Journal Inert Sand Trials || 150x60x60cm, 140gal, Horizontal Reactor + Blasting Sand Journal

[TRyan]

Looks amazing! Tank and plants look really healthy. I love the layout, too.

 

[JayP]

Looks great! Seeing that dwarf hairgrass grow with no substrate nutrients is awesome.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Thanks guys!

 

[BigWave]

I want some of them Hyperspots but can not justify the price especially since I have enough differnt types already.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

This is pretty cool:





This could be a great series: photos at similar points in the tank's life cycle for comparison.

 

[Aquajack]

Thanks heaps for all the updates and photos. Tank looks amazing, as is all the equipment installed to run it. Very jealous!!
I've only ever tried dirted tanks and sand cap.
I was going to try an all aqua soil tank next but this has now given me inspiration to maybe try this first!

I also have a similar size tank with a full blyxa carpet (my favorite plant) but I think that might be the tank I'll experiment on. Its been running 18 months and is due for an over haul. So a BDBS or similar as the substrate sounds like a good plan.

Particularly with DIY ferts, you have full control from the water column.

 

[Jeff Miotke]

This is pretty cool:

View attachment 12429

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This could be a great series: photos at similar points in the tank's life cycle for comparison.

Hey @Naturescapes_Rocco good stuff. It is an interesting topic.
The price difference is staggering. And one of the biggest barriers to having more and better aquascapers is resources. I wonder what downsides or challenges we would face doing a more elaborate aquascape with deep areas of substrate and steep slopes. My gut tells me I could make it work but I suspect novice to intermediate skilled scapers would struggle. Anyway great stuff as always!

 

[JayP]

I wonder what downsides or challenges we would face doing a more elaborate aquascape with deep areas of substrate and steep slopes

I've been thinking about this as well since Rocco's Experiment Tank Journal. My questions:
1. For an equal volume of aquasoil vs BDBS , what is the weight comparison. Easy enough to determine. I assume BDBS would be considerably heavier.
2. How well would BDBS be able to maintain a steep slope. We already know it's challenging enough with aquasoil.
3. If building up the slope with another material to lessen the amount of BDBS, what material would be best, lava rock (or some other rock), construction/spray foam, etc.?
4. Would the deeper layer of BDBS result in other challenges to grow healthy plants?

I think we'll need an Inert Sand Trials Volume 2.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I've been thinking about this as well since Rocco's Experiment Tank Journal. My questions:

These are good questions!

1. For an equal volume of aquasoil vs BDBS, what is the weight comparison. Easy enough to determine. I assume BDBS would be considerably heavier.

I wouldn't say considerably. Aquasoil is pretty heavy, too. BDBS is likely denser for sure, but it's not double the weight I wouldn't say. I can weigh them dry for comparison to check, though!

2. How well would BDBS be able to maintain a steep slope. We already know it's challenging enough with aquasoil.

It's harder for sure if it's not densely planted. You absolutely can still slope it (I'll have to include a left-side picture of this tank's slope). All my tanks have a general slope, and a few spots with steeper slopes, but it's definitely not as "slope-able" as aquasoil. Possible, but nowhere near as good for that purpose. You'd need small plastic dividers, heavy planting, black superglue to hold it, etc.

3. If building up the slope with another material to lessen the amount of BDBS, what material would be best, lava rock (or some other rock), construction/spray foam, etc.?

I currently have mesh bags of lava rocks under the BDBS:

I added many more after this photo was taken.

My goal was to keep the BDBS less than 4-5 inches in depth, and I think I achieved it.

4. Would the deeper layer of BDBS result in other challenges to grow healthy plants?

I'm not sure. I've had aquasoil 8" deep before without issues. BDBS might compact a bit more than aquasoil, but it's really not like fine sand. It doesn't compact, doesn't turn to mud, and plant roots go to the bottom of the tank's glass! Roots are just as robust and healthy in BDBS as they are in aquasoil, in my experience so far.
If the sand is TOO deep, however, I have no doubt it could eventually cause anaerobic conditions, which is why I did try to stick to 5" max depth if possible.

I think we'll need an Inert Sand Trials Volume 2.

My partner will kill me, don't give me any ideas!

 

[BenB]

I saw your post on Reddit. It was crazy the push back and misinformation, but I see in the days since, you've gotten a lot more buy in. I think it was great you were willing to put it out there.

 

[gjcarew]

I have a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. I compete a lot (well, used to compete more). On the r/bjj subreddit, I was constantly contradicted by white belts, who were upvoted by other white belts, because the majority of users on r/bjj are white belts.

Same thing happened on r/plantedtank. I remember posting something about how having sunlight on your tank doesn't necessarily cause algae if your CO2 and fertilization are on point, and sunlight in a planted tank is stunning. I got a bunch of comments from people telling me I'm wrong despite my tank, whose picture we were currently looking at, showing the truth of what I said.

