Substrate Preference, Please.

[RiverRat]

I am in the planning stages for my new tank upgrade and could use some opinions.
On my current tank, I used fine white sand as my substrate. This turned out to be the biggest reefing mistake I ever made. It creates a sand storm in my tank and it has gotten quite tedious. I usually have to blow sand of my corals and rocks every few days (if not everyday).

What kind of substrate do you have in your tank? Do you like it?
I am looking for something finer than crushed coral (not a fan), but not as fine as the sandstorm mess.
I am not going with a DSB, just enough for some sand dwellers and to create "that look".
Thank you

 

[teddy13]

I am a huge fan of the black sand.. carib sea. i love the look, even with direct flow on it no sandstorm although it will move about..

 

[TheSaint216]

I used white starboard. Just a barebottom fan here.

 

[Mike J.]

I've always got clam hitchhikers when I use this: Marine Substrates: CaribSea Ocean Direct Caribbean Live Sand at Foster & Smith Aquatics

 

[Mtwreef]

I love the look of the black

 

[TheGrimmReefer]

Fiji pink!

 

[RiverRat]

Awesome! Thank you everyone.
So many choices
Keep them coming.

Anyone have a substrate they would not recommend?

 

[edsbeaker]

I use Tropic Eden Reeflakes Aragonite. I like the fluffy look of this sand.[h=1][/h]

 

[TJ's Reef]

I use a fine #1 grade Philippine white coral sand (just a bit courser than sugar) and some 30+ year old Hawaiian Puka Shell crushed coral for high-flow areas (68x turnover). I like 'That Natural Look' and white sand will reflect light upwards for better health/look of tabling Acros. I have/had approx 1.5" spread out flat originally but has migrated to a more natural look as well. Black sand looks awesome but does not reflect light and often is full of ferrous pieces that attach to magnetic scrapers and scratch acrylic and glass alike at least in my experience.

Cheers, Todd

 

[general0]

I use caribsea seaflor special grade reef sand. I had the same problem as you and when I setup my new tank I used this sand and it's been great. I have a Vortech MP40, MP10, modified Tunze 6025 and a Jebao WP40 and none of my sand blows around like the sugar grain stuff did.

 

[RiverRat]

I use caribsea seaflor special grade reef sand. I had the same problem as you and when I setup my new tank I used this sand and it's been great. I have a Vortech MP40, MP10, modified Tunze 6025 and a Jebao WP40 and none of my sand blows around like the sugar grain stuff did.

That sounds perfect!

Thank you everyone for your input.