Opinion on substrate (new tank)

[Cavufarm]

Hey guys/gals...im setting up a 10gal nano reef tank and am going to order some stuff from foster and smith.

I have 10lbs of bagged live sand and am thinking about a layer of crushed coral and then some indo-pacific black sand on top. probably 4" total.

Although i may cut out the crushed coral all together. Hrmm....any thoughts?

 

[Andrew]

[welcome]

Yea, I would skip the crushed coral and just go with the layer of sand and or maybe a mixture of the livesand and black sand. I myself don't like the look of the black/white sand mixture.

 

[Aadler]

after i put white sand in i thought i would have rather put black sand, but i might just go with the thin layer of white sand if i were you. overall i think it looks the best, and in a 10 gallon why put so much sand?

 

[One Eyed Bunny]

4" of sand in a 10 gallon tank?

Personally, I'd do it with a 1/2" of live sand and some live rock. 4" eats up a pretty good amount of room in a 10gal. tank.

This is just my opinion.

 

[Cavufarm]

Interesting stuff...yeah 4" i guess is overkill. I read that around 4" is good for filtration but i dont want it that cramped as well.

about 1" of white live sand is already in there. im thinking a 1.5" layer of gray coast calcite (blackish) on top of that will look sharp and accent coral colors.

 

[Cutiewitbooty]

Deep Sand Beds don't do anything in a nano tank, just go with 1/2" or 1". I would also avoid the black unless you mix it

 

[ugination87]

yea yea black sand!

 

[Cutiewitbooty]

it's way to hard to keep clean, if you ask anyone who actually went with black, they regret it.

 

[Cavufarm]

yeah that was my next thought...i dont want nice black sand littered with unsightly ....whatever

 

[PatMayo]

Cutiewitbooty,
Is correct. Go with 1/2 inch and make it the nice white stuff. In the long run it will be better.

Regards,

Pat

 

[Cavufarm]

maybe some indio-pacific...its like a spotted carpet so you cant see dirt

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=7318&ref=3532&subref=AT&N=2004+113554