Sand

[runningstix]

I need to start looking for sand for the 58 setup. Not there yet but something to keep in mind.

I used caribsea live sand (more like crushed coral) in the 46gal and absolutely hate it. We had sugar fine sand in the 10gal and that got pretty nasty real quick.

What kind of sand should I use to look natural, clean, and not too light that sand storms are endless.

I have heard so much about southdown but finding that I hear is a PITA.

What to do what to do.

 

[cirujano]

I also looking for a different kind of sand for my new set up. I have sugar fine and its a mess.

 

[zombiereef]

southdown is even finer than sugar sized aragamax. if you didnt like sugar-sized, you'll hate southdown. i personally love the aragamax by caribsea. too bad it is so expensive though.
i use a mix of aragamax and southdown in my tank. it is ok for me.

 

[reefsafe]

Go to Drs Foster. They make a reef grade which I use. WOrks great with my vortechs. and $18 shipping for your order

 

[Frankenpora]

I prefere the sand that is about the size of playground sand form Carib Sea or the like.

 

[Zooid]

I use a mixture of Aragamax and Seaflor from Carribsea. I thought once the bacteria got settled in, the sugar fine wouldn't create sandstorms as easily. Is this wrong? Good thing I didn't go with sugar fine hehe

 

[jonthefb]

If you have a pump or something fall into any sandbed even after being established with bacteria you are going to have a sandstorm.

As far as substrate goes, it really depends on what type of critters you are ultimately wanting to keep. If you are wanting to keep say jawfish, then you are going to want a mix of sugar sand, crushed coral, as well as pea to 50 cent sized pieces of rock rubble to allow them to construct their burrows without risk of collapse. If you are wanting to keep sand dwelling gobies, you are going to want to use only sugar sized sand so that as they are rooting around, eating, etc, they are not tearing their gills up on large jagged substrate!

If you decide to go with sugar sized sand, you will want to employ more than the average amounts of sand cleaners (stars, cukes, nassarius, cerith, dragon gobies, etc) to help maintain the cleanliness of the sand, and I would definately recommend finding a fellow reefer who has some spaghetti worms (cirratullid or terrebellid) in their sand bed and get a scoop of it! Spaghetti/hair worms are amazing detritivores and will help to keep your sugar sand spotless!

Cheers~!
Jon

 

[runningstix]

Thanks Jon.

I have no intentions of keeping any jawfish. I also have no intentions of keeping any sand dwelling gobies.

Hopefully I will have no pumps in the tank,I will be keeping mostly sps and have a lot of flow. I am hooking a dart up to a closed loop and a quiet one 3000 as return. It will be a 58 gallon tank. Well see how long I can get away without pumps in the tank.

Thanks for the info!

 

[bmb527]

If you are looking for a natural look, check out Tampa Bay Saltwater. It is real live sand, different sized grains, lots of critters, plus it actually looks natural. Just a thought.
Bill

 

[runningstix]

How many BAD critters are in that sand? any clue?

 

[bmb527]

I purchased their sand for my last tank and have nothing but praise for them and their product.
Bill