Which Sand is the Best?

TriGgEr HAppY · 04/18/2011, 08:48 AM

Hi i am rebuilding my tank, and i need to know what would be the best sand to use and if i should do DSB or not. I have a 90 gallon tank and a 30 gallon refugium, should i just put the DSB in the refugium or in the tank also? I have heard you need oolite sand for DSB is that true? Because i was thinking about the caribsea sea floor special. Any inputs would be great.

jennmac415 · 04/18/2011, 09:10 AM

taggin along

computeaholic · 04/18/2011, 09:26 AM

I personally prefer a heavier sand. Something like an aragonite sand. Doesn't stir up very easy and is great for inverts. For your refugium nothing can beat miracle mud. I think it really does wonders for every tank I have seen it in, including my own.

TriGgEr HAppY · 04/18/2011, 09:42 AM

So I should use caribsea seafloor special? and how much if it in the DT?

d2mini · 04/18/2011, 09:45 AM

Love my sand from TBS. Straight off the gulf floor. Lots of variation in particle size, although overall it's a bit bigger. Good for your size tank. Has rock rubble, broken shells, fine sand... very natural looking. And most importantly, full of life.

TriGgEr HAppY · 04/18/2011, 09:48 AM

From TBS? But my other question is if I should do DSB in the DT or just in fuge, or both?

d2mini · 04/18/2011, 09:52 AM

Tampa Bay Saltwater. Sorry.

I don't like DSB's in the main display. Too easy to disturb and crash your tank. Not something I want to deal with. I like 1-2". I ran a dsb in my fuge and never saw any benefit from it so I don't anymore. Now i miracle mud in the fuge. Not sure if it's beneficial or not, but my current tank is completely algae free other than the glass, so I'm leaving it.

stingythingy45 · 04/18/2011, 09:53 AM

I just used Home Depot play sand in my tank and fuge.
But,if you have the $$$,by all means get the Caribsea.
I'd do a DSB in both the DT and the fug.
Some don't like the look of a DSB in the DT,but that all a matter of taste.

d2mini · 04/18/2011, 09:54 AM

Here's a shot from above of my sandbed. The clam was only a few inches long.

TriGgEr HAppY · 04/18/2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

Tampa Bay Saltwater. Sorry.

I don't like DSB's in the main display. Too easy to disturb and crash your tank. Not something I want to deal with. I like 1-2". I ran a dsb in my fuge and never saw any benefit from it so I don't anymore. Now i miracle mud in the fuge. Not sure if it's beneficial or not, but my current tank is completely algae free other than the glass, so I'm leaving it.

Yeah agree about the disturbance I'll most likely put a 1-2 inch bed in the DT but want a DSB in the fuge, and that TBS sand looks beautiful I can buy it online?

TriGgEr HAppY · 04/18/2011, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingythingy45

I just used Home Depot play sand in my tank and fuge.
But,if you have the $$$,by all means get the Caribsea.
I'd do a DSB in both the DT and the fug.
Some don't like the look of a DSB in the DT,but that all a matter of taste.

Ive seen those threads with the play sand, it's good but u was leaning more towards the aragonite sand unles play sand has aragonite in it?

d2mini · 04/18/2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriGgEr HAppY

that TBS sand looks beautiful I can buy it online?

Yup! www.tampabaysaltwater.com
Mine came as part of "The Package", but Richard sells it all separately too.

james-lee · 04/18/2011, 12:12 PM

Anything that is very dense. Cause if it aint its gonna be snowing in your tank (trust me I have been through it lol).

Virtuoso · 04/18/2011, 12:39 PM

So far I am very happy with the Tropic Eden Mini Flakes I picked up. My tank is only just cycling, about 6 weeks in, but to me it seems like the perfect consistency. Not too fine to be blowing around but small enough for it to act like actual sand and not just crushed shells/coral.

Lynnmw1208 · 04/18/2011, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virtuoso

So far I am very happy with the Tropic Eden Mini Flakes I picked up. My tank is only just cycling, about 6 weeks in, but to me it seems like the perfect consistency. Not too fine to be blowing around but small enough for it to act like actual sand and not just crushed shells/coral.

+1 same here. I did have a problem with one of my koralia evo 1400s but I just had it pointed too low.

04/18/2011, 08:48 AM	#1
TriGgEr HAppY Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 65	Which Sand is the Best? Hi i am rebuilding my tank, and i need to know what would be the best sand to use and if i should do DSB or not. I have a 90 gallon tank and a 30 gallon refugium, should i just put the DSB in the refugium or in the tank also? I have heard you need oolite sand for DSB is that true? Because i was thinking about the caribsea sea floor special. Any inputs would be great.

04/18/2011, 09:10 AM	#2
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	taggin along __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

04/18/2011, 09:45 AM	#5
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Love my sand from TBS. Straight off the gulf floor. Lots of variation in particle size, although overall it's a bit bigger. Good for your size tank. Has rock rubble, broken shells, fine sand... very natural looking. And most importantly, full of life. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

04/18/2011, 09:52 AM	#7
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Tampa Bay Saltwater. Sorry. I don't like DSB's in the main display. Too easy to disturb and crash your tank. Not something I want to deal with. I like 1-2". I ran a dsb in my fuge and never saw any benefit from it so I don't anymore. Now i miracle mud in the fuge. Not sure if it's beneficial or not, but my current tank is completely algae free other than the glass, so I'm leaving it. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

04/18/2011, 09:53 AM	#8
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	I just used Home Depot play sand in my tank and fuge. But,if you have the $$$,by all means get the Caribsea. I'd do a DSB in both the DT and the fug. Some don't like the look of a DSB in the DT,but that all a matter of taste. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

04/18/2011, 09:26 AM	#3
computeaholic Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 76	I personally prefer a heavier sand. Something like an aragonite sand. Doesn't stir up very easy and is great for inverts. For your refugium nothing can beat miracle mud. I think it really does wonders for every tank I have seen it in, including my own.

04/18/2011, 09:42 AM	#4
TriGgEr HAppY Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 65	So I should use caribsea seafloor special? and how much if it in the DT?

04/18/2011, 09:48 AM	#6
TriGgEr HAppY Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 65	From TBS? But my other question is if I should do DSB in the DT or just in fuge, or both?

04/18/2011, 09:54 AM	#9
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Here's a shot from above of my sandbed. The clam was only a few inches long. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

04/18/2011, 12:12 PM	#13
james-lee Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Rialto Posts: 383	Anything that is very dense. Cause if it aint its gonna be snowing in your tank (trust me I have been through it lol).

04/18/2011, 12:39 PM	#14
Virtuoso Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 727	So far I am very happy with the Tropic Eden Mini Flakes I picked up. My tank is only just cycling, about 6 weeks in, but to me it seems like the perfect consistency. Not too fine to be blowing around but small enough for it to act like actual sand and not just crushed shells/coral.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sand bed in Refugium?	educom	New to the Hobby	11	09/19/2013 06:13 AM
Black Sand, is it safe?	osi	Reef Discussion	11	03/09/2013 12:39 PM
Deep sand bed or shallow?	JStraz4991	New to the Hobby	21	12/07/2010 09:10 PM
To sand or not to sand?	Mikilios	Reef Discussion	7	05/06/2010 08:44 AM
Adding New Substrate/Sand??	SaltwaterGal	Reef Discussion	0	04/24/2010 10:58 AM