Which Substrate To Use In My New 240gal

offshored · 05/04/2012, 03:07 PM

I started out using live sand in my 55 and changed it out to crushed coral, and I've been running that for the last year or so.

I'm about to start setting up my 240 and am curious what you guys suggest for a substrate. Was thinking crushed coral again, but it seems like most people are saying stay away.

I'm going to have a mixed reef, with tangs, clowns, wrasses, etc... SPS/LPS/etc...

Will have high slow and LED lighting as well.

Guy supplying the CUC suggested calcium based aragonite sand.

Also, what type of maintenance do you do with your substrate.

Thanks,
-Peter

ridetheducati · 05/04/2012, 04:09 PM

1" - 2" Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand

sasharotty · 05/04/2012, 04:48 PM

Tropic Eden reeflakes or seaflor both great substrates.

DEERE G · 05/04/2012, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ridetheducati

1" - 2" seaflor special grade reef sand

+1

offshored · 05/05/2012, 08:43 AM

Funny you guys said that, was actually just looking at this:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...26&pcatid=7326

Lots of flow won't blow it around?

DEERE G · 05/05/2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offshored

Funn you guys said that, was actually just looking at this:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...26&pcatid=7326

Lots of flow won't blow it around?

That's where I bought mine. Free shipping over $49 even on heavy items. :-)

Sk8r · 05/05/2012, 10:10 AM

No to crushed coral: bad on nitrates. And for me, a strong no on sugar or superfine sand. It killed my corals, blew about, and would NOT acquire a bacterial coat and settle as medium-grade will---it's why I got out of sps corals. It killed hundreds of dollars worth. The only things that survived that sand were euphyllias and caulestra. I began changing it out a year ago and am still working on it, replacing it with medium grade aragonite.

offshored · 05/05/2012, 10:18 AM

Thanks guys, what I'm looking to hear.

I was told by a LFS when starting to use Live Sand, now I understand with live rock and other bacteria it's pretty much pointless and how "live" it is, is up for debate.

Was told by another LFS about a year ago crushed coral was the only way to do it.

It's nice to see a pretty strong agreement that medium aragonite is the way to go

Really leaning towards the seaflor special grade reef sand. Just wondering how much sand I'd need with ~ 300 lbs of live rock for a 8x2x2 240 to get a 1/2 - 1" sand bed.

docstomper · 05/05/2012, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasharotty

tropic eden reeflakes or seaflor both great substrates.

+1

aleonn · 05/05/2012, 11:23 AM

I like the Caribsea aragonite Fiji pink sand, which is about 0.5-1mm grain size. The problem with that is I can only find it as "live" sand so it's a bit more expensive.

Also, reefrocks.net (an RC sponsor) sells 40 lbs of fine sand for $25 including shipping. The grain size is about 0.25-0.50mm but my Vortechs don't cause sand storms with it.

I was considering Marco Rocks dry sand too, if you want to check into that.

Palting · 05/05/2012, 11:36 AM

Go black!! I like and have Arag Alive Hawaiian Black. Wiggles under super high flow but stays in place. Plus I think black is so cool!

.

Zobp · 05/05/2012, 12:34 PM

I agree Hawaiian Black is a great sand, I always get complements on the substrate and how excellent it looks.

Demeat50 · 05/25/2012, 01:45 PM

Zobp....do you have any pics of the tank with Hawaiian Black? I have been wanting to get it also but never seen it anywhere. Also....what is that coral in your profile pic? Looks awesome.

