Sand In a Frag Tank

[ONEmorBEER]

What are the pro's and con's of sand in a frag tank?

 

[BlazinNano]

Pros - Would be more area for good bacteria to grow.
Cons - I dont know I just dont see many people putting it in there. So I don't know any cons.

 

[nater]

are you going to plumb the frag tank into an existing system? i would say one con would be a possible mini cycle which could mean possible bacteria and algae blooms.

 

[BlazinNano]

Now what if it was not plumbed in, if it was a free standing frag tank?

 

[Russellaqua]

I've always used it. Better filtration in case you target feed corals, and it cushions the landing in case you drop a frag.

 

[ONEmorBEER]

This will be a stand alone system that will have a cycle. I am going to be using a 28g nano cube and I was thinking of putting rock rubble in the back chamber or us some 2-3" pieces and line the bottom of the tank. I have a return that is ran down the back bottom of the tank and basically a spray bar on the bottom now. The rock would be under the frag rack so I would have some crabs down there that could eat the left over food.

 

[terryagi]

Plus if you have any zoas/shrooms, you can let them sit on the sand until they attach to some grains. Then, you could mount them easier.

 

[stedfast82]

+1 sand

 

[BayCorals]

Im changing to a bare bottom frag system. I heard that it causes more nitrate in the water, but as long as you have a nitrate reactor or a refugium, it will balance out. I use to have sand but the sand would always get on the corals each time I stick my hand in and grab something near a fan.

 

[ONEmorBEER]

I'm hoping the LR will help with the nitrates. I might throw some Chaeto in the back chamber too to simulate a fuge.

 

[ReeferRob]

Pro: easy to propagate z's and p's with sand or crushed coral
Con: worker wrasses like coris toss sand all over the place every night

 

[seafansar]

I went BB with my frag tank, cause I was tired of my frags getting covered with sand and I wanted high flow in it without having to worry about blowing the sand everywhere.

 

[subdrive]

what you have in your mind

I think I have the frag tank you are planning to make.
28 nano jbj, sand, live rock under the egg crate.
I love the setting.

 

[ONEmorBEER]

That's pretty close but I'm leaning to no sand.

 

[SaraB]

I use CA reactor media in my frag tanks.

 

[ONEmorBEER]

As substrate?

I use CA reactor media in my frag tanks.

 

[SaraB]

As substrate?

Yes, CA reactor media as the substrate. Corals grow well on it and the fish, etc. can't really stir it up and toss it on your frags.

 

[ONEmorBEER]

Do you find that it helps with sps draining the calcium?

 

[SaraB]

No, it will not add CA to your system like it would in a CA reactor set-up with CO2 melting it. I just prefer the look and functionality of it is all. I'll try and post a pic later.

 

[LegoZ81]

I run sand in my frag tank as i can place encrutsing corals on it to spread and grow flat for easy propagation. adding dry sand to a tank will not cause a mini cycle if it is rinsed well first will ro di water. even if not it would not cause a cycle but could release phosphate causing an algae bloom. you can only cause a cycle by killing/removing current bacteria.