gravel for a feef tank

[paskil]

I have a 180 gallon tank that I recently set up as a reef tank,. It can only have gravel not sand, Can I set up a successful reef tank with gravel I have a protein skimmer and chiller

[BlueCorn]

[welcome]

[moved]

[The Saltman]

Gravel is not a good thing for a reef tank. It looks unnatural, is collects a lot of detritus, and has no buffering capacity.

[paskil]

well, it's already a done deal. The tank had been set up 20 years ago as a fish tank so all the plumbing was set. It is a running tank with lots of stuff in it. I just wanted to know if there are things that I could do to assure it's success.

[paskil]

Ok I am having a hard time figuring my way around this site. I'm not as dumb as I seem, I hope. Can't seem to retrieve any answers. I made a mistake. My tank does not have gravel, it has crushed coral as the base.

[Thunk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11813894#post11813894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by paskil
Ok I am having a hard time figuring my way around this site. I'm not as dumb as I seem, I hope. Can't seem to retrieve any answers. I made a mistake. My tank does not have gravel, it has crushed coral as the base.

Crushed coral is ok in a reef tank. You just dont want to use that freshwater pebble gravel stuff petsmart sells. Your fine:)

[afish70]

i got a dumb one but what about sand in a Fresh tank instead of gravel. what will that do if anything?

[taillonjohn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11821432#post11821432 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by afish70
i got a dumb one but what about sand in a Fresh tank instead of gravel. what will that do if anything?

It doesnt work so good, you would have to stir up the sand very often, or else it will "compac"... I dont know what the scientific name is, but basically, it becomes compact (there is is again, but I cant think of another word) meaning it has no dentrification ability. nothing can pass through it.

Im sorry I cant describe better, but no, sand is not good for a freshwater tank