Show me your Sand!

[madweazl]

I like shrimp gobys and most of them are light colored so I went with a dark substrate (Nature's Ocean black) so I can see 'em better.

 

[Reef Jedi]

Exactly what Bayarea said.....unless you care to observe what appears to be a constantly shaken snow globe.

Wouldn’t a little sand moving be good? At least the very top layer? Or does this create drifts through the tank? I do like that fine look but the last thing I want is even more head ache looking at it.

 

[Nburg's Reef]

It is just a slightly coarser grain than fiji pink, but still fine enough for burrowing/sifting fish. I like the look of sand and wrasses too much to go BB in any of my tanks. That being said, if I were to start an sps dominate tank (I won't lol) I would almost certainly go BB.

I have the tropic eden meso-flakes. Not as big as tonga flakes. Meso flakes are coarse enough to not get blown around too much but my wrasse still burrows every night.

 

[NS Mike D]

Hahaha ;Smug

Yea I thought about going BB and I haven’t fully ruled it out. I figured if I didn’t like it I could syphon it out. Also debating if I should use abs board or leave it on the bottom glass if I did.

If I had to do it all over again, I would skip the sand. Sand looks real nice and provides filtration and habitat but, IMO, it never looks as nice as when it first went in and it requirers (for me) weekly cleaning. IMO, WWC has it right, no sand bed, good flow, heavy feedings and good filtration to remove the detritus and uneaten food.

 

[Tom Giddens]

I am starting a 40 gal breeder with instant ocean Samoa pink it is same grain size as Figi but has more pink in it. I am using 2 Hydor wave makers with controller one 1500 gph and one 1150 gph. I am hoping I can get a god flow with out blowing sand every where but only time will tell. In previous tanks I used the Figi and regular old school power heads and the only time I had trouble was when the crappy suction cups would come loose and blow sand everywhere.

 

[CWR24]

Wouldn’t a little sand moving be good? At least the very top layer? Or does this create drifts through the tank? I do like that fine look but the last thing I want is even more head ache looking at it.

Depending on your pumps placement and power it can make the drifts you mentioned.

My Pistol Shrimp.....aka "Bulldozer" moves more than enough sand for my liking.