Sand or crushed coral???

Harry_Fish · 01/06/2009, 08:22 PM

I am setting up a new 180 gallon tank.

20+ years ago I ran crushed coral, for the past few years I have run sand.

I like the looks of the finer crushed coral but wonder if sand is better.

It is going to be less than an inch deep just wondering which
way I should go this time around, thoughts???

Thank you

redfishsc · 01/06/2009, 08:57 PM

If this is going to be a SPS dominated tank, consider going "bottomless" and just have bare glass. I've done this with nanos before and it works great. Sand and high water flow don't mix well.

Otherwise, I am VERY partial to sand, but honestly if it's only 1" deep, go with whichever tickles your fancy.

T Man · 01/06/2009, 09:09 PM

Since the 1" depth is too shallow for any benificial filtration, it's a question of form not function - use the fine crushed coral.

In a 180 gallon reef with a shallow cc/sandbed, the scape of a loose substrate is at the mercy of the circulation. Have you ever considered a deep sand bed?

What type of reef are you building out of the two Brutes? T

reefworm · 01/06/2009, 09:15 PM

Not a fan of crushed coral - easily leads to nitrate problems later due to size/shape of particles and resulting discouragement of benthic life. No experience w/bare bottom, but if you go that route just make sure you plan for alternate means of filtration since you'd lose all that surface area. There are lots of advocates either way.

Harry_Fish · 01/06/2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by T Man
...... What type of reef are you building out of the two Brutes? T

My tank sprung a leak last week so everyone is in the Brutes.

The new 180 should be in on Saturday

I think I'm leaning to sand again since I have a tigertail cuke, narcissus snails,
and a Yellow head sleeper goby who all like to play in the sand.

Bigfishy · 01/06/2009, 10:56 PM

IMO I would use a fine aragonite.
In place of sand or crushed coral both of these could be a source of silicates and the benefits from the aragonite are endless.

01/06/2009, 08:22 PM	#1
Harry_Fish Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Liverpool, NY Posts: 1,461	Sand or crushed coral??? I am setting up a new 180 gallon tank. 20+ years ago I ran crushed coral, for the past few years I have run sand. I like the looks of the finer crushed coral but wonder if sand is better. It is going to be less than an inch deep just wondering which way I should go this time around, thoughts??? Thank you

01/06/2009, 08:57 PM	#2
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	If this is going to be a SPS dominated tank, consider going "bottomless" and just have bare glass. I've done this with nanos before and it works great. Sand and high water flow don't mix well. Otherwise, I am VERY partial to sand, but honestly if it's only 1" deep, go with whichever tickles your fancy. __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

01/06/2009, 09:15 PM	#4
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	Not a fan of crushed coral - easily leads to nitrate problems later due to size/shape of particles and resulting discouragement of benthic life. No experience w/bare bottom, but if you go that route just make sure you plan for alternate means of filtration since you'd lose all that surface area. There are lots of advocates either way. __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school

01/06/2009, 10:56 PM	#6
Bigfishy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Next to Zim Posts: 9	IMO I would use a fine aragonite. In place of sand or crushed coral both of these could be a source of silicates and the benefits from the aragonite are endless. __________________ Has anyone found Nemo yet Current Tank Info: Under Construction

01/06/2009, 09:09 PM	#3
T Man ~PPPPPPP~ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Emerald City Posts: 1,045	Since the 1" depth is too shallow for any benificial filtration, it's a question of form not function - use the fine crushed coral. In a 180 gallon reef with a shallow cc/sandbed, the scape of a loose substrate is at the mercy of the circulation. Have you ever considered a deep sand bed? What type of reef are you building out of the two Brutes? T