Thinking about adding a crushed coral substrate...

[Paleozoic_reefer]

So as the title says, I'm thinking of adding a bucket of crushed coral as a substrate to my RSR 350 BB tank. Since the system had been BB since the start (1 year in the RSR, 4 yrs total for everything in the tank) I'm wondering what the cons of me doing this might be? Thanks!

 

[Lorenzo Angotti]

Hi, personally I can’t see an issue, to me it will aid more beneficial bacterial colonies to thrive in it and crushed coral would help towards maintaining PH levels.

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

@Lorenzo Angotti that was exactly my thinking to! I don't think I've seen a tank with a crushed coral substrate though...does anyone have one they can share a pic of??

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

Bump

 

[WVNed]

2 40 pound bags in a 8' x 24"

 

[HNR]

May I ask why? Do you not like the tank with BB?

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

@WVNed wow!! awesome tank! How many gal is it? And how many fish do you have!?

@HNR I like the BB; don't get me wrong. In my last tank I hated the fact I could never increase my flow without causing a sand storm or feared moving a large rock might causing an ammonia spike. So that's why when I upgraded I went BB. But I kinda miss the natural look a substrate gives so I wanted to see about adding rubble or crushed coral....I'm a major flip-flopper when it comes to my tank scape....

 

[WVNed]

It's a 240 with 20 fish in it right now.

 

[Retro Reefer]

I have added substrate to a BB in the past, I thoroughly rinsed it and just added a few cups at a time over a couple weeks until I achieved the results I wanted.

 

[Lorenzo Angotti]

2 40 pound bags in a 8' x 24"

Nice tank! and rock scape

 

[dieselkeeper]

Only draw back I see with crushed coral type substrate is that wrasse won't like it.

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

@dieselkeeper very true...and I've really gotten into wrasses lately. Luckily the ones I've had for some time (flasher, Lubbock, and most recently bicolor) are the ones who don't bury themselves in the sand.

 

[saltyhog]

Crushed coral limits your fish choices but if that's not an issue I don't see a problem with it. I've never liked the way it looks but some do.

Did you try a larger grain sand before like Special Grade? I have tons of flow in my tank without any problem with sand storms.

 

[Reefcowboy]

Always had crushed coral substrate... doesnt get moved around no matter how much flow, doesnt turn nasty looking like sand, mine is purple now covered in coralline. Boosts ph, my wrasses bury themselves just like they did on sand, easier to syphon.

Here are a few pics