A or B?

[Kehy]

Option A

Option B

The gravel mix for B. It's a combo of quatz crystal and low grade labradorite (which is wasted, but was an impulse buy, so no big deal)

Tank is a Cunzo mini complete (knock off of the name brand one). Did a 'few' mods to it and it's gonna have the red underlighting. Gonna make that the gimmick of this tank, aside from the tank's size

 

[I’ma tempermental coral]

Personally I’d say don’t use the gravel stuff. It will only start growing things like coralline and become a pain. Not to mention being that large will trap detritus. And I’m not sure those crystals really have the surface area to be particularly useful such as sand. Just my 2 cents. Besides I personally think it looks better without it hehe.

 

[Kehy]

Personally I’d say don’t use the gravel stuff. It will only start growing things like coralline and become a pain. Not to mention being that large will trap detritus. And I’m not sure those crystals really have the surface area to be particularly useful such as sand. Just my 2 cents. Besides I personally think it looks better without it hehe.

I know I didn't mention it, but I'm hoping the detritus trap and surface area won't be a huge factor. I'm thinking I'm only gonna have zoas in this tank, I'm of the opinion the tank is too small for much else. Algae growth I don't have much of an answer to, other than adding chaeto and hoping that out competes other algae.

Fair enough on the looks though. I like the cleanness of the bare bottom, but the under lighting is just slightly too jarring in person to not do something

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Def A. No offense to freshwater hobbyists, but that B just look like freshwater kiddie stuff.

if you want gravel, put some sand at least it act as a filtration.

 

[James M]

Definitely go with option A

 

[Waters]

I agree with A....the white gravel looks tremendously out of place in a reef tank (aside from the husbandry issues)....IMO of course.

 

[najer]

Also A or add marine substrate.

 

[Kehy]

Appreciate the feedback.

Might start with A to get through the cycle and the ugly phase. But the whole point of the gravel was to diffuse the under lighting and make it more visible, so it might still be added at a later point. No need for it to be used as an active substrate.

Mind you, I'm the kind of person who puts a velociraptor in a betta tank and makes it work great, haha

 

[vetteguy53081]

Eliminate crystals and go with low sandbed. I run about 1/2” depth and don’t contend with cyano and little to know diatoms

 

[flampton]

Cut light diffuser and lay it on the bottom if looking to diffuse the light. Easier to remove and clean as necessary