CaribSea Florida Crushed Coral

[FishyDP]

Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of using 1.5-2" of this in a mixed reef as my primary substrate? I have the bottom of the tank lined with egg crate. The tank is a 230g (72×29x25) peninsula and will have higher flow.

I have been running barebottom for the last year or so but miss the natural look of sand.

 

[Saltyreef]

Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of using 1.5-2" of this in a mixed reef as my primary substrate? I have the bottom of the tank lined with egg crate. The tank is a 230g (72×29x25) peninsula and will have higher flow.

I have been running barebottom for the last year or so but miss the natural look of sand.

Cons,
Detritus trap, no sand dwellers still and a rather unsightly bottom as the crushed coral develops coraline too.

Im bare bottom too and decided against the FL crushed coral and went with special grade for my new build.
I think they used to make one that was essentially special grade and the Fl crushed coral all in one. It was called like west caribean reef or something.
Natural reef is a good runner up too.

 

[FishyDP]

Yea I have a melanarus wrasse and was wondering if he would be able to bury himself with the chunkier substrate. Any sand I have had has been a nutrients trap, sounds like this is the case with the crushed coral too. I already have 40 lbs of it in the tank mixed in with about 15-20 lbs of regular aragonite. Looks like I will need another 20 lbs, maybe I will look into mixing in some special grade as well. Just don't want random bare spots from flow.

 

[Saltyreef]

Yea I have a melanarus wrasse and was wondering if he would be able to bury himself with the chunkier substrate. Any sand I have had has been a nutrients trap, sounds like this is the case with the crushed coral too. I already have 40 lbs of it in the tank mixed in with about 15-20 lbs of regular aragonite. Looks like I will need another 20 lbs, maybe I will look into mixing in some special grade as well. Just don't want random bare spots from flow.

The special grade is recommended for higher flow tanks @ 1-2mm grain size.
The crushed coral is 3-5.5mm.

Id stick with mostly special grade with the crushed coral mixed in if you want to avoid barespots.

My old sugar fine sandbed was a nightmare lol.