recommeded grain size for reef sand??

aquablizz · Jun 14, 2016

Having struggled with nitrates for 20 years I am taking a big step to remove all the crushed coral substrate in my 75G display tank and replace it with sand. My feeling is that my current setup is just too loaded with detritus and will continue to fight me until it's completely replaced.

What is the recommended grain size that I should be looking for. I want to put in a couple strong power heads to keep things moving in the main tank so that they can be picked up in the skimmer compartment in my sump.. I have heard horror stories about everything in the main tank being coated with sand if it is too fine using this method of house keeping.

For the time being I have a fish only tank..

Thanks in advance
Blizz

Downbeach · Jun 14, 2016

I kept a predominantly SPS mixed reef for many years using a DSB and sugar sized substrate(oolite). But, I also used PH's that I could direct toward the surface(Tunze). If you're going to go with a SSB then a substrate like Caribsea's Special Grade would be a good choice.

aquablizz · Jun 14, 2016

Thanks for the reply Downbeach.. What do you consider a shallow sandbed,,, 1-2 inch??

CodyRVA · Jun 14, 2016

If you do have issues with sand being blown around, just mix in some sand that's slightly larger in grain size.

aquablizz · Jun 14, 2016

I'd rather use a little heavier grain size for the entire substrate but don't know what size to look for.

blizz

CodyRVA · Jun 14, 2016

You'd probably want to go with special grade as @Downbeach suggested. Hope this helps...

Oolite - Grain size: .25 - 1 mm
Fiji Pink - Grain size: .5 - 1.5 mm
Special Grade - Grain size: 1-2 mm
Crushed Coral - Grain size: 3 - 5.5 mm

aquablizz · Jun 14, 2016

Perfect... thanks everyone for you help... now the work begins...

Kungpaoshizi · Jun 14, 2016

I too enjoy the Special Grade Seaflor. Though I do miss oolite, it really cakes in the tank after time.

aquablizz · Jun 20, 2016

how thick should a shallow sand bed be in a main display tank..???
blizz

CodyRVA · Jun 20, 2016

aquablizz said:
how thick should a shallow sand bed be in a main display tank..???
blizz

IMO this is all personal preference considering you can successfully go bare bottom (no sand). Keep in mind different sand bed depths require different types of maintenance. Again, IMO... shallow would be 1-2 inches, medium: 2-3 inch, deep: 3+ (ballpark).

oodan · Jun 20, 2016

Yes I had fine sugar sized sand I mixed in a lil chunks of crushed Rock and it keeps my rock from being covered every once in a while I get my snail slime on something and a fish or a rock will have a spec and I almost freek out then a few min later I pretend to feed all my fish go to the top and by the power head the speck comes off and I can take a deep breath lol

DanConnor · Jun 20, 2016

Here's the tropic eden sizes:
Aragasnow - 0.5mm
Tonga Special Pink - 0.8mm
Miniflakes - 2.0mm
Mesoflakes - 2.7mm
Reefflakes - 3.0mm
Reefflakes Grand Select - 4.5mm

I just set up a tank with mesoflakes and think its perfect

aquablizz · Jul 6, 2016

If I were to switch to a sand bed,, does that mean the end of vacuuming??? I would think the sand would get sucked up with the waste?? How do others handle this?

Thanks in advance

blizz

oodan · Jul 6, 2016

I never dig deep with my vacuum I do get a lil sand but I have a bag of sand I will add like a pinch in a corner or to but I don't go deep it can stir up un wanted stuff not to sure on the terms of it just know it's hard to spell so it has to be bad lol