Live Sandbed

toadjoe

New member
Mr. Shimek,

I consider your articles some of the best I have read relating to reef aquaria. I plan to develop my 160 gallon reef aquarium based on much of the information I have learned from your articles. I purchased 250 gallons of Instant Ocean before reading your article on its toxicity and now I plan to give it away because I want the fauna and infauna to successfully reproduce. Bristle worms, spaghetti worms and other detrivores cost too much money to risk their reproductive success with inferior artificial saltwater solutions.

Do you have any recommendations on what substrate brand to use for a deep sandbed? So far, I have not found a brand of oolitic aragonite that fully meets your recommendation of particle size distribution. Do you have any experience with the Bedrock brand of sustrate manufactured by Marine Enterprises International?
 
Hi,

[welcome]

I really haven't found a brand of aragonitic-based sand that matches the size I like. I personally have used ESV's oolitic sand, and have been pleased with it, but even it is too coarse. You can get a better match by using silica sand. This is available in various sizes (as sand blasting grit) and it is possible to mix a sand with quite good characteristics.

I have no experience with the brand of sand you mention. If you wish to send a small amount (a cup or so) to me, I can do a sediment particle size analysis for you.
 
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