sand question

[kirby_32]

Piecing together a 75g reef tank. Based on feedback from a SLASH member going with 2" of sand.

Not wanting to skimp but also not wanting to waste money. The options for the bed I'm considering are aragonite from DRFS or Pavestone Pulverized Limestone from Home Depot. I've heard people have used this with no issues but don't want to make a mistake of using something that is inappropriate.

Anyone using the HD product or something similar?

kevin

 

[geoxman]

I use white play sand from Lowes and have also used chicken feed, oyster shell, in the past

 

[kirby_32]

Chicken feed?!?!? Not sure how to take your post.

Either you are indicating the pulverized limestone is a really bad idea or you actually have used chicken feed which would be a first.

 

[trottman]

chicken feed is crusted oyster shells

 

[geoxman]

crushed, but some times can be crusted:rollface:

 

[kirby_32]

So it does not sound like anyone has used the Pavestone Pulverized Limestone.

Ok lets try this a different way. What do people use for sand and where did you get it?

geoxman, thanks for the reply. Is the white sand from Lowes silica sand?

 

[salty3]

In my 55 I am using white quartz pool filter sand. I have been using this sand since I set the tank up about 3 months ago, and I like it alot. I have had no problems with algae, but the only thing I dont like about is it kinda has a clearish look if you really look close but for 7.00 for a 50 LBS bag it is deffinetly worth it. I bought mine at ace hardware BTW.

 

[trottman]

i am not gonna lie, i used silica in my sump for about 6 months and had problems. the minute that i got rid of it, my sps started going crazy.

copper and rust also retard sps coral growth in case you were interested

 

[geoxman]

glass is silica as well

Trott you have been hitting the hippie lettuce again or right after you removed the sand you hit it. Your blown up rusted MJ was your culprit for slow growth.

I have not used the pulverized Limestone it should be OK just rinse well as with all substrates. good luck

 

[StupidsReef]

I prefer to use aragonite or southdown which you can hardly find anymore. There are some things in this hobby that you can skimp on and IMO sand isn't one of them. Some fish burrow as well as inverts and some like cucumbers ingest the sand to clean it. Sand filtering fish like golbys run it through there gills. I'd research and plan on thinking about what you are planning to put in the tank before choosing the substrate.

All of the LFS carry a variety of aragonite sands.

 

[TWINPEAKS]

I've got a 65 gallon setup using crushed oyster shell and seems to be doing great,no sand sifting critters though.

 

[kirby_32]

I guess what they say about this hobby (or hell for some) is true.

There is no one way to do things and something that fails for one person works well for another.

This being my first tank, I think I'm going to stick with the aragonite. I will probably have enough issues to deal with and don't want the sand descision to be creeping into my head when it comes time to trouble shoot problems.

Thanks for the input.