Substrate...Trouble Ahead?

[Joes210gal]

If you look at my gallery you can see the size of the crushed coral I used as my substrate. I've been advised that this will give me problems later. Detritus buildup maybe? Is this another of my newbie blunders? It can be a drag making newbie mistakes with a 210 gallon tank.
Anthony Calfo, (from the book 'Reef Invertabrates') states that I'll have to siphon it once a week. I planned on siphoning it anyway but not necessarily that often. He also said that "Excellent water flow for detritus suspension will be needed." I have 2 vortechs. Is that enough?
Nilson and Fossa state in 'Reef Secrets' that "Coarse coral gravel can be used safely in thicker levels than fine sand".
Delbeck and Sprung state that coral fragments 1cm or larger "Are an attractive substrate for Berlin style reef aquariums because it soon becomes coated with coraline algae lending a different appearence to the aquarium bottom".
Question...Isn't there a sulfide issue when stirring deep into a DSB?
I've had this tank up for a year. I like the 'rubble rock' look that this substrate gives. It's different than any tank I've seen.
Maybe that's because everyone knows better.
It's very lightly stocked so if I had to replace it (Please God, say it aint so) I guess I'll have to. I've got elephant skin, give it to me straight.

 

[bladeruner143]

I'm no expert but I thought that the bad thing about CC was that it didn't have as much surface area as sand does. Since sand has more surface area, it has more room for more bacteria to grow. I have heard that if you stir up a DSB, sulfides will come up, but if you are going to be agitating it once a week, I don't think this would be an issue. This will, though, pretty much make your DSB useless because you are introducing Oxygen to anaerobic bacteria. It may be better in the long term to replace it if you want the benefits of a DSB, but if you have other means of this, ie RDSB, then I guess you wouldn't need to replace it. Let's see what others have to say though

 

[mpoletti]

I have seen plenty of tanks that have used crushed coral. You will be fine for awhile. I would recommend siphoning it though. The thing about our hobby it that we are constantly changing things around. I am couple of years, you might decide to go another direction.

Nice 1st tank BTW

 

[Jim_S]

Yeah, another problem you can run into w/ CC is that detritus will actually sink into it as opposed to collecting on top like with finer sand.

Nothing a little siphon action can't take of though.

Jim

 

[KMP]

all i have to say is i like the look of it in your tank.

 

[Joes210gal]

Thanks KMP. Guess I have to get a good siphon routine going.