using rubble as substrate

[AQUANATURE]

I know there are sand people and bare bottom people does anyone use rubble or coral chucks like 1 inch size as substrate?

 

[Peach02]

I've never seen it and it would come with a few downsides such as making it hard to clean, you can't keep sand sifters and it may make rock structures unstable if you build on-top of it

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I know there are sand people and bare bottom people does anyone use rubble or coral chucks like 1 inch size as substrate?

If you do it. Just plan it out on set up. All about the planning

 

[AQUANATURE]

The idea is to put the rock work on the glass and use the rubble as substrate large chunks 1-3 inch size. I have a large close loop system so using the taps I can direct pressure to one out let and using a hose, I can blow the dirt from the base into the sump and filter socks. Also along the base I have four outlets that I will split each into two way out lets and aim them low to blow out loose crap daily

 

[Ebslinger]

It sort of sounds like you designed a bare bottom tank, and now want it to have the sand ascetics... Is that right?

 

[AQUANATURE]

Well yes and no , my original plan was to have my close loop system on the back of the tank, unfortunately the sales person and the tank builder didn’t think in same lines, so my closed loop returns become more so on the base of the tank having said that yes its worked in my favor more.



The substrate was never going to have sand, what I always was planning was to do get Macro reef rock or similar and cut in half with a brick saw and lay flat on the base small pieces up front bigger pieces at the back giving it a ramping up effect with random bommies throughout the 12ft tank, large coral rubble is just a cheaper option

 

[Softhammer]

Go for it. Would give you endless fragging opportunities, just drop broken pieces and they’ll attach. Only downside I could see is that the tank as a whole would look dark with the absence of a white substrate or reflectance of a bare bottom.

 

[Ebslinger]

Keep in mind, noting in the hobby can ever truly be closed loop as the tops of our sumps and tanks are open to the air.

That said, in theory your plan should work. The question is: "Will the look be pleasing to your eye?".

For me, I wouldn't like the look of it. But, we are different people. If you like it, that is all the matters.

That said, I would like to see a few pics afterwards. My mind might be changed, and all my bottoms will be rubble.

 

[AQUANATURE]

Yes each to there own when comes to the look, I'm a naturalist so it must look real

I think closed loop means that the pipes are full of water at all times unlike your return pipes that's what makes it a closed loop

I will definitely post pics on this one

 

[Zwogle]

First place I saw reef rubble for substrate was at Neptune Aquatics. They used it on most of there display tanks. You can see a few pictures on their FB page. It looked Amazing in person, amazing enough to try out, I used it in a pico tank, but found it trapped what I felt was too much detritus.

Neptune Aquatics | San Jose CA

Neptune Aquatics, San Jose. 9,910 likes · 41 talking about this · 1,830 were here. Specializing in Saltwater Reef & Planted Tanks. We carry a large assortment of corals, saltwater fis

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