Sand Sizes

soramsu · 06/20/2011, 04:06 PM

I'm to the point in setting up my first tank I'm ready to buy some sand. I've seen lots of posts about sand being too fine in high flow tanks and being cloudy, or getting cloudy by sand sifters stirring it up, etc. I haven't seen any information specifically addressing this, but what sand size, in mm, is good for a high flow tank?

I think finer sand looks nicer, but I don't want dust storms all the time. Most of the sand I find online specifies the smallest/largest particle sizes in mm. Any opinions?

Sport507 · 06/20/2011, 04:33 PM

I would stay away form the really fine sands less than 1mm .03937". We in the USA are learning metrics inch by inch. LOL I just set up a frag tank and I used a Caribsea sand that is 1-2mm or .03937 -.07874". That is also in my DT. I can post a pic of the frag tank if that would help. Dust strom when adding either will be unavoidable. But with very fine sand powerheads can start one. Hope that helped.

bnumair · 06/20/2011, 06:25 PM

i would stay away from fine grain. i am upgrading to a 300g in next few weeks and this time i have decided to go with caribsea bermuda pink sand which is 2-4 mm grain size and i am pretty sure will withstand 12-15000 gph flow. tank will be sps acro dominated.

Saadatski · 06/20/2011, 06:51 PM

it also depends on if you are doing a DSB. DSBs require less than 1.5mm grain, so waste doesnt get stuck under the bed and cause problems

WaterKeeper · 06/20/2011, 08:15 PM

The rule of thumb is to use sand about the size of granular sugar. Larger traps detritus while really fine inhibits a DSB from functioning.

jeff@zina.com · 06/21/2011, 08:09 AM

CaribSea's web site has decent info.

Jeff

soramsu · 06/21/2011, 11:08 AM

Thanks for the info

miserkris · 06/21/2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sport507

I would stay away form the really fine sands less than 1mm .03937". We in the USA are learning metrics inch by inch. LOL I just set up a frag tank and I used a Caribsea sand that is 1-2mm or .03937 -.07874". That is also in my DT. I can post a pic of the frag tank if that would help. Dust strom when adding either will be unavoidable. But with very fine sand powerheads can start one. Hope that helped.

Hey Bud,

You mind posting a pic with that sand in DT?

I am lookin for a sand that is fine but not too fine to blow around.
It also needs to be very white. My head is spinning with the research that I am doin.

THANKS

Sport507 · 06/21/2011, 04:15 PM

Here is some pics of the frag tank I just set up. Just added the sand this passed weekend and done some fragging on Sunday.

The pictures are with different lighting.

soramsu · 06/21/2011, 05:07 PM

I like that sand a lot. What caribsea sand was it exactly?? I ended up ordering the caribsea special grade reef sand. It's 1-2mm, and maybe it's the same as this.

It's amazing how NOTHING in this hobby is cut and dry. I was thinking out of everything, sand would be the easiest, but I started looking and there were, as usual, a bazillion options and opinions haha.

miserkris · 06/21/2011, 05:18 PM

thx for pic...what size/kind is it...can I have a link....

I have a bag of seaflor spl grade and that is too coarse for my needs.....

Sport507 · 06/21/2011, 05:59 PM

http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-s...C-RSAND40.html

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2753226

It is good sand for a reef tanks.

soramsu · 06/21/2011, 06:47 PM

Yep that's what I ordered. Nice to know it'll look good in the tank now haha.

Sport507 · 06/21/2011, 07:02 PM

That was My Opinion Only and there will still be a bazillion opinions out here, that's what helps use all learn what's best for OUR needs.

Hope I helped with my part.

stangd1909 · 06/21/2011, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sport507

http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-s...C-RSAND40.html

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2753226

It is good sand for a reef tanks.

Damn pet smart has it on sale for $25 for a 40lb bag. Not bad at all....I may have to get two bags for my FOWLR tank.

crvz · 06/21/2011, 07:26 PM

I also like the caribsea special grade seaflor product. I've got i in my 300 gallon tank.

06/20/2011, 04:06 PM	#1
soramsu Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 127	Sand Sizes I'm to the point in setting up my first tank I'm ready to buy some sand. I've seen lots of posts about sand being too fine in high flow tanks and being cloudy, or getting cloudy by sand sifters stirring it up, etc. I haven't seen any information specifically addressing this, but what sand size, in mm, is good for a high flow tank? I think finer sand looks nicer, but I don't want dust storms all the time. Most of the sand I find online specifies the smallest/largest particle sizes in mm. Any opinions?

06/20/2011, 04:33 PM	#2
Sport507 ~Just a Farm Boy~ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 1,651	I would stay away form the really fine sands less than 1mm .03937". We in the USA are learning metrics inch by inch. LOL I just set up a frag tank and I used a Caribsea sand that is 1-2mm or .03937 -.07874". That is also in my DT. I can post a pic of the frag tank if that would help. Dust strom when adding either will be unavoidable. But with very fine sand powerheads can start one. Hope that helped. __________________ Sport If you do not test for it, DON'T dose it. Indiana INDMAS Member

06/20/2011, 06:25 PM	#3
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	i would stay away from fine grain. i am upgrading to a 300g in next few weeks and this time i have decided to go with caribsea bermuda pink sand which is 2-4 mm grain size and i am pretty sure will withstand 12-15000 gph flow. tank will be sps acro dominated. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

06/20/2011, 08:15 PM	#5
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	The rule of thumb is to use sand about the size of granular sugar. Larger traps detritus while really fine inhibits a DSB from functioning. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

06/21/2011, 05:18 PM	#11
miserkris Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Downingtown,PA Posts: 1,062	thx for pic...what size/kind is it...can I have a link.... I have a bag of seaflor spl grade and that is too coarse for my needs..... __________________ 156g Oceanic Mixedreef,100g Sump Current Tank Info: 156 g mixed reef

06/20/2011, 06:51 PM	#4
Saadatski Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 875	it also depends on if you are doing a DSB. DSBs require less than 1.5mm grain, so waste doesnt get stuck under the bed and cause problems

06/21/2011, 08:09 AM	#6
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	CaribSea's web site has decent info. Jeff

06/21/2011, 11:08 AM	#7
soramsu Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 127	Thanks for the info

06/21/2011, 05:07 PM	#10
soramsu Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 127	I like that sand a lot. What caribsea sand was it exactly?? I ended up ordering the caribsea special grade reef sand. It's 1-2mm, and maybe it's the same as this. It's amazing how NOTHING in this hobby is cut and dry. I was thinking out of everything, sand would be the easiest, but I started looking and there were, as usual, a bazillion options and opinions haha.

06/21/2011, 06:47 PM	#13
soramsu Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 127	Yep that's what I ordered. Nice to know it'll look good in the tank now haha.

06/21/2011, 07:02 PM	#14
Sport507 ~Just a Farm Boy~ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 1,651	That was My Opinion Only and there will still be a bazillion opinions out here, that's what helps use all learn what's best for OUR needs. Hope I helped with my part. __________________ Sport If you do not test for it, DON'T dose it. Indiana INDMAS Member

06/21/2011, 07:26 PM	#16
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	I also like the caribsea special grade seaflor product. I've got i in my 300 gallon tank. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

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