New Tank, what floor cover?

adeliel · 09/08/2009, 07:51 PM

What would be a really nice floor cover/substrate/sand for my tank. It's not going to be that big roughly 30g. What sand would look really nice? I do plan to have a pretty shallow tank floor bed. I want a nice exotic look.

I'd love to hear or see all sorts of ideas.

Mr James · 09/08/2009, 08:07 PM

Black sand... White sand.... Some have used shells.... Some have used crushed coral.... Some go BB (Bare Bottom)... All depends on what you want to keep in your tank. If you use any substrate at all, make sure you have the proper "cleaners" to clean the sand, like starfish, snails, conchs, and my favorite, the slug (big brown poop).

adeliel · 09/08/2009, 08:16 PM

The black sand seems interesting. Or if I'd go bare bottom, and I didn't like the color of my tank stand surface, I'd paint it something. But yeah, i'll look that up, I'd probably do a very shallow and fine sand.

sedor · 09/08/2009, 08:20 PM

+1 sand can be the ugliest thing in the wrong conditions. A proper maintenance CUC is a must! I would also suggest if you are thinking about going deep (6"+) to reconsider and do a shallow bed in your DT and maybe a DSB in your fuge or remotely in a bucket. In my experience nothing but problems can arise from an unmanageable DSB in your DT.

adeliel · 09/08/2009, 08:24 PM

HOw about the whitest live sand, any good brands?

Mr James · 09/08/2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

by adeliel
The black sand seems interesting. Or if I'd go bare bottom, and I didn't like the color of my tank stand surface, I'd paint it something. But yeah, i'll look that up, I'd probably do a very shallow and fine sand.

Here is my old bare bottom 180g. You use a type of white Poly cutting board on the bottom of the tank. Very white, but will soon be covered by coraline algae and other stuff.

Oh, and that is not a slug, it's a Tongue Coral...

And the following is a pic of a 240g reef I set up at my church, way back when.... The substrate is a thin layer of sand and shells. We did have one slug that kept it clean, not to mention the snails and Queen Conchs...

Mr James · 09/08/2009, 08:40 PM

Hey!! My 5g nano (back before the rush on Nano's like today) that was in my office. White sand and back painted black. This pic was dated 27 April 2002....

Mr James · 09/08/2009, 08:42 PM

WOW, sorry about the size!! yikes...

adeliel · 09/08/2009, 08:50 PM

No worries, those are very nice pics, thanks for sharing. So cutting boards huh. THat's pretty neat. The tongue coral looks really nice.

09/08/2009, 07:51 PM	#1
adeliel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 190	New Tank, what floor cover? What would be a really nice floor cover/substrate/sand for my tank. It's not going to be that big roughly 30g. What sand would look really nice? I do plan to have a pretty shallow tank floor bed. I want a nice exotic look. I'd love to hear or see all sorts of ideas.

09/08/2009, 08:20 PM	#4
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	+1 sand can be the ugliest thing in the wrong conditions. A proper maintenance CUC is a must! I would also suggest if you are thinking about going deep (6"+) to reconsider and do a shallow bed in your DT and maybe a DSB in your fuge or remotely in a bucket. In my experience nothing but problems can arise from an unmanageable DSB in your DT. __________________ Ryan

09/08/2009, 08:07 PM	#2
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	Black sand... White sand.... Some have used shells.... Some have used crushed coral.... Some go BB (Bare Bottom)... All depends on what you want to keep in your tank. If you use any substrate at all, make sure you have the proper "cleaners" to clean the sand, like starfish, snails, conchs, and my favorite, the slug (big brown poop).

09/08/2009, 08:16 PM	#3
adeliel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 190	The black sand seems interesting. Or if I'd go bare bottom, and I didn't like the color of my tank stand surface, I'd paint it something. But yeah, i'll look that up, I'd probably do a very shallow and fine sand.

09/08/2009, 08:24 PM	#5
adeliel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 190	HOw about the whitest live sand, any good brands?

09/08/2009, 08:40 PM	#7
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	Hey!! My 5g nano (back before the rush on Nano's like today) that was in my office. White sand and back painted black. This pic was dated 27 April 2002....

09/08/2009, 08:42 PM	#8
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	WOW, sorry about the size!! yikes...

09/08/2009, 08:50 PM	#9
adeliel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 190	No worries, those are very nice pics, thanks for sharing. So cutting boards huh. THat's pretty neat. The tongue coral looks really nice.