What's your preferred sand for a sand bed in a mixed reef?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Trying to decide which type of sand to go with in my 225g reef. I've used Tropic Eden's Reef Flakes in the past, and it's worked well enough, but it's a bit large for sand sifting gobies and other sand dwellers. I'd like to go with something smaller, but I also know the risks of sand storms all too well. So...what have you found to be the best options for a sand bed?

 

[Reef.]

Caribbean Fiji pink or special grade if you want a slightly bigger grain, you can also mix the two together, I think the pink should be fine tho if you want to keep the sand on the finer side.​

 

[Mhamilton0911]

My last build I bought Bamini? pink. I think I remembered it right? It was Carib Sea brand. I took a picture of the bag so I can find it again. It had a great mix of small sand like the Fiji pink, but this has small chunks of broken shells or something pinky/purple that would be great for sand dwellers like pistol shrimp or gobys to build with. I really liked it.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Thanks! I appreciate these recommendations. I've never actually heard of the Bimini pink. That's an interesting one.

 

[Slocke]

I massively prefer smaller grain sand over larger just because my fish prefer it. I've ditched Special Grade for Fiji Pink. Not only does it cause my fish less irritation (wrasses, gobies, and my burrowing eels) it also rinses faster and better without muddying up my water forever whenever its disturbed.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Oceans direct is what i have gotten and am using on the new build with a little bit of aragonite by caribsea on the top thin layer for the powerhead flow does help a little. I only put it in the areas that blow around. Corners and stuff like that.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Tropic Eden Reef Flakes

 

[Tcook]

I have the Fiji Pink in my tank and is perfect for wrasses. It's 0.5-1.5 mm and stays in place. The Bimini is similar but has a wider size range from 0.5-5.0 mm.

Pic

 

[Jeffcb]

Fiji pink here

 

[hubble]

Live sand from Tampa Bay.................

 

[mfinn]

I use Nature's Ocean No.1 Aragonite sand.
It's a little courser, but I have several leopard wrasses and they seem to ok with it.

 

[Mr Fishface]

I started with a really fine sand, very bright white. It was wonderful in my 125 gallon because I could have the power heads up a bit and not blow the sand around. I'll get a picture of the bag in a moment.

When I started my 40 gallon cube, I used the extra sand left that I never used. But in my cube it got blown everywhere. I bought sand from TBS and honestly, I will always recommend this. It's just beautiful, lots of color, doesn't blow around at all. Maybe this picture does justice. I might have to get the better camera to really show it off.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I decided on going with a mix of TBS live sand and Fiji pink.

 

[SaltyB24]

Live sand from Tampa Bay.................

I am considering adding a 15 lbs bag to my upgrade next year. Is it all shells and large pieces? I have a few bags of Fiji Pink and don't want the mix to look weird

 

[Tcook]

I am considering adding a 15 lbs bag to my upgrade next year. Is it all shells and large pieces? I have a few bags of Fiji Pink and don't want the mix to look weird

I would just do the Fiji. The larger pieces will collect detritus and algae.

 

[Devaji]

I am also a fan of special grade. looks great to me, wrasse like it too. take alot of flow to blow it around. setting up two tanks prob. use it on both too.

 

[Cstarling]

Live sand from Tampa Bay.................

how do you like it? did it cycle your tank good and have all the benefits of "live sand" and do you have any pictures of the sand? I live in the Tampa area I am ready to fill buckets at the beach lol