Crushed Coral, Sand or what?

[Mark Bianco]

I just had delivered my new to me 220gl to replace my 75gl. I will be doing a foam rock wall so I have plenty of time for planning everything else.

My question for years I have used crushed coral in all of my tanks except one time I put black sugar size sand in a RSM 130d Never again! From what I have been reading many say crushed coral is not good for a tank anymore? OK so what is everyone using and why?

Thanks in advance
Mark

 

[thegrun]

Sand. Crushed coral traps detritus and leads to higher nitrates.

 

[b0bab0ey]

Sand. Crushed coral traps detritus and leads to higher nitrates.

+1 After a while, the pretty white crushed coral will start to look nasty. Sometimes the sand does too, but it's a lot easier to clean.

 

[Ptyochromis]

I would say it depends more on what you plan to keep.

For the most part anything that digs should be kept on sugar-grain sand (I like oolite). You also don't need as deep a bed for an effective DSB than you would with crushed coral.

My sand bed is comprised of oolite and aragonite and is 2" deep(i wish I would have doubled it, but thats what the sump is for). Feather dusters are popping up, a glorious anoxic layer is forming and you can see tons of tunnels worms have made as they travel about. It's quite awesome. My holothuria keeps it rather clean so there is little work on my part.

There are also some animals that have difficulty traveling over sand so you may opt for a chunky substrate if you go with these guys.

 

[Mark Bianco]

The tank will be about 50/50 sps and softies with several fish.
Does anyone have any input on a bare bottom tank

 

[funkejj]

Go sugar sized and you will be fine. Bare bottom is nice when it is clean, lot of work keeping it clean.

 

[hollister]

Seems like it will be a mixed reef tank. Well crushed coral is a nitrate nightmare. And why use some fake display that will be unseen after time.

A sand bed 1.5 lbs per gallon min, and Live Rock 1.0 lb per gallon min. are your best bio filters.

 

[AliciaP]

Fake sand bed

 

[GPB]

I'd stay away from CC. Been there done that. Dirt trap!

 

[downbeach]

Here's what I subscribe to:
http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-06/rs/feature/index.php
Using this substrate:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+9805+7321&pcatid=7321
I'd do 4+ inches.
Activated here:
http://www.ipsf.com/livesand.html
http://www.ipsf.com/reefworms.html

Ffollow the principals set forth in Ron Shimek's articles.
Get one each.

 

[jag10016]

Crushed coral is a no no

 

[thegrun]

The tank will be about 50/50 sps and softies with several fish.
Does anyone have any input on a bare bottom tank

If you like the looks of a bare bottom they are fine. There are some small buffering advantages to having sand but BB is not an issue. I personally don't like the looks of BB and the fact that any detritus is very noticeable, but if you like it there isn't a problem with BB.

 

[ptreef]

CC..no as everyone said.

Go for the carib sea special grade. nice and fine for sifters and looks great. Easy to vaccum. Also won't get blown around like sugar stuff!

Also just go with a shallow sand bed, enuf to cover the bottom.

 

[darkiss]

where can you buy cheap sugar sized sand? I also have a 120 that needs some sand