Substrate Change

[Mr New Saltwater]

Hi I wish to change the substrate in my tank but was wondering if i should choose a dry reef base or a Live reef base. My tank has been running for a little over a year but have decided that the reef base i chose was a poor decision. Any feedback would be great!

 

[Downbeach]

What is in the tank now? I would remove and replace in small quantities/area's over a period of time. I don't think there is any real benefit to the so called "live" sand, as I think it is more wet than live, and is more expensive.

 

[Mr New Saltwater]

I was looking for a fine sand or crushed coral. Its more a gravel that is in there at the moment. Like 3-5mm.

 

[Mr New Saltwater]

Was bought second hand and had livestock already so kept it going with what the original owner ran with

 

[Mr_Banana_Pants]

For me seemed like the live sand and dry were close to the same price... I'd only be worried about spiking your ammonia and Nitrite when you stir up the detritus in the sand currently in there... either little at a time like said above, or remove all the live stock for an hr or 2, keep your live rock submerged in tank water in another container, and replace it all at once... if you want and sand sifters make sure it's fine enough

 

[Downbeach]

Crushed coral is also 3 - 5mm in size, so if you're looking for something smaller you'll need to go to a special grade 1-2 mm, Fiji pink .5 to 1.5mm or oolite .25-1mm. So, depending on what you want as far as depth may have an in impact on which grade you choose, i.e. a DSB would be best with the oolite, but you will/may have to accommodate the flow with the type of PH's you choose.

 

[Mr_Banana_Pants]

Crushed coral is also 3 - 5mm in size, so if you're looking for something smaller you'll need to go to a special grade 1-2 mm, Fiji pink .5 to 1.5mm or oolite .25-1mm. So, depending on what you want as far as depth may have an in impact on which grade you choose, i.e. a DSB would be best with the oolite, but you will/may have to accommodate the flow with the type of PH's you choose.

Agreed... I used the figi pink and loved it, looks great and my goby loves it... I don't really know about a dsb in a display tank, eventually it will be a detritus trap. Definitely think a remote dsb works well, but I've have really good luck with bio pure and reactor for nitrate control.

 

[Downbeach]

DSB's can be very controversial, but I had my last one for over 17 years before I sold my system, and its current owner is still using it, so its now close to 20 years old, and not having any problems, i.e. detritus trap, etc.

 

[Mr New Saltwater]

Thanks all for the input! I was thinking fiji pink and was looking at doing DSB at the moment my phosphate levels are really low and as far as nitrate i have never been able to get any reading for using red sea pro kit.