Sand vs crushed coral

[Tylenator]

What's the better choice and why?

 

[WVNed]

There is no better choice. In some ways crushed coral is easier to maintain in large tanks with large fish. I use it in my 240.
In a tank with small wrasses or sand sifting gobies it wont work.
The "best" choice in this hobby always depends on what's in your tank and what you want to keep first.

 

[RedReefer]

I like sand better… My CUC, and wrasse love the sand.

 

[Sean Clark]

This can not be answered without more information. What do you want to keep in the tank, etc.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

I’ll only use Aragonite. I do a Mixture of Four different grades. Also I skip the Live Sand, using live rock and/or sand from an established aquarium.

 

[Tylenator]

Goal Reef Tank with corals, I have some corals now and a few clown fish, gobby (pain in the butt)

 

[ying yang]

Goal Reef Tank with corals, I have some corals now and a few clown fish, gobby (pain in the butt)

I think when people asking you ,can only answer you if get more Information and all depends on what you want,they meaning....
Do you want sand sifting starfish.
Do you want snails like nassarious snails.
Do you want sand sifting fish.
Do you want sps dominated tank or lps or soft corals or a mixed reef.
As many factors to Consider before decide what sand to use like sps corals usually need more flow in tank so a really fine grain sand would just mean sand storms and irritating and maybe even covering and killing corals on sandbed.
Any sand sifting fish wouldn't appreciated large crushed coral as wouldnt be able to sift.
Nassarious snails Bury themselves into the sand and even though seen some say had very large coarse crushed coral and the nass snails didn't have any trouble, alot say they do have trouble.
Larger grain sand or coarser crushed coral may get more detritus stuck inbetween it and not keep the detritus suspended so doesmt go down overflow to sump or filter etc.
So lots variables in play to help you decide and above is just a few examples.
What I found helpful setting up my tank was make a list of what fish I wanted in tank,what cuc,what corals I may want and what my aquascape was going to look like and how many powerheads and where positioned in tank then researched them to see if all livestock compatible first then researched what conditions the livestock thrived in best and / or what needed then it all fits together like a jig saw as then my choices became easier and watched many youtube videos,read many articles and just researched in general about what I wanted then what they needed.
As alot if factors/ variables need to be taken into consideration rather than just do this and then add this then = perfection
But on same note doesmt have be complicated if that makes sense ^_^

 

[Coinzmans Reef]

For me Sand all the way no matter what I keep. Small grain sand keeps debris out long enough to get picked up by current than to sump. Right now I have a small sand tank and its always clean my MT is aragonite mix and needs to be vacuumed at least monthly with different types off algae rearing their ugly heads every now and than.

 

[Tylenator]

I wish i could type like you ying yang.

I have a list of what I want:
Couple Yellow Tangs
Tang (Surgeonfish)
mandarin

I have 0.5 - 1.5mm Carib sea sand
35lbs of live rock from Florida
30 lbs of live rock from fuji
FritzPRO R.P.M. Redline High ALK (red box)

Equipment:
pair of Radion XR30 G5 PRO Aquarium LED Light Fixture - Ecotech Marine
pair of4K Gyre Flow Pump With WaveEngine LE Controller - Icecap positioned at each end of the tank almost at the top
apex Neptune aqua bus
pair of Energy Bar 832 Apex
Apex COR 20 - Controllable Flow/Return Pump
ATK V2 Automatic Top-Off Kit ATO (ATK)
Trident
Apex Feeder
DOS system,
FMK Flow Monitoring Kit,
FMM Leak Detection Probe
10gal ATO Reservoir
Icecap C02 Protein Skimmer Air scrubber
ARID N18 Macroalgae Reactor - Pax Bellum
90w High Output UV Sterilizer - Icecap
Dual 300 Watt (600 Total) Titanium Heater System w/Inkbird 306T
BR110 BioPellet Reactor (up to 250 Gallons) - Reef Octopus
4 Stage (100 GPD) Value RO/DI System - Aquatic Life
Classic 150 SSS Protein Skimmer - Reef Octopus
Sapphire Sump 34 (34" x 15") - Trigger Systems

Iam hoping with what I have listed if anyone sees something that could be improved I would appreciate the input