Flow vs SSB

[eskymick]

I've decided to put a SSB into my now BB reef. I have approximately 80x flow rate in my SPS reef.

In the past I've tried a SSB with fine sand and ended up with many bare areas and constant sand storms. This time I am considering using crushed aragonite for the SSB in hopes it will stay a bit more in place. That's all well and good, but I'm concerned that the bed might be a bit too coarse for sand sifting gobies, stars and cukes.

I've considered the following options:

1. Reduce the flow and try fine sand once again (with the the risk of having too little flow).
2. Reduce the flow and mix fine sand in with the aragonite. Will it separate out?
3. Leave the flow as is, and use the heavier aragonite .. perhaps eliminating the "use" of sand sifting critters.

What have others experienced? What do you recommend? Is something less than 80x flow enough?

 

[fishysteve]

I'd use the fine grade sand and try reaiming the powerheads. Or just turn down the flow for a couple weeks until the sand settles in. I've found that newly added sand blows around easier than sand that's at least a month old.

 

[eskymick]

Thanks steve ....

In the past, I had fine sand in the tank ... for more than a year. It always seemed to be blowing around. The flow from the powerheads seems to follow the glass down to the sand bed and blows it away from the bottom edges of the tank. Same effect in the corners, too. Does it help to mix rubble in with the sand in the "problem" areas? Is 80x flow overkill?

 

[fishysteve]

I've never had crushed coral in my tanks before. If you do put it in, I'd make it a very thin layer. 80 x flow is fine. I only have about 65x and I don't have any problems. Check out my gallery, my SPS are growing fine and there isn't any algae in my tank.