Reef sand size?? 1-2mm good size sand??

Chris2223 · 09/19/2011, 08:16 PM

I am setting up my 75g mixed reef very soon and need some input on a good size sand/ brand. I have a mag 9.5 as a return pump now ( abt 800gph after head loss, maybe less) and possibly an mp10 with 1,575gph for random flow.

So I was wondering if say Carib Sea Special Grade Sand ( 1-2mm) would hold up to the flow? I can get a 40lb bag for 35 bucks.... Is there a better size/brand that you would recomend? If anyone can post a picture of their sand and let me know the brand/ size that would be awsome!

Chris2223 · 09/20/2011, 05:15 PM

bump... If you don't know what size your sand is, what brand did you purchase for your reef tanks??

Chris2223 · 09/21/2011, 12:34 PM

Bump, I don't want the sand to blow around in my tank and I would like to keep a sand sifting goby/ pistol shrimp. Any input would be great...

Agu · 09/21/2011, 12:48 PM

Here's my tank with the Carib Sea special grade sand....

Tank wasn't aquascaped yet and that's the sand two weeks after being added to the tank. It will blow around in high flow.

Psirex · 09/21/2011, 01:33 PM

Mine is about 3" when leveled out... I would add more if I were you, with that little it might as well be a BBT

Chris2223 · 09/21/2011, 07:17 PM

Thank you Agu for your input. Do you remember where it was you got the sand from? I like how shallow your sand bed is, mine will likely be pretty close to that. I really don't like the look of a bb tank, so I am just fine with the minimal amount of sand. Does anybody else have any suggestions on sand size/ brand??

Agu · 09/21/2011, 08:44 PM

Got it from Drs F&S, added some salt and misc and shipping was free for over $50. Not sure if that deal is still going on.

If you smelled the sand from my 8 year old DSB in the prior tank you'd never go with a DSB. When I tore down the tank the Mrs asked me what died to create the gross and disgusting smell emanating from the old tank. I had to hustle the old tank outside asap because the old DSB stunk so bad.

And my personal opinion is that bare bottom tanks look unnatural and fake. (Apology in advance to those with bare bottom tanks, it's jmo.) There's maybe 3/4 inch of sand at the deepest spots and I like it that way.

Chris2223 · 09/22/2011, 06:08 AM

I will check them out, I forgot all about dr f&s.

Useful_Idiot · 09/22/2011, 06:28 AM

I've heard good things about tropical eden. I ordered reef flakes and mini flakes for a 50/50 mix. I have sugar grain sand now and it makes a mess. Not just blowing everywhere but clouds the water, impossible to vac. Unless your gonna do softies with low flow, then it looks great. It's coming in tommorow but I don't feel I've had enough tanks/sandbeds to have a good opinion.

Chris2223 · 09/22/2011, 07:35 PM

Thanks for your reply Useful_Idiot, I will check out the tropical eden sand. Let me know how you like the reef flakes, may have to look into those as well...

johnnytmc · 09/22/2011, 08:36 PM

Would Carib Sea special grade sand be too coarse for sand sifting gobies?

jacob.morgan78 · 09/22/2011, 09:26 PM

I had something finer than the special grade (not sure what size) and my flow created bare bottom parts on the front of my tank... I added the special grade on top and it has been much better ever since!

Not sure if this helps but thought I would share my experience. I have a seio 2600 and a 1100 and a mj 1200 for flow n my 125.

09/19/2011, 08:16 PM	#1
Chris2223 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Oh Posts: 109	Reef sand size?? 1-2mm good size sand?? I am setting up my 75g mixed reef very soon and need some input on a good size sand/ brand. I have a mag 9.5 as a return pump now ( abt 800gph after head loss, maybe less) and possibly an mp10 with 1,575gph for random flow. So I was wondering if say Carib Sea Special Grade Sand ( 1-2mm) would hold up to the flow? I can get a 40lb bag for 35 bucks.... Is there a better size/brand that you would recomend? If anyone can post a picture of their sand and let me know the brand/ size that would be awsome!

09/21/2011, 12:48 PM	#4
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Here's my tank with the Carib Sea special grade sand.... Tank wasn't aquascaped yet and that's the sand two weeks after being added to the tank. It will blow around in high flow. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

09/21/2011, 01:33 PM	#5
Psirex Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,934	Mine is about 3" when leveled out... I would add more if I were you, with that little it might as well be a BBT __________________ SALINITY NOW....

09/21/2011, 08:44 PM	#7
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Got it from Drs F&S, added some salt and misc and shipping was free for over $50. Not sure if that deal is still going on. If you smelled the sand from my 8 year old DSB in the prior tank you'd never go with a DSB. When I tore down the tank the Mrs asked me what died to create the gross and disgusting smell emanating from the old tank. I had to hustle the old tank outside asap because the old DSB stunk so bad. And my personal opinion is that bare bottom tanks look unnatural and fake. (Apology in advance to those with bare bottom tanks, it's jmo.) There's maybe 3/4 inch of sand at the deepest spots and I like it that way. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

09/22/2011, 06:28 AM	#9
Useful_Idiot Artificially Intelligent Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Farmington, CT Posts: 1,188	I've heard good things about tropical eden. I ordered reef flakes and mini flakes for a 50/50 mix. I have sugar grain sand now and it makes a mess. Not just blowing everywhere but clouds the water, impossible to vac. Unless your gonna do softies with low flow, then it looks great. It's coming in tommorow but I don't feel I've had enough tanks/sandbeds to have a good opinion. __________________ Patrick Current Tank Info: 150 DD

09/20/2011, 05:15 PM	#2
Chris2223 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Oh Posts: 109	bump... If you don't know what size your sand is, what brand did you purchase for your reef tanks??

09/21/2011, 12:34 PM	#3
Chris2223 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Oh Posts: 109	Bump, I don't want the sand to blow around in my tank and I would like to keep a sand sifting goby/ pistol shrimp. Any input would be great...

09/21/2011, 07:17 PM	#6
Chris2223 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Oh Posts: 109	Thank you Agu for your input. Do you remember where it was you got the sand from? I like how shallow your sand bed is, mine will likely be pretty close to that. I really don't like the look of a bb tank, so I am just fine with the minimal amount of sand. Does anybody else have any suggestions on sand size/ brand??

09/22/2011, 06:08 AM	#8
Chris2223 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Oh Posts: 109	I will check them out, I forgot all about dr f&s.

09/22/2011, 07:35 PM	#10
Chris2223 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Oh Posts: 109	Thanks for your reply Useful_Idiot, I will check out the tropical eden sand. Let me know how you like the reef flakes, may have to look into those as well...

09/22/2011, 08:36 PM	#11
johnnytmc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 120	Would Carib Sea special grade sand be too coarse for sand sifting gobies?

09/22/2011, 09:26 PM	#12
jacob.morgan78 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Farmville, VA Posts: 1,184	I had something finer than the special grade (not sure what size) and my flow created bare bottom parts on the front of my tank... I added the special grade on top and it has been much better ever since! Not sure if this helps but thought I would share my experience. I have a seio 2600 and a 1100 and a mj 1200 for flow n my 125.

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