Preferred Sand Grain Size?

[IndyReef78]

Hi! Is there any up/downside to a particular grain-size for sand in a mixed reef tank? Any particular brand? Better to purchase dry or live?

We’ve always used the live ultra-fine particle sand, but I have been wondering if a coarser grain has any benefits? We have a couple of conchs that burrow and one wrasse, but although it sleeps on the sand, does not ever seem to burrow that I’ve noticed.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I prefer not to go any smaller than Caribsea's Fiji Pink but no larger than their Florida Crushed Coral.

I find that too small and it blows around too easily in the flow but too large allows excess detritus build up.

My wife believes the perfect ratio is 70% Fiji Pink and 30% Reef Grade mixed.

 

[Phlynamjax]

I prefer tropic eden reefflake size.

 

[Crossfire]

+1 on Fiji pink! whatever that size is, I love it.

 

[Hemmdog]

I prefer special grade. Fiji pink blows around way to much in a mixed reef/sps tank. Never get Oolite unless it’s a shark/ray tank, it’s not an aragonite sand, no beneficial bacteria, no buffering capability, no benefits.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I prefer tropic eden reefflake size.

+1

 

[Backreefing]

I go large size agronite. Sand is more pretty but I’m sps with big flow . So the large size doesn’t blow around. As far as ditritis I just vacuum it during water changes and it last’s for years and years .

 

[burningbaal]

I prefer special grade. Fiji pink blows around way to much in a mixed reef/sps tank. Never get Oolite unless it’s a shark/ray tank, it’s not an aragonite sand, no beneficial bacteria, no buffering capability, no benefits.

Do you have a source for this? There sure are a lot of vendors selling things called oolitic aragonite sand. If it's not aragonite, what is it? How would it not host bacteria, it would have the most surface area per pound (though, presumably oxygenation drops faster than larger grains).
"no benefits" is a very bold claim that should be backed with sources

 

[Hemmdog]

Do you have a source for this? There sure are a lot of vendors selling things called oolitic aragonite sand. If it's not aragonite, what is it? How would it not host bacteria, it would have the most surface area per pound (though, presumably oxygenation drops faster than larger grains).
"no benefits" is a very bold claim that should be backed with sources

The bacteria can only colonize on the exterior, not the interior which is porous in true aragonite.

 

[HB AL]

I got my sand form a beach in Huntington Beach and the price was awesome. A grain of this sand is large enough to stay in place with a lot of water movement.

 

[motortrendz]

I started with the ultra fine bc it looks awesome. But with the currents in a reef tank, I quickly learned it was a terrible idea. My water always looked cloudy bc it was always a sandstorm. My sum was full of sand, filter socks always clogged with sand and found sand in all my reactors. I slowly removed and added tropic eden reef flakes. Best move ever. It looks amazing. And it doesnt blow all over.

 

[NY_Sea]

Check out the tropic Marin reef flakes. I prefer the larger grain sand myself.

 

[siggy]

I prefer special grade.

I just used 80 lbs yesterday, I will report back in a year

 

[Taylor S.]

+1 on Fiji pink! whatever that size is, I love it.

+1