surgar fine oolite sand , possible issues with flow

[brad65ford]

Ok just started another system (40g), this time I plan to try oolite sand. After having it cycling in the tank i'm already thinking this stuff is going to be a major pain in the butt for higher flow for sps's. Any suggestions? Should I remove?

 

[deeznutz1]

I was having the same problems with the sand blowing around.

At first I had korillia power heads and it was blow sand around a lot. Now I'm running mp40s and the sand stays put. My tank is also 7' long with minimal live rock.

I have a lot of sand dunes right now and I haven't moved the sand back. I think the sand has to have a chance to settle down.

Did you rinse the hell out of the sand? I did. I ran water through it for 20mins a bag.

HTH

-dan

 

[Epicreefer]

I prefer coarse sand, around 1-2mm. It stays put better and rinses out fast, very little dust. You can try moving your rocks around to reduce the sand storm. Place the rocks just in front of the flow pattern of where bare spots occur. For this it's nice to have medium size flat rocks and it makes a great place for placing zoanthids and some lps like favia, open brains. This may work for you or maybe it won't.

 

[GroktheCube]

I pulled it out of my tank after a month or two. Even with fairly moderate to low flow, it was a disaster.

 

[Dartolution]

Ok just started another system (40g), this time I plan to try oolite sand. After having it cycling in the tank i'm already thinking this stuff is going to be a major pain in the butt for higher flow for sps's. Any suggestions? Should I remove?

I just started a 40breeder a few months ago and cycled, now having LPS and softies in it for now.

I used a mix of 40lbs Fiji Pink and 10lbs oolite.

I however have had an SPS reef before with nothing but oolite.
The trick was concentrating the water movement in the upper half of the system, leaving the bottom/middle - bottom med/low flow for other corals.
I did this by positioning powerbeads upward, toward the surface to bounce off the surface and collide with other flow patterns.
Just remember, HIGH flow, low velocity.

 

[brad65ford]

I'm half debating to remove now :-(

 

[deeznutz1]

I keep my mp40 at the upper part of the tank as well. Not much sand movement.

 

[Huntor0]

After 6 months of an oolite snow globe I pulled it out of my 70reef and replaced it with Tropic Eden reef flakes and mini reef flakes 50/50 mix. Instant improvement and still looks great 1.5 years later glad I switched.

 

[rholguin]

I have the fine sand from macro rock and an mp40 set at about 70% in reefcrest mode. Dimensions are 48x24x16 and I have no problem with sand blowing.

 

[DavidinGA]

I have a 210gal with two wp40's and a wp60 and have 3" of oolite. I don't have any issues as long as I have the WaveMakers turned down a bit. I personally love the look of oolite and my wrasses love it to.

 

[brad65ford]

So its doable? Everyone says you need high flow for sps's which is partial true. I have 60lb of Floria gulf live sand coming, most likely will swap it out

 

[Av8bluewater]

I have fine oolite with 3 mp40s. It took a few months to settle down. If you put a rock directly under a powerhead it helps a lot.
I probably wouldn't do it again. It's the best looking sand when it's clean but I am slowly going bare bottom. I siphon some out at water changes.

 

[brad65ford]

Well its been running they new system for over two weeks now and still undecided. Absolutely love the look, it pure white and reflect light very well. The bad is you just move anything in the tank or even if a fish moves quickly toward the bottom and it will stir up sand very easily. Not sure but i might slowly remove some each water change.

 

[DavidinGA]

Well its been running they new system for over two weeks now and still undecided. Absolutely love the look, it pure white and reflect light very well. The bad is you just move anything in the tank or even if a fish moves quickly toward the bottom and it will stir up sand very easily. Not sure but i might slowly remove some each water change.

A few months down the road that won't happen anymore. Mine used to be like that but now it's not a problem at all.

 

[jda]

Once it gets covered with bacteria and other stuff, it won't blow around as much.