flyingfish
Well-Known Member
What's the word on which substrate everyone uses? Which type and why? Please list tank type, size, lbs, and reasons. Also, do you vacuum it? If so what is you method/maintenance? Thanks!
Sand and substrate choices
- Thread starter flyingfish
- Start date
- Tagged users None
mtnrunner
Active Member
I had a live sand bed with plenum for years with carribsea crushed coral, two sizes. Last years derecho storm took out my tank and I then re-built and went with clean bottom. So far, I really like the clean bottom better. It's so easy to keep clean and it gets a nice coraline algae covering to make it appealing.
Trying to clean the top layers of sand was not easy. Over the years, I felt like it was becoming a detritus trap.
I have a 90 gal mixed reef.
Trying to clean the top layers of sand was not easy. Over the years, I felt like it was becoming a detritus trap.
I have a 90 gal mixed reef.
d2mini
5000 Club Member
I always set up my tanks using Tampa Bay Saltwater for all my live rock and sand, so my sand is sifted off the very top layer of the Tampa Bay ocean floor.
It comes chock full of all kinds of organisms/critters and IMHO is one of the main reasons my tanks get through the cycle very quickly and I never end up with nuisance algae.
I usually only have about 1-1.5".
2" max in some spots.
It comes chock full of all kinds of organisms/critters and IMHO is one of the main reasons my tanks get through the cycle very quickly and I never end up with nuisance algae.
I usually only have about 1-1.5".
2" max in some spots.
Salty Dog
Valuable Member
and where do we get that stuff
d2mini
5000 Club Member
d2mini
5000 Club Member
I just noticed your location... he had to stop shipping outside the USA. Too much red tape/hassles with customs.
But for those in the USA, I highly recommend Richard's stuff. I always get "The Package" from him which is all the rock, sand and CUC.
He ships everything air freight. So what was in the ocean yesterday, is shipped in water and picked up at your local airport today. It doesn't get any fresher!
I have a massive build thread on reef central with lots of pics. Just search for "d2mini's reeftastic build".
But for those in the USA, I highly recommend Richard's stuff. I always get "The Package" from him which is all the rock, sand and CUC.
He ships everything air freight. So what was in the ocean yesterday, is shipped in water and picked up at your local airport today. It doesn't get any fresher!
I have a massive build thread on reef central with lots of pics. Just search for "d2mini's reeftastic build".
OP
OP
flyingfish
Well-Known Member
On my new 90 I put 60lbs of Caribsea live Bahamas oolite and 30 lbs Caribsea puka shells. Probably not the best choices. I did it for looks and so sifting critters would be happy. I like the sand dwellers as much as anything. Not sure how to vacuum this though.
