is complicated why not leave it to someone with
experience. I know that there may be huge benefits to having a deep
sand bed but why risk it.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Shane, while your reasons (export of nutrients) for using Caulerpa are tried
> and true, not ALL of my refugiums have Caulerpa in them....Some just have
> hundreds of peppermint shrimp and (can you believe it ?) MORE Live Sand.
> Don't forget, I'm talking about LIVE sand here, not just crushed coral or
> dead substrate, this may or may not make a difference with nutrient export.
> Also, while Caulerpa DOES take out organics and heavy metals, along with
> nitrate, I've never seen anything that says Caulerpa helps remove toxic
> quantities of Hydrogen Sulfide (?) or any other noxious gasses created by
> excessively deep sand, and this is why I told that other dude that I doubt a
> deep sand bed killed his reef.
> I have definite necrotic areas in my sand beds that can be seen thru the
> glass (black and gray areas that smell like rotten eggs) and they have been
> there a long while....
> Like I said, this whole discusssion started because (someone told ?) that
> guy the sand bed killed his tank..Did it entirely consist of Dolomite, or
> maybe BEACH-Collected sand, who knows . Even with the (1000 lbs ? ) of live
> sand I use, phospate, silicate, and nitrate remain very low, including the
> system with no Macro.
> I don't even change that much water in these systems. I really believe that
> if you start with great water, you'll keep the great water.
> Tom
> ________________________________________
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