Show me your Sand!

[Reef Jedi]

Show me your sand!

I can’t decide...

I’ll be setting up a 40 breeder mixed reef but heavier sps. I’ll be using 2 mp10s for flow.

I was really debating between Figi pink OR Bahamas oolite.

Tell me all about your sand with a picture! Thanks.

 

[Nburg's Reef]

here is my old 40g breeder that had coarse sand in it. I used the same thing in my current Red Sea Reefer 450.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nburgs-40g-breeder-mostly-sps-tank.334782/

 

[Reef Jedi]

here is my old 40g breeder that had coarse sand in it. I used the same thing in my current Red Sea Reefer 450.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nburgs-40g-breeder-mostly-sps-tank.334782/

That’s really nice! I didn’t know if I’d like a larger size but after seeing that it does look good! Now you have me second guessing. I’m gonna assume it doesn’t blow around but it looks like it could get dirtier? I would also use maybe 1 inch of depth, just enough to cover and look good.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I read fiji pink was too fine but per the suggestion of my LFS I went with it...

Shoulda went with my feeling from the start. It definitely blows around too much. Removed most of it and replaced with special grade

 

[KrisReef]

I can't post a pic, but just imagine my bare bottom here

It doesn't get blown away with the current, something to think about in your 40. Gl

 

[luisgo]

Sand? What about bare bottom with a lot of zoas! jeje

 

[Nburg's Reef]

That’s really nice! I didn’t know if I’d like a larger size but after seeing that it does look good! Now you have me second guessing. I’m gonna assume it doesn’t blow around but it looks like it could get dirtier? I would also use maybe 1 inch of depth, just enough to cover and look good.

Yeah, it will drift a little but not bad, like 0.5" - 1" in one area and peaks at around 2" at the highest. I had really high flow in that tank too.

 

[2Wheelsonly]

If I could do it all over again i'd go sand-less. Can't do it now because it's not fair to my fish and inverts; if I ever experience a fresh start the sand will be coming out.

 

[Reef Jedi]

I can't post a pic, but just imagine my bare bottom here

It doesn't get blown away with the current, something to think about in your 40. Gl

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.

 

[Reef Jedi]

If I could do it all over again i'd go sand-less. Can't do it now because it's not fair to my fish and inverts; if I ever experience a fresh start the sand will be coming out.

I was thinking that too, my current build I run a compact thieling rollermat and even with a 2” sand bed I can’t keep nitrates above .25ppm and I’ve had a Dino outbreak because I let no3 and po4 drop to 0. I was worried if I went BB it would also be too clean.... I never thought It could be so clean but it is.

 

[Hybrid Ken]

Show me your sand!

I can’t decide...

I’ll be setting up a 40 breeder mixed reef but heavier sps. I’ll be using 2 mp10s for flow.

I was really debating between Figi pink OR Bahamas oolite.

Tell me all about your sand with a picture! Thanks.

Caribsea Black Hawaiian aragonite. I have a Maxspect Gyre in a 24 gallon and it does move it around a little bit at 40% power.

 

[PDR]

You do not want anything finer than fiji pink if you want SPS, oolite would just make a mess. I highly recommend the special grade sand from caribsea.

 

[Reef Jedi]

You do not want anything finer than fiji pink if you want SPS, oolite would just make a mess. I highly recommend the special grade sand from caribsea.

I know BRS recommends it, what is the real difference between the two? Now I’m also stuck if I want to do BB or have a 1/2” sand bed. I’m all torn lol especially after reading countless threads on here about sand and BB. The debate is real.

 

[Saveafish]

My bottom is bare too.

 

[Hella_Reef]

Tropic eden Tonga flakes.

 

[Midrats]

Tropic Eden puts out some quality substrates!

 

[PDR]

I know BRS recommends it, what is the real difference between the two? Now I’m also stuck if I want to do BB or have a 1/2” sand bed. I’m all torn lol especially after reading countless threads on here about sand and BB. The debate is real.

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.

 

[LovesDogs_CatsRokay]

CaribSea Hawaiian black

 

[Reef Jedi]

My bottom is bare too.

I’m thinking about joining this club. How’s the maintenance aspect? Ph issues?

 

[CWR24]

I read fiji pink was too fine but per the suggestion of my LFS I went with it...

Shoulda went with my feeling from the start. It definitely blows around too much. Removed most of it and replaced with special grade

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