New Tank New Substrate New Question

Uncle Dmerr · 09/17/2013, 09:20 AM

I’m in the process of setting up a 90 gallon mixed reef tank with a 30 gallon sump. During this process I was GIVEN (5) 20lb bags of Nature’s Ocean Live Aragonite 0.1-0.5mm. I realize this probably isn’t the greatest substrate for a shallow bed, mixed reef (but hey, if it’s free it’s for me and if it’s free I’ll take three). I was able to put most of the aragonite in my sump’s DSB refugium, and about a 1” layer in my DT. My question is; will it be “okay” to add an additional thin layer of a coarser aragonite over the top of the existing fine grain aragonite? Should I mix the two substrates together or just layer them? I’ll keep my DT’s substrate under 2” but I’d like to add something to cut back on the sand’s movement with the water’s current.

thegrun · 09/17/2013, 10:14 AM

I would let it be for now. If you have issues with it getting blown around after a couple of weeks (the sand grains will start to bond to each other over the first few weeks and be less inclined to get blown around) then add a layer of larger grained sand on top. If you mix the sand eventually the larger sand will end up back on top, so just start with it on top.

09/17/2013, 09:20 AM	#1
Uncle Dmerr Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Nebraska Posts: 36	New Tank New Substrate New Question I’m in the process of setting up a 90 gallon mixed reef tank with a 30 gallon sump. During this process I was GIVEN (5) 20lb bags of Nature’s Ocean Live Aragonite 0.1-0.5mm. I realize this probably isn’t the greatest substrate for a shallow bed, mixed reef (but hey, if it’s free it’s for me and if it’s free I’ll take three). I was able to put most of the aragonite in my sump’s DSB refugium, and about a 1” layer in my DT. My question is; will it be “okay” to add an additional thin layer of a coarser aragonite over the top of the existing fine grain aragonite? Should I mix the two substrates together or just layer them? I’ll keep my DT’s substrate under 2” but I’d like to add something to cut back on the sand’s movement with the water’s current.

09/17/2013, 10:14 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I would let it be for now. If you have issues with it getting blown around after a couple of weeks (the sand grains will start to bond to each other over the first few weeks and be less inclined to get blown around) then add a layer of larger grained sand on top. If you mix the sand eventually the larger sand will end up back on top, so just start with it on top.