I've come to the conclusion that Reddit is a dunning-kruger machine. Posts in a subreddit that most resonate with newbies are more likely to get upvoted, since most of the people enthusiastic enough to actually go to a subreddit are newbies.

 

[gjcarew]

Also! It would be a better measure to compare saturated aquasoil vs. saturated BDBS for weight, since you have to consider pore spacing as well as the fact that aquasoil holds water while BDBS does not

 

[JayP]

I saw your post on Reddit. It was crazy the push back and misinformation, but I see in the days since, you've gotten a lot more buy in. I think it was great you were willing to put it out there.

Reddit isn't any different than Facebook when it comes to misinformation.

Also! It would be a better measure to compare saturated aquasoil vs. saturated BDBS for weight, since you have to consider pore spacing as well as the fact that aquasoil holds water while BDBS does not

Very good point.

 

[BenB]

I've come to the conclusion that Reddit is a dunning-kruger machine. Posts in a subreddit that most resonate with newbies are more likely to get upvoted, since most of the people enthusiastic enough to actually go to a subreddit are newbies.

Reddit isn't any different than Facebook when it comes to misinformation.

I agree with both, but I find Reddit to be a bit better in format so its easier to have an exchange. Two days later on FB and I have no idea where a post I was following was. Also, I don't think the newbies are quite as rabid and frothed up as on FB.

 

[BranchScape]

Yes! Oase CrystalSkim 350. After trying all the brands I could find (eheim, sicce, UNS, ADA Vuppa II) I really like this one the most. I've been using it on this tank since it's inception!

I also don't replace the sponge inside, I just aggressively smash it around in some tap water until it's clean. The same sponge has been inside this skimmer since May of last year, I think.

The flow is downward and spread out, though, so it's not idea for shallow tanks. You can get 3D printed parts to change it to be directional flow instead.

I have the Sicce and Oase, never replace the sponge in either. I just clean it in the sink by smashing the sponge as you said. I am surprised you lie the Oase more but you do have an ATO, without an ATO I would go Sicce all day as it seems to do better with variable water levels.

 

[BranchScape]

Also! It would be a better measure to compare saturated aquasoil vs. saturated BDBS for weight, since you have to consider pore spacing as well as the fact that aquasoil holds water while BDBS does not

This could be a good test of water held at a fixed final volume. The heavier one has more water present.

• Put 100 g dry of each substrate into a measuring cup
• Add water until the mixture reaches 500 mL
• Weigh the cup

 

[Art]

Hi @Naturescapes_Rocco, thanks again for your time and effort in putting these journals together. You are helping so many people.

One question on the UV. I understand and agree with the benefits. However, my understanding is that UV will break the chelated micros, perhaps making them less usable or stable. I assume your daily dosing counteracts any variability?

Given your outstanding results, I assume this isn’t an issue for you but have you given any thought to this? Perhaps this risk is overplayed in the hobby?

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

One question on the UV. I understand and agree with the benefits. However, my understanding is that UV will break the chelated micros, perhaps making them less usable or stable. I assume your daily dosing counteracts any variability?

UV and Micros (even just micros in general) has been my focus of experimenting in the last 5-6 months. I haven't updated my journals enough!

I think daily dosing did help. The only chelate I use in my micros is DTPA Fe 11%. Everything else is delivered via sulfate salts (Except for sodium molybdate for Mo). Still, I'd expect that UV light would break the DTPA-Fe down over time.
Of all of the iron chelates, DTPA is the most resistant to UV light that we have available to us in Aquarium use at our pH's.

I have actually been running the tanks without UV light for about 3 months and didn't see much of a difference besides in water quality. With UV on, there is no doubt that things are crystal clear beyond imagining, but there really is the chance that removing UV did help a bit with plant health and growth. I'm not sure, because I changed so many other variables during this time!

For now, I'll stick to keeping the UV lights off and see how things progress.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Final journal update:​

Unfortunately there have been some major life changes in recent months, including an upcoming house move! I won't be able to fit this tank in the next home, so it's time to say goodbye to this tank, stand, and background LED panel.

I also began to slack a bit on maintenance, and algae grew quickly when CO2 had a mistake in settings. Still, it has been amazing to watch a tank with nothing but inert sand grow a dwarf hairgrass carpet just as well as any aquasoil tanks I've ever tried.

There are Pros and Cons to using inert sand, but I do like it -- a lot.




Check out those crypts, s repens, blyxa japonica, and DHG! Awesome.

Selling the tank​

See the Reddit Aquaswap thread here for selling details!

If anyone in the Denver Metro area is interested, I'm selling the tank, stand and LED background screen.



If you were to buy new, all of this would cost $3,750 before shipping.


I'll still answer questions if they ever pop up here, but it's time to end the 150p journals.





I will miss this tank a lot. It represents a special period of my life, that's for sure!

 

[FatPleco]

Sad to see such a glorious tank on its way out. I'm sure the next tank will be a feast for the eyes regardless.
You replaced Pogostemon Deccanensis with something else. Was there a reason ? Are they stunting with high ferts in the water column or something ?