I'm thinking of changing substrates

[ntime60]

Yeah I know it's only been a week since I purchased a semi-established aquarium. I know I'm supposed to take it slow. However, I've been reading a lot. Especially the discussions around substrates. There is an abundance of opinion on that subject and not just on this site either.

20 years ago I ran a fairly successful FOWLR 55g with a CC bed over a UGF. Today that setup seems to have fallen out of favor and it seems many prefer sand.

Here is my problem. When I bought this setup I took it as is, I promptly brought it home and set it up, so as to have as minimal a downtime as possible, so I wouldn't risk the current inhabitants. It came with crushed coral and what looks to be fairly fine grain too.

While the setup is still fairly new, should I change substrates?

I'm not real sure what the previous owner had planned, but I am wanting to do primarily a reef setup with significant corals. My preference is toward creating as complete as possible eco-system between the display and the sump/frug.

Which to me suggests I should go with 2-3" of sand and mineral mud in the frug.

This is what I'm thinking of...right now.

Seachem. Meridian

Thoughts?

 

[Eckolancer]

I would change the sand out ASAP if you want to save any life in the rock. Im actually switching tanks and trying a sandless bottom for better SPS growth. In the past Ive always ran DSB like 5"+


Sent from inside the shark tank!

 

[mike007]

I have tried bare bottom and did not like it. To me a reef tank needs to look like a reef. I also like the fact that it helps maintain calcium levels.

 

[cdness]

I would ask what are the current inhabitants before making any suggestion. Also did you disturb the sand bed when it was moved?

If you did disturb the sand bed, the damage is done so just remove it. If the sand bed was NOT disturbed in the move, take it out slowly. You can release damaging chemicals if they are trapped in the sand bed which can be worse than a cycle.

When adding the sand back into the tank, rinse it well with normal water then RODI. Don't add too much at once or you could trigger a cycle. Look into using Aragonite sand as it is gentler on the glass and sand dwelling creatures.

As said the Aragonite can also help with buffering PH and Calcium. However in order for Aragonite to dissolve and buffer, your PH needs to be critically low. Buy for aesthetics, not buffering.

Personally I have always been a shallow sand bed person as in the majority of my reading, the benefits of a DSB don't outweigh the risks. You can always do a remote DSB or just add more rock in the sump.

 

[ntime60]

The tank setup is only 3 months old plus a few days, with a lionfish and a dragon wrasse, which will be out of the tank tomorrow because they don't fit into my long term plans. So far the only other living thing in the tank is about a dozen turbo snails and some coraline.

Yes I did disturb the crushed coral bed when I moved it, but that happened along with a 70% water change. Couldn't really help but disturb it, I put it on the second floor of my home. That was a nonfun experience.

I'm not sure I'd want to go with BB because I'm like Mike, I think a reef tank should look like a reef. The crushed coral looks pretty good, but I don't really want to screw up at this early stage,especially if it can be easily prevented.