Sand grades

[Cornishlass]

How can I choose which sand is suitable? I've herd about sand being blasted around the tank which I obviously don't want. I like the look of a mixed grain sand as I feel it looks more natural. And In the future I would like a sand sifting goby which I know needs fine sand. But when shopping what mm do I go for? Any recommended brands, I'm in the UK.

Thanks

 

[mcgyvr]

If you are concerned with having it be too fine avoid anything smaller than a max grain size of 1.5mm or sold as "oolitic" or "sugar fine",etc..

 

[Cornishlass]

Thanks. Lots are listed as 1 to 2mm. Would this suit a goby?

 

[whosurcaddie]

Carib sea special grade will be fine for a Goby. Its in the range of 1 to 2 mm. Some people will by oolitic and mix it with special grade so you get some of the fine with the course. This way it traps less detritus.

Grab a fighting conch and some nassarius snails and your good to go.

 

[shelleyBoston]

I made the mistake of using Carib Sea Oolite on my 20G the wave maker is constantly shifting he sand around creating bald spots all over the tank where I can see the bare glass. I am changing my sand this weekend with aragonite.

 

[zKRYt]

aragonite is great sand. I have an ecotech mp10 on 60% as well as a 400gph hydor koralia. in my 34g tank and there is minimal sand movement. It actually put really cool wave lines in the sand and no bare spots (granted I'm running a dsb).

I will say be prepared for your tank to be dirty for awhile. After 2 days the sand settled but everything was covered in a fine silt. I just blasted it all tonight with a powerhead (added the sand on Wednesday) to try and clear it off the equipment and it looks like I just added the sand all over again :headwalls:

You can rinse the sand as some had suggested to me, but it defeats the purpose of buying live sand as you will be rinsing away any life that was in the sand.

 

[thegrun]

+1, Carib sea special grade is my favorite. If you go with mixed sizes over time the smaller grains will fall to the bottom of the sand bed. Carib sea special grade is large enough to not get blown around but not so large as to trap a lot of detritus.

 

[Cornishlass]

The only aragonite my LFS has looks really fine. It's made by aqua one.