which substrate is better CC, LS, or BB ?
- Thread starter ALVs5
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bundybear1981
New member
It's largely a personal preference. For the refuge I prefer bare bottom, easier to keep clean. I have live rock in with my caulerpa.
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It really does come down to personal preference. From all I've read, and if I had a secondary tank I could dedicate to a fuge, I would probably pick a mixture of miracle mud or oolite sand.
Some people say miracle mud is a scam, but if you have rooted plants, dirt works. (and it will do more for denitrification than sand)
Some people say miracle mud is a scam, but if you have rooted plants, dirt works. (and it will do more for denitrification than sand)
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
The issue with crushed coral substrate is that the large size allows detritus to settle in the crevices where it gradually rots therefore releasing nutrients into your tank over time which can lead to algae problems.
What is termed "live sand" is typically just a bag of wet sand which means you are paying for the weight of the water as well as the sand. If it is a commercially sealed bag claiming to be "live" I wouldn't waste my money on it. Whatever was alive in the sand is probably just bacteria and even that is questionable after it has sat on a warehouse shelf for several weeks/months.
Personally I would find a dry sand that you like and use that for the majority of your sand bed. If you get true live rock that is shipped wet then the critters on the rock will eventually inhabit the sand and you will be fine. Another option is to buy true live sand that is shipped just like fish would be. I know of two companies that ship sand from the Gulf of Mexico directly to your house and used one after I upgraded my system.
Good Luck,
What is termed "live sand" is typically just a bag of wet sand which means you are paying for the weight of the water as well as the sand. If it is a commercially sealed bag claiming to be "live" I wouldn't waste my money on it. Whatever was alive in the sand is probably just bacteria and even that is questionable after it has sat on a warehouse shelf for several weeks/months.
Personally I would find a dry sand that you like and use that for the majority of your sand bed. If you get true live rock that is shipped wet then the critters on the rock will eventually inhabit the sand and you will be fine. Another option is to buy true live sand that is shipped just like fish would be. I know of two companies that ship sand from the Gulf of Mexico directly to your house and used one after I upgraded my system.
Good Luck,
whosurcaddie
New member
Bare bottom or some live rock rubble. There will be a lot of detritus accumulation and you want to be able to remove it.
Depends on what you are using, or plan to use, the refugium for. If you don't anticipate putting anything in there that requires substrate, then leave it out. Personally I hate grape caulerpa, but if you must put it in there, then some rubble or a few rock should suffice. In general terms crushed coral makes a lousy substrate and buyin live sand is a boondoggle.
I have always had well-washed dry aragonite: live is fine, but watch the expiration date. Crushed coral is what we had back in the 1980's, and it clumps, cements, and holds gunk. Bare bottom is appropriate for sps reefs, but if you want fish such as gobies and dragonets and wrasses, sand is pretty well a must.
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