Reef flakes or Mini Reef flakes?

[skh]

I have a question for all you RC folk. I'm setting up a new 120g tank running 2x mp40s and a ~500 gph return for flow and am trying to decide on sand size. In my nano tank I currently have Caribsea fiji pink sand. I really like the size (0.5 to 1.5 mm) but am worried how it will fare in a higher-flow tank.

Does anyone have experience with a similar setup using reef flakes and mini reef flakes? Can I get away with using mini flakes or are they too easily disturbed/moved around by the flow? I saw that dzhuo was using a mix of regular and mini flakes.

Edit: Here's PA's take on the mini-flakes for SPS flow:

I think at first the Miniflake will blow around quite a bit, however once it gets weighted down with bacteria and matures in the tank for a month or two it should be just fine. Remember, 5-6yrs we all ran sugar fine sand 4"-6" deep in our sps tanks with high flow!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1865344

Anyone else?

 

[Reefahholic]

Reefflakes are 3.5 mm. Mini flakes are about 2.0 mm but not positive on that one.

I would go with reefflakes with 2 mp 40's just to be safe. If it blows with the mini- ur gonna be screwed and have to take it all out. That would suck majorly.

 

[JG1]

depending on the mode I use, I still move around reeflakes that are 6 months old in my 48x24x20 with my mp40's

 

[skh]

Thanks guys. I think I'm leaning toward 100% reef flakes. I've seen some additional pictures and it actually doesn't look too chunky.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

reeflakes are a really good size. Small enough for my jawfish to move, but heavy enough to stay put for the most part. I think the miniflakes would blow around too much. this stuff is so nice a clean too, it's great!

 

[barney1215]

I have reeflakes in my 185 with 2 mp40, 16oo gph return and 4 k3 and there is no movement fron them. I would go with reeflakes.

 

[dzhuo]

Thanks guys. I think I'm leaning toward 100% reef flakes. I've seen some additional pictures and it actually doesn't look too chunky.

If your tank is intended to be SPS with heavy flow, I would definitely go with 100% reef flakes. It won't look chunky at all. It's about perfect as far as size is concern. Lots of people PM me whether I have problems keeping sand burrowing critters with reef flakes and I can honestly say no. Pictures for size reference with various such critters:

Cucumber

Nassarius

And of course, this little guy

You will not be disappointed and I don't believe you will find better sand.

 

[skh]

Awesome, thanks everyone!

 

[Salty150]

Sorry to revive such an old post, lol.

But is this "sand" more white?

I am looking at CaribSea and their "sands" seen to be more tan color when in water...

And has anyone actually experienced trouble with the mini-flakes?

 

[vitodog]

I used a combination of mini-Reefflakes and Reef Flakes when I set up my 125. I changed out the Reef Flakes and replaced it with Caribsea sand. The Caribsea sand was IMO whiter.

 

[Mark426]

I tried mini flakes and maybe I got a bad batch but it was close to sugar sized. Replaced it with reef flakes.

 

[Salty150]

There seems to be a "new" size between Mini Flakes and Reef Flakes - it is called Meso Flakes.