High phosphate, think it may be sand bed...Want to replace, what type for mixed reef?

[alexx2208]

Does anyone have any opinions on a sand bed for my 250g want-to-be mixed reef?

Thanks
Alex

 

[ReefAddictMiami]

Easy recipe for disaster bud. You are better off with a phosban reacter

 

[AquaTDV]

I just finished replacing my 2" to 3"- 10 year old oolite sand bed. I did it 1/3 at a time over a couple of months. Large water changes everytime you remove sand is important. I replaced it with special grade Caribsea aragonite. It made an incredible difference in growth and over all health of the system. But it was a huge pita in a 350 gallon system.

 

[AquaTDV]

I would check your sandbed first for anaerobic spots, treat them like an infection and siphon them out completely. Never stop in the middle of one. Doing it this way I didn't lose a single sps colony or clam.

 

[Crackem]

How did you remove the sand from underneath and behind the rocks?

 

[AquaTDV]

I had to pull a lot of it out, and use a 3/4 inch hose to suck out the sand. That size hose worked very well. I also made a PVC platform to put the rock on so it wouldn't settle into the sand.