Substrate?

[blukat40]

I am just days aways from starting my first reef tank and I was planning on using sand as my substrate but after talking to a guy at my LFS, he did not think that was a good idea. His reasoning was that it was impossible to vacuum.
My question: is that truly a concern in a reef tank? I thought that is what clean up crews etc were for. I am not opposed to aragonite or others, I just like the way sand looks.

 

[cr500_af]

The flow you are likely to end up with in a (successful) reef tank can cause sand to be a headache.

The prevailing opinion seems to be that the ideal size (not so small as to blow around; not so large as to trap lots of detritus) is CaribSea Reeflor Special Grade.

 

[rbredding]

mine blows all over my tank.. but it doesn't bother me.. I just rake it smooth from time to time.. (at least once every 2 weeks)

 

[sonofdagon]

If you like the way it looks go ahead and get what .45 reccommends. Barebottom just looks, well so bare.

 

[ichthyoid]

cr500_af;627485 wrote: the flow you are likely to end up with in a (successful) reef tank can cause sand to be a headache.

The prevailing opinion seems to be that the ideal size (not so small as to blow around; not so large as to trap lots of detritus) is caribsea reeflor special grade.

+1

 

[blukat40]

Thanks for the feedback. I went with Caraibsea Florida Crushed Coral. Looks pretty good.

 

[rjrgroup]

+20 on special, my fiji pink looks like a bunch of mini-mexican jumping beans. Almost everyday is like a new tank though....:confused2:

 

[sprinklerman500]

So what brand and kind would you all recommend.I'm setting up my 150 this weekend.

 

[totalchaos13]

Like all things in this hobby, this choice is part opinion/part science...

My advice would be too go with something that:

#1 - you like how it looks (color, etc.)
#2 - is as close to natural for your system as possible (if you have blennies or sand sifters make sure you have sand...)
#3 - good rule of thumb is approximately 2.0mm to 4.0mm grain size (keeps it from blowing too bad but allows for some movement, does not "pack")

That's my two cents!

 

[blukat40]

CC is gone. Sand is in...
It wasn't much of hassle to switch as the tank was only a day in. As a result the reef looks a lot better now and with more stability than before.
Lesson learned.
Now I am just going to look at for a few weeks and let it cycle.