05/04/2012, 03:07 PM	#1
offshored Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 345	Which Substrate To Use In My New 240gal I started out using live sand in my 55 and changed it out to crushed coral, and I've been running that for the last year or so. I'm about to start setting up my 240 and am curious what you guys suggest for a substrate. Was thinking crushed coral again, but it seems like most people are saying stay away. I'm going to have a mixed reef, with tangs, clowns, wrasses, etc... SPS/LPS/etc... Will have high slow and LED lighting as well. Guy supplying the CUC suggested calcium based aragonite sand. Also, what type of maintenance do you do with your substrate. Thanks, -Peter __________________ Current Tanks : 55G DT, 20G and 40G QTs Future Tanks : 450G Old Tanks: 240G, 135G

05/04/2012, 04:09 PM	#2
ridetheducati Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Bowie, MD Posts: 1,895	1" - 2" Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand __________________ "Send more paramedics" Current Tank Info: 300g DD, SPS dominated, Apex,Tunze 6125s, BM200 Skimmer, Full Spectrum LEDs, and Geo Ca Reactor

05/04/2012, 04:48 PM	#3
sasharotty Moved on to my couch Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: se michigan Posts: 1,074	Tropic Eden reeflakes or seaflor both great substrates. __________________ Go big or go home!!!! Current Tank Info: Just loungin

05/05/2012, 08:43 AM	#5
offshored Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 345	Funny you guys said that, was actually just looking at this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...26&pcatid=7326 Lots of flow won't blow it around? __________________ Current Tanks : 55G DT, 20G and 40G QTs Future Tanks : 450G Old Tanks: 240G, 135G Last edited by offshored; 05/05/2012 at 08:49 AM.

05/05/2012, 10:10 AM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 23,172 Blog Entries: 54	No to crushed coral: bad on nitrates. And for me, a strong no on sugar or superfine sand. It killed my corals, blew about, and would NOT acquire a bacterial coat and settle as medium-grade will---it's why I got out of sps corals. It killed hundreds of dollars worth. The only things that survived that sand were euphyllias and caulestra. I began changing it out a year ago and am still working on it, replacing it with medium grade aragonite. __________________ Sk8r "Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale, not meq/l; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp abt 80, nitrate/ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal will not rise if mg is low. Alk reading far more imp't than PH; WATER QUALITY MATTERS!" "If anything CAN go wrong, it will, and at the worst possible moment."---St. Murphy. "For beginners---nothing good happens fast on an ice rink or in a fish tank." Current Tank Info: 105g, kalk, 250mh 10000; AquaCEV120; Iwaki 100, bsemnt sump/fuge; hermits, snails, mandy, scooter, blue chromis, azure damsel, starry & tailspot blennies, firefish, royal gramma, redstripe goby, YWG pair, lps;

05/05/2012, 10:18 AM	#8
offshored Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 345	Thanks guys, what I'm looking to hear. I was told by a LFS when starting to use Live Sand, now I understand with live rock and other bacteria it's pretty much pointless and how "live" it is, is up for debate. Was told by another LFS about a year ago crushed coral was the only way to do it. It's nice to see a pretty strong agreement that medium aragonite is the way to go Really leaning towards the seaflor special grade reef sand. Just wondering how much sand I'd need with ~ 300 lbs of live rock for a 8x2x2 240 to get a 1/2 - 1" sand bed. __________________ Current Tanks : 55G DT, 20G and 40G QTs Future Tanks : 450G Old Tanks: 240G, 135G

05/05/2012, 11:23 AM	#10
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,132	I like the Caribsea aragonite Fiji pink sand, which is about 0.5-1mm grain size. The problem with that is I can only find it as "live" sand so it's a bit more expensive. Also, reefrocks.net (an RC sponsor) sells 40 lbs of fine sand for $25 including shipping. The grain size is about 0.25-0.50mm but my Vortechs don't cause sand storms with it. I was considering Marco Rocks dry sand too, if you want to check into that.

05/05/2012, 11:36 AM	#11
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,197	Go black!! I like and have Arag Alive Hawaiian Black. Wiggles under super high flow but stays in place. Plus I think black is so cool! . __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 30g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, CBA, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

05/05/2012, 12:34 PM	#12
Zobp Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: West Palm Beach FL Posts: 225	I agree Hawaiian Black is a great sand, I always get complements on the substrate and how excellent it looks.

05/25/2012, 01:45 PM	#13
Demeat50 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 2	Zobp....do you have any pics of the tank with Hawaiian Black? I have been wanting to get it also but never seen it anywhere. Also....what is that coral in your profile pic? Looks awesome.