best sand

[4tangs]

what sand do you use in your fowlr? I have a reef tank with sugar fine sand. I am going to switch gears towards a FOWLR. Should I slowly replace the sand with something coarser so I can up the flow to keep stuff from settling or just keep the sugar fine?

 

[notoriousreef]

I always use a mix, but mainly use a top layer of more coarser stuff just so I dont end up with a sand storm. I tend to like fish that like to get into the sand and have found with a mix this works best for me.

 

[namxas]

If you have the fine stuff already in the tank, and you like it, there's not real reason to change unless you feel compelled to do so.

We're running 14 FOWLR setups ATM, and we generally run #3 or #1 grade aragonite. It's a bit larger grained than sugar-fine, so it "lays down" better, is still fine enuff for burrowing species, but small enuff not to trap detritus like CC.

 

[Recty]

We're running 14 FOWLR setups ATM

Better change your sig!

 

[4tangs]

I just cant get the flow where I want it with the fine stuff I have. Would you just mix in something more coarse or change it all out slowly?

 

[4tangs]

bump

 

[JSeymour]

I like using #3 aragonite for most tanks. It can take strong flow fairly well and plently small for fish, worms and cucumbers and as namxas stated, won't trap a ton of detritus.

Personally, I'd probably change it out. Fine sand just can't take the flow by its self and I don't like the look of mixed grade sand., in most cases. A nice uniform sand bed just looks really nice. It sounds like you already know, but change out section by section over a period time. Let your water parameters dictate how long it takes. Don't worry about getting every last bit of fine sand. The little that remains will stay trapped under the coarser sand.