Mixing Substrates?

bandit_66 · 03/04/2006, 08:20 PM

Is it a good idea to mix substrates so that you get a variety of substrate conditions. For example if i were to mix something like 60 pounds of agromax select with some larger Florida crushed coral (2-5mm). Is this a good idea?

Thanks
Andrew

PoukieBear · 03/04/2006, 09:31 PM

In my smaller tank, i used a mixture of sand and crushed coral.

Eventually, all the sand settles to the bottom and the crushed coral will be on the top. Crushed coral tends to trap a lot of detritus.

bertoni · 03/04/2006, 10:30 PM

I had the same experience, and only use fine sand now. Crushed coral is a major nuisance, IMO.

mg426 · 03/04/2006, 11:37 PM

Heard that. Crushed coral is not user friendly.

bandit_66 · 03/05/2006, 01:54 AM

so should i just use agromax?

bertoni · 03/05/2006, 01:57 AM

I just use fine sand. The Aragamax is a fine product, although it's pretty expensive for sand, IMO.

bandit_66 · 03/05/2006, 02:05 AM

Isent the reason one would used crushed coral for is for its buffering capacity? Also doesent it help with the release of good elements?

Blown 346 · 03/05/2006, 02:57 AM

Some will use it for a buffer but sand will also act as a buffer,Release of good elements?
Crushed coral will hold bad elements as detritus( food and waste) which will cause a nitrate problem.

Teremei · 03/05/2006, 04:55 AM

I plan to mix mostly southdown (very fine aragonite) with some carib sea pink fiji (also aragonite, but bigger). . I think that would be ok. But I deffinatly wouldn't put in anything too big. Trust me, I made the mistake of putting GRAVEL in with my fine sand. I am still to this day syphoning it out during water changes.

bertoni · 03/05/2006, 02:57 PM

Aragonite and crushed coral will have about the same buffering effect, which is zero for all practical purposes. The aragonite does look nice, though.

03/04/2006, 08:20 PM	#1
bandit_66 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 68	Mixing Substrates? Is it a good idea to mix substrates so that you get a variety of substrate conditions. For example if i were to mix something like 60 pounds of agromax select with some larger Florida crushed coral (2-5mm). Is this a good idea? Thanks Andrew

03/04/2006, 09:31 PM	#2
PoukieBear Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ottawa Posts: 2,067	In my smaller tank, i used a mixture of sand and crushed coral. Eventually, all the sand settles to the bottom and the crushed coral will be on the top. Crushed coral tends to trap a lot of detritus. __________________ Michelle ~Poukie, I'm proud of you for throwing up that cake. ~~Mikey~~ ~You're not drunk if you can lay on the floor without holding on. ~Save the earth, there are no princesses on Mars.

03/04/2006, 10:30 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I had the same experience, and only use fine sand now. Crushed coral is a major nuisance, IMO. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/04/2006, 11:37 PM	#4
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Heard that. Crushed coral is not user friendly. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

03/05/2006, 01:57 AM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I just use fine sand. The Aragamax is a fine product, although it's pretty expensive for sand, IMO. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/05/2006, 01:54 AM	#5
bandit_66 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 68	so should i just use agromax?

03/05/2006, 02:05 AM	#7
bandit_66 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 68	Isent the reason one would used crushed coral for is for its buffering capacity? Also doesent it help with the release of good elements?

03/05/2006, 02:57 AM	#8
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Some will use it for a buffer but sand will also act as a buffer,Release of good elements? Crushed coral will hold bad elements as detritus( food and waste) which will cause a nitrate problem.

03/05/2006, 04:55 AM	#9
Teremei Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Chicago (one hour west) Posts: 2,751	I plan to mix mostly southdown (very fine aragonite) with some carib sea pink fiji (also aragonite, but bigger). . I think that would be ok. But I deffinatly wouldn't put in anything too big. Trust me, I made the mistake of putting GRAVEL in with my fine sand. I am still to this day syphoning it out during water changes.

03/05/2006, 02:57 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Aragonite and crushed coral will have about the same buffering effect, which is zero for all practical purposes. The aragonite does look nice, though. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni