advice on replacing sandbed with crushed coral.

sublime9182 · 07/26/2014, 07:57 PM

My tank has only been up for 3 or 4 months and it's going great.
However I am kicking myself over adding a fine sandbed I cannot turn my WaveMaker up at all with out blowing sand everywhere I would not mind replacing with a heavier substrate does anyone have any feed back or ideas?

whiteshark · 07/26/2014, 08:05 PM

You can siphon out about 1/4 of the sandbed each time you do a water change then add your new substrate when the old is gone. I like the "special" grade aragonite from Carib Sea. Doesn't get blown around much but still has the look of sand.

sublime9182 · 07/26/2014, 08:13 PM

That sounds like a good idea. And thanks ill check out the special grade. I'm so mad at myself the last reef I had I did this lol.

Crush Coral · 07/26/2014, 08:38 PM

DO NOT CHANGE TO CRUSH CORAL. Special grade should work good for you.

skimjim · 07/26/2014, 08:56 PM

I have this and absolutely love it. There is no second choice after using this. It looks like fine sand but doesn't cloud at all...even when my two vortechs are doing a pretty strong wave thru the tank.

Tonga Reef Flakes

Im14abeer · 07/26/2014, 08:56 PM

Another good option is tropic eden reef flakes. I have it in my current tank, and am happy enough with it that I'm putting it into my upgrade. Only problem is I think the only place that carries it is premium aquatics. It's also pricy for sand, but it all is.

Im14abeer · 07/26/2014, 08:58 PM

Well, skimjim is obviously quicker to the post button than me, but not by much!

sublime9182 · 07/26/2014, 09:05 PM

I'll check out that tropics eden I don't mind the carib special but my girlfriend hates the way it looks. She would be excited to keep the fine sand look. And it's only a 46 gallon so price isn't a huge factor. Thanks again everyone.

Fish_Freek · 07/26/2014, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiteshark

You can siphon out about 1/4 of the sandbed each time you do a water change then add your new substrate when the old is gone. I like the "special" grade aragonite from Carib Sea. Doesn't get blown around much but still has the look of sand.

+1
I also use caribsea "special grade"substrate and love it for the same reasons!

Fibinotchi · 07/26/2014, 09:44 PM

I got crushed coral and mixed with sand to give hiding spots for pods on the gravel. Depends on what inhabitants you want to cater too.

Yodeling · 07/26/2014, 09:48 PM

What you could also do is put the special grade on top of your fine sand. The less dense sand should "theoretically" stay on top and the fine sand would be on the bottom helping with denitrification. I plan on doing this.

Surly · 07/27/2014, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crush Coral

DO NOT CHANGE TO CRUSH CORAL. Special grade should work good for you.

Why not change to crush coral, Crush Coral?

jamie1981 · 07/27/2014, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surly

Why not change to crush coral, Crush Coral?

DO NOT CHANGE TO CRUSH CORAL

Crushed coral is notorious for trapping detritus and elevating nitrate levels. Very few use or recommend it anymore.

oseymour · 10/05/2014, 04:12 PM

I use very fine aragonite sand and use 2 vortech mp10s and a sump return on a 37 gallon and I don't have an issue with sand blowing around.

Could be that you have the powerheads placed too low?

07/26/2014, 07:57 PM	#1
sublime9182 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 317	advice on replacing sandbed with crushed coral. My tank has only been up for 3 or 4 months and it's going great. However I am kicking myself over adding a fine sandbed I cannot turn my WaveMaker up at all with out blowing sand everywhere I would not mind replacing with a heavier substrate does anyone have any feed back or ideas?

07/26/2014, 08:05 PM	#2
whiteshark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 3,024	You can siphon out about 1/4 of the sandbed each time you do a water change then add your new substrate when the old is gone. I like the "special" grade aragonite from Carib Sea. Doesn't get blown around much but still has the look of sand. __________________ Deep Blue 60 gallon cube: Setup in progress.

07/26/2014, 08:56 PM	#6
Im14abeer BRILLIANT! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Posts: 406	Another good option is tropic eden reef flakes. I have it in my current tank, and am happy enough with it that I'm putting it into my upgrade. Only problem is I think the only place that carries it is premium aquatics. It's also pricy for sand, but it all is. __________________ Veni, vidi, fishi Current Tank Info: Mixed 235 "reefin' in the corner." Reefbreeders 48 & 32. 2x Tunze 6255 on a 7096, Basement sump, Avast cs1, mag 18 return. Chaeto, kalk.

07/26/2014, 08:58 PM	#7
Im14abeer BRILLIANT! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Posts: 406	Well, skimjim is obviously quicker to the post button than me, but not by much! __________________ Veni, vidi, fishi Current Tank Info: Mixed 235 "reefin' in the corner." Reefbreeders 48 & 32. 2x Tunze 6255 on a 7096, Basement sump, Avast cs1, mag 18 return. Chaeto, kalk.

07/26/2014, 09:44 PM	#10
Fibinotchi Upstanding Citizen Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 650	I got crushed coral and mixed with sand to give hiding spots for pods on the gravel. Depends on what inhabitants you want to cater too. __________________ Accepting donations for fish and coral food. PM me.

07/26/2014, 08:13 PM	#3
sublime9182 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 317	That sounds like a good idea. And thanks ill check out the special grade. I'm so mad at myself the last reef I had I did this lol.

07/26/2014, 08:38 PM	#4
Crush Coral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,233	DO NOT CHANGE TO CRUSH CORAL. Special grade should work good for you.

07/26/2014, 08:56 PM	#5
skimjim Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 513	I have this and absolutely love it. There is no second choice after using this. It looks like fine sand but doesn't cloud at all...even when my two vortechs are doing a pretty strong wave thru the tank. Tonga Reef Flakes

07/26/2014, 09:05 PM	#8
sublime9182 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 317	I'll check out that tropics eden I don't mind the carib special but my girlfriend hates the way it looks. She would be excited to keep the fine sand look. And it's only a 46 gallon so price isn't a huge factor. Thanks again everyone.

07/26/2014, 09:48 PM	#11
Yodeling Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Atlanta Posts: 556	What you could also do is put the special grade on top of your fine sand. The less dense sand should "theoretically" stay on top and the fine sand would be on the bottom helping with denitrification. I plan on doing this.

10/05/2014, 04:12 PM	#14
oseymour Euphyllia Addict Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 1,424	I use very fine aragonite sand and use 2 vortech mp10s and a sump return on a 37 gallon and I don't have an issue with sand blowing around. Could be that you have the powerheads placed too low? __________________ Just started Red Sea Reefer 350 (75 Gallon) Build Thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2555495 Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 350