Opinions on mixed grain sand beds?

[Shnolby]

Hey all, I’ve been keeping freshwater for years, and I’m finally getting into the saltwater scene. I plan on having a mixed reef in my 150 gallon tall. I have bought most of the gear already, just waiting for the dry rock to arrive.

My question is, I want a 2-3 inch sand bed. Should I layer sugar fine grains on the bottom and special grade on top to weigh it down, or should I go with 100% special grade? It will have high flow, so I’m worried about the sugar sized particles creating sandstorms and upsetting corals. The tank will have critters stirring up the sand, like gobies and wrasses.

 

[zapbap99]

higher flow higher grain, lower flow anything. or bare bottom works

 

[Billldg]

I would just go with 100 percent Special Grade. I use it and it is a great mixture of finer grain sand with a little bigger grain.

I plan to use in on my upgrade as well.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hi,

Is there a reason to mix besides flow. Eventually over time they will separate out anyway. The sand sifters will mix it up and the finer stuff will rise. I would pick the one you are happy with and adjust for flow from there. I went Fiji pink and run my flow a bit higher. I have a diamond back and love watching him do his job.

 

[cloak]

If "0" is fine sand then I would probably go with all 3, maybe 4. (this is how my LFS used to label the bags) Not too big, but not too small either. Pliable I guess you could say. GL.

On a side note; were you planning on cleaning the sand bed on a regular basis?

 

[Shnolby]

If "0" is fine sand then I would probably go with all 3, maybe 4. (this is how my LFS used to label the bags) Not too big, but not too small either. Pliable I guess you could say. GL.

On a side note; were you planning on cleaning the sand bed on a regular basis?

I don’t really gravel vac the sand in my freshwater tanks, just siphon detritus piles from the dead zones when needed. The bottom dwellers do a good job of keeping everything tidy. I plan to do something similar in the reef if possible. I don’t mind siphoning debris or gravel vaccing every so often if needed, but my goal is to find creatures which will do that for me.

Your thoughts?

 

[cloak]

Manual labor is KING IME.

Don't get me wrong though, I do like the micro/macro fauna and all, but what I can accomplish in ten minutes and what they can achieve in twenty minutes are two completely different stories. Put it this way, I've yet to see a "creature" make a pile of detritus/crap in a BB tank disappear. GL.