Substrate choices

[Bow]

Seems like there are almost as many sand choices as lighting choices. Not real sure what is in my current tank as we moved it with the sand already in it when I got it. Getting ready to get the new tank wet and need to make a choice. Not looking for pink or black or designer colors, mostly looking for options for later. I don't have any sifting or borrowing fish now but wouldn't count them out. Also don't want a dust storm every time a fish decides to clean an area. Looking for opinions before I get a tank load of sand I'll wish I hadn't.

 

[smb2415]

depends upon the flow in your tank. Carib-sea seems to be the most popular brand. I would say the most common choice is fiji pink which is really not pink more like regular sand color.

The differences besides color are the grain size (size of sand particles) and whether the sand is "live" or not. most people agree that live sand really isn't live but it is commonly sold that way and not too much additional.

Fiji pink is .5mm to 1mm in size. Special ocean grade is .5 to 1.5mm. You'll probably want to stick to fiji pink unless you are using MP60's and thousands of gallons per hour flow rates.

 

[Gsxr600]

if i was going to put a substrate in my tank i would probably do crushed coral, like < an inch of it, and keep it vaccumed.

ive done caribsea aragonite as a deep sand bed, and imo, you run into problems with it in say 3-4 yrs, just as the tank seems to reallly be thriving.

ive also done the oolite, which imo looks really nice, but i used it in a nano and it would never stay put with the current i had in the tank. i really do like this sand though. if you use this id say keep it shallow and try and keep it clean. probably would hjave worked out better in a normal size tank rather than a nano..

im currently running bare bottom. best way to keep a tank healthy imo, just keep a strong water flow and a good size skimmer and youre on your way to success.:bounce3:

 

[Bow]

I seriously considered bb, but think I am going to use a deep bed. The current tank has about 10 years on it if the previous owner was right about its age. Thought about a remote deep bed in the fuge but it just wouldn't be big enough

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

I used Tropic Eden Reeflakes from Premium Aquatics.
Don't know what the hell I was thinking @ the time but I never did rinse it.
No real cloud like others, very clean, there was some stuff winding up in the sump but overall I am pleased with it.
Has a tendency to move with current so I keep it mostly topside and it stays put.

 

[Iammatt219]

Mostly Red Sea reef base, and ESV, along with some Carib-sea, and some Estes rep-cal

 

[rtecanoe]

I've used caribsea oolitic which I found too small in size, decent water movement that a reef needs will blow it around. the special seafloor blend stays put better

 

[chuckbuc]

Plus one on vinnys choice I used the same one and I love it .very clean hardly any rinsing involed .als they have diffrent grafes .I actually have the sample pack from them .with a sample of all four grafes .if u remind me I will bring it to the next meeting for u to check out .or u can swing by and take a look I'm in lindenhurst