Heavy Sand Grain for SSB

knockout · 11/11/2008, 12:40 PM

I am setting up a new 215g and I want a shallow layer of heavy grain aragonite sand, I would like for once not have sand in the water column, any suggestions... I've looking at the samoa pink here http://www.reefsand.com/ Sand # 1, Gravel # 2 & 5
also need to be wrasse and goby friendly which I think rules Gravel # 5 out, not sure about Gravel # 2
the above is just for reference please add your type/brand/likes/dislikes

also how much sand will I need for a 1" layer, tank is 72*24
thanks.

Moonstream · 11/11/2008, 12:51 PM

I used about 3 bags of small grain sand in my 75g to get a 3-4" sand bed (which I later made smaller, it is now about 1"), I would go for 2-3 bags of #1 and 2ish bags of #5.

knockout · 11/11/2008, 10:50 PM

bump up

mg426 · 11/11/2008, 11:14 PM

I am re setting up my system in a couple of weeks. The sugar sized substrate has got to go. It blows around (in my system anyway) I am going to a larger grain size and shooting for a depth of about half an inch.

knockout · 11/11/2008, 11:27 PM

what are you planing to use as the new substrate?

mg426 · 11/11/2008, 11:43 PM

I know what I want I just cant remember what its actually called. I see the bags in the LFS. Its aragonite I believe mabe (Special reef substrate grade) I use this in my regugium and its AOK there.
I would go bare bottom in the display but I just dont like the look of it. The LFS I visit has a coarser size in its display and that tank is a Prize to look at.

sdebol · 11/12/2008, 12:37 PM

I know everyone seems to hate crushed coral but it seems like it would be suitable for this type of application. I'm in the process of redoing my rock and replacing my sand bed and I, too, just want a thin layer of substrate to cover the bare bottom. I have a small amount of cc all washed and ready to use but have held off so far because of all the negative posts I've read...

Steve

knockout · 11/14/2008, 08:24 AM

I stopped by the LFS today, the #2 gravel from reefsand.com looks like might get the job done, any other suggestions

Chihuahua6 · 11/14/2008, 10:07 AM

I use a coarse sand I picked up at Petco. It's not as coarse as crushed coral and the grains are more uniform in size and rounded. I like that it doesn't have sharp edges. It's about 2-3 mm in size. I keep less than 1" in my 75 and 29 gal tanks. I vacuum it with water changes.

Here's a link. Please keep in mind the product I have does not resemble the picture so you might want to check it out in person if you have a local Petco.

http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.as...ona-_-2-_-7514

knockout · 11/26/2008, 10:57 AM

went to LFS they have the reefsand gravel # 2 in one of their tanks... looks big enough to stay off the water column and small enough for the gobies to be able to move it around....

11/11/2008, 10:50 PM	#3
knockout Really Cool Stuff! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poconos, PA Posts: 459	bump up __________________ Kelvin. Current Tank Info: Red Sea Max 250

11/11/2008, 11:14 PM	#4
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I am re setting up my system in a couple of weeks. The sugar sized substrate has got to go. It blows around (in my system anyway) I am going to a larger grain size and shooting for a depth of about half an inch. __________________ 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

11/11/2008, 11:43 PM	#6
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I know what I want I just cant remember what its actually called. I see the bags in the LFS. Its aragonite I believe mabe (Special reef substrate grade) I use this in my regugium and its AOK there. I would go bare bottom in the display but I just dont like the look of it. The LFS I visit has a coarser size in its display and that tank is a Prize to look at. __________________ 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

11/12/2008, 12:37 PM	#7
sdebol Premium Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Shorewood, Minnesota Posts: 36	I know everyone seems to hate crushed coral but it seems like it would be suitable for this type of application. I'm in the process of redoing my rock and replacing my sand bed and I, too, just want a thin layer of substrate to cover the bare bottom. I have a small amount of cc all washed and ready to use but have held off so far because of all the negative posts I've read... Steve __________________ "I see dead people..." Current Tank Info: 90g reef--mostly softies. Yellow Longnose Butterfly; 2 Clowns

11/14/2008, 08:24 AM	#8
knockout Really Cool Stuff! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poconos, PA Posts: 459	I stopped by the LFS today, the #2 gravel from reefsand.com looks like might get the job done, any other suggestions __________________ Kelvin. Current Tank Info: Red Sea Max 250

11/11/2008, 12:40 PM	#1
knockout Really Cool Stuff! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poconos, PA Posts: 459	Heavy Sand Grain for SSB I am setting up a new 215g and I want a shallow layer of heavy grain aragonite sand, I would like for once not have sand in the water column, any suggestions... I've looking at the samoa pink here http://www.reefsand.com/ Sand # 1, Gravel # 2 & 5 also need to be wrasse and goby friendly which I think rules Gravel # 5 out, not sure about Gravel # 2 the above is just for reference please add your type/brand/likes/dislikes also how much sand will I need for a 1" layer, tank is 72*24 thanks. __________________ Kelvin. Current Tank Info: Red Sea Max 250

11/11/2008, 12:51 PM	#2
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	I used about 3 bags of small grain sand in my 75g to get a 3-4" sand bed (which I later made smaller, it is now about 1"), I would go for 2-3 bags of #1 and 2ish bags of #5.

11/11/2008, 11:27 PM	#5
knockout Really Cool Stuff! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poconos, PA Posts: 459	what are you planing to use as the new substrate? __________________ Kelvin. Current Tank Info: Red Sea Max 250

11/14/2008, 10:07 AM	#9
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	I use a coarse sand I picked up at Petco. It's not as coarse as crushed coral and the grains are more uniform in size and rounded. I like that it doesn't have sharp edges. It's about 2-3 mm in size. I keep less than 1" in my 75 and 29 gal tanks. I vacuum it with water changes. Here's a link. Please keep in mind the product I have does not resemble the picture so you might want to check it out in person if you have a local Petco. http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.as...ona-_-2-_-7514 __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

11/26/2008, 10:57 AM	#10
knockout Really Cool Stuff! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poconos, PA Posts: 459	went to LFS they have the reefsand gravel # 2 in one of their tanks... looks big enough to stay off the water column and small enough for the gobies to be able to move it around.... __________________ Kelvin. Current Tank Info: Red Sea Max 250