SPS sandbed without a sandstorm?

[jessezm]

I'm sure there's got to be a lot of posts on this and a lot of different ways to go, but guys/gals, I really need some help making a decision on whether to use a sand bed in my 150g DT or not. A few details about the system:

There will be a 5' x 2' x 2' 150 gal display tank, a 90g frag tank, a 30g remote refugium with live rock (round pond liner), and a 36"L sump. Everything is actually currently up and running in the basement and has been for over 4 months, except for the DT which I'll be plumbing in over the next few weeks on the main floor.

Plans for the DT are for an SPS (acro-dominant) tank. I will be running 2 x MP40s and 2 x Maxspec Gyre 250s. Return pump is a Sicce SDC 9.0 and I'm thinking about adding random flow generators to the 2 x 3/4" returns as well.

I think that should be capable of producing a lot of flow, which I'll need as the colonies grow out. My concern is that it will be so much flow that I'll have constant sandstorms. The other reason I am a bit hesitant to add sand is that it will necessitate more maintenance to remove detritus.

Another thought I had is that it would be really cool to have the bottom of the tank covered with encrusting montiporas...

On the flip side, I do like the look of a sandbed, and I really really want to host a variety wrasses, so not having a sandbed might limit my choices for tank inhabitants.

I guess I'm just wondering if any of you have gone through the same decision making process, what did you end up doing, why, and any regrets (or glad you did it)? any other benefits or challenges I'm not thinking about?

I already have 6 bags of special grade aragalive from caribsea, just can't decide whether to add it or not.

 

[OriginalUserName]

I wound up going with special grade on my tank. It is pretty resistant to moving. I'm running 2 x250 gyres, the return, a WAV, and 2 small Jebaos right now and I'm not having any sand issues on my 140gallon.

 

[jessezm]

Nice! Thanks!

 

[x2uranium]

I have barebottom. Although it requires no maintenance at all, in the end my next display tank will have sand. I hate the look of containers of sand for wrasses to live in, and if you like wrasses then your going to have to live with some sand blowing around in one way shape or form.

 

[408Dartfish]

I’d go for the special grade size or bigger. My Fiji pink blows around everywhere and my jawfish makes mess also lol. Dustin

 

[bubbaque]

I have an sps tank and have really high flow. I used reef flakes which is a larger sand and it doesn't move. Wrasses have no issues with it.

 

[jessezm]

How does it compare to special grade?

 

[bubbaque]

How does it compare to special grade?

I have never used special grade but according to brs it's just slightly larger than Fiji pink, which blows all around.

 

[Jimbo662]

I have an sps tank and have really high flow. I used reef flakes which is a larger sand and it doesn't move. Wrasses have no issues with it.

Same here. I used to only use the special grade sand but switched to reef flakes and no issues at all.

 

[OnPointCorals Verified Sponsor]

I have barebottom. Although it requires no maintenance at all, in the end my next display tank will have sand. I hate the look of containers of sand for wrasses to live in, and if you like wrasses then your going to have to live with some sand blowing around in one way shape or form.

Same here: Barebottom. I love it. Maintenance is awesome. Tons of flow. Power heads along the lower back. Hate my wrasse container of sand.

 

[jessezm]

I saw a really cool man-made live rock structure somewhere with "wrasse dens" in them that could hold sand. That would seem to be a good solution too

 

[danreefman]

Special grade works great, I have 3 mp60 on my 190. Usually all running 100 percent. Sand blows a little. But sand always looks clean and got a cool natural looking sand bottom. Not just flat.

 

[CC13]

How does it compare to special grade?

I have special grade and two Gyre 280’s.

I had to dim the pumps down to 40% or else the sand would slowly start to move away from the ends of the tank over a day or two.

If I do another tank with sand, I would go 1 size larger than specia grade.

 

[Mark Gray]

Mine is a little smaller it's a 90 I have 1 250 Gyre 2 return pumps both putting out around 450 gallons with VCA nozzles on them. I am using Fiji pink no sand storms but a lot of flow

 

[gig 'em]

I stick to special grade sand and then angle my pumps so that when they're running you only see a couple grains shifting around. It helps keep the sand from blowing every wehere while also maintaining a little bit of turn onver in the sand bed.

 

[CC13]

I stick to special grade sand and then angle my pumps so that when they're running you only see a couple grains shifting around. It helps keep the sand from blowing every wehere while also maintaining a little bit of turn onver in the sand bed.

I think since I have a peninsula style tank and both my Gyre's on the overflow side, the flow is too strong for the sand on the opposite side of the tank which is causing it to blow around.

I am in the process of going bare-bottom now so I won't need to worry about it for much longer. The Gyre's can really pump out flow I was pretty surprised how much water they can move and they are dead silent.

 

[jda]

I like to use a mixed grade sandbed - the larger stuff end up on top, smaller on the bottom. It will settle down after the cycle when it gets bacteria, slime and whatever on it.

I use my sand as a litmus about having too much flow. I have noticed heathier fish when I do not try and pin them up against the side walls, as well as good, thick growth patterns. If they sand is blowing around, then I have too much. If it will just stay put, then that is about perfect. All of this being said, I have a LOT of flow still (Tunze Wavebox and a pair of EcoDrift 20.0 or Tunze 6200 (each about 5000 gph) on each 225-240g tank... you can also have a lot of flow without blowing the sand all around.

 

[Vahanyos]

Special Grade is what I am using for my SPS dominated tank now - it does not blow around at all. I don't have any wrasses that bury in the sand tho. I do have a pistol shrimp that stirs the stand in his area but it's not a crazy sand storm. just more particles than I'd want floating around. Only during the day tho, at night it's rather calm

 

[jessezm]

I am thinking of selling 4 of my 6 bags of special grade, and then ordering 2 30lb bags of reef flakes and mixing the two - special grade on bottom and reef flakes over the top. Sound like a good plan?

 

[OriginalUserName]

I think since I have a peninsula style tank and both my Gyre's on the overflow side, the flow is too strong for the sand on the opposite side of the tank which is causing it to blow around.

I am in the process of going bare-bottom now so I won't need to worry about it for much longer. The Gyre's can really pump out flow I was pretty surprised how much water they can move and they are dead silent.

My are annoyingly loud. :/

I am thinking of selling 4 of my 6 bags of special grade, and then ordering 2 30lb bags of reef flakes and mixing the two - special grade on bottom and reef flakes over the top. Sound like a good plan?

Don't mix sizes of sand. You will wind up with two distinct layers over time. I made that mistake once.