Sand beds for saltwater tanks

Sassy Jenny · Jul 1, 2013

I remember when we first started out hobby. One person told us to use crushed coral. Well, we did, and let me just say it was a nightmare! Then back then everyone used a 5 to 6 inch sand bed. However, that works great for the first few years until the nitrates build up! Now we are using about a inch sand bed. I think it looks and functions much better. I have seen some newer tanks will colored sands and I must say they look pretty good. What say you? What kind of sub strait do you prefer?

Wretched · Jul 1, 2013

I'm using the Carib-Sea Aragmax oolitic. It's a very fine sand. About 1.5" bed. I went with it because of that issue of Detritus being built up between the heavier/larger grains. I have zero issues with flow interruption and causing sandstorms.

teddy13 · Jul 1, 2013

all but one of my tanks has black carib sea.. i love the look.. i also got some blue aquatic sand n mixed some of it with the black in 2 tanks giving it a glimmer of blue when you look at it.. to me it is awesome.. now my new 15 gal i am tryin to do something diff i got a small bag of the creamy colored live sand and a bag of the green aquatic sand and i absolutely love the look it is like the rocks are sitting on a grassy piece of land.. so far no issues due to this so i believe it will be fine..

as for the dsb grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr that was my nemisis with nitrates.. now all my tanks have about an inch of sand only..

Sassy Jenny · Jul 1, 2013

I am a Fiji Pink kinda girl. I would love to try the Carb-Sea Aragmax oolitie just to see if it works for me. Black sand...does it drive anyone crazy with build up?

NanaReefer · Jul 2, 2013

2" Pink Aragonite for me.

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SNAKEMANVET · Jul 2, 2013

I prefer seafloor, sand blows around to easy.I run a 1'' bed.

teddy13 · Jul 2, 2013

SNAKEMANVET said:
I prefer seafloor, sand blows around to easy.I run a 1'' bed.

what is seafloor

05grandprix · Jul 2, 2013

I agree teddy what's sea floor in guessing its the bottom of the sea

Sassy Jenny · Jul 2, 2013

Yeah? Sea Floor? lol

dzones · Jul 2, 2013

Caribsea makes a grade called "seafloor". They also make a "special grade seafloor" as well

05grandprix · Jul 2, 2013

I was wondering cause I see the floor all the time. Jokin is that a finer grade or what

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05grandprix · Jul 2, 2013

I know the sand you (Dzones) had in the Red Sea Max is kinda makes my tank little cloudy with that dragon sand goby.

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dzones · Jul 4, 2013

Here is a good link to their website that shows the different grades of their sand
Dry Marine Substrates

Sassy Jenny · Jul 5, 2013

Show off! lol

Grasshopper · Jul 11, 2013

I have a 50/50 mix of Seaflor super reef and Bahamas Oolite, I like the variety and dont have to worry about it being blown around. Some places are straight Oolite others super reef and about half is mixed.