Which substrate do you prefer????

[Nottick]

Hey all,

I figured id post this in the Advanced section since you guys have all had the experience with this.

I read mixed reviews about substrate material everywhere I read. I know if I ask 10 people ill get 20 different preferences.

What substrate do you all prefer for your reef tanks like Particulate size, type of material ( Crushed coral, Sand, Etc... ), Color.


I have to change my sand because what I choose was too fine and turns my tank into a snow globe. So im trying to make an educated decision on my next substrate. I want a dark sand. I feel it will make my corals pop to the eye more... Let me know all your feedback...


Looking forward to all the different responses!

 

[akma]

I like fine white sand. Darker sand is harder to maintain because the crap that gets on pops out more. I use tropic eden reefflakes.

 

[cementkidd]

substrate

i personally find that a larger substrate is much easier to keep clean compared to a finer substrate. this is important when it comes to the inevitable tank maintenance which u will undergo in the near future. as far as better or worse, its all personal preference imo

 

[cementkidd]

if you plan on removing your existing substrate, make sure you do it in small portions otherwise you will shock your system. Remove a little at a time with your weekly water changes

 

[Nottick]

My tank has only been running for one month. I dont believe the sand has become a biological factor in the tank yet.

 

[rkaragozler]

great thread, I personally use african chichlid sand, even though its not white (it's a mixture of white and black)

 

[reefprobe]

Wwide live # 1 pink samoa

 

[masterswimmer]

Personal preference - Fiji Pink. It's got a perfect grain size, .5mm to 1.5mm, so sand storms aren't a problem. And its got a nice natural color that won't make detritus stand out.

Again, JMO

Russ

 

[jcdeng]

do not use sugar fine sand if you plan on using vortech pumps. It gets nasty real fast

 

[Nottick]

do not use sugar fine sand if you plan on using vortech pumps. It gets nasty real fast

Yeah... Information useful to me about a month ago.. Hahahaha Live and learn the hard way like everyone else he he he.

 

[bklynreef]

Fiji pink fine sand, I like the natural look of it and my gobies, blennies and wrasses love it.

 

[jaa1456]

I have always used Fiji Pink, and it's perfect for the wrasses in my tanks.

 

[piranhapat]

I like black and white reef sand that has like medium to small size. I know Petsmart carries it and it was live sand too.

 

[Haifisch]

+ 1 for fiji pink, bimini blue is nice also. but as most of the group said preference takes priority. as long as it is calcium carbonate base material you really cant go wrong. depth size etc are going to be based on your tank in my nano i use shallow 1 inch mixed crushed coral and fiji pink. in 75 i use 5 inch deep fiji sand bed with 1 inch of crushed coral on bottom with large eel, and soft coral. careful with colored subtrates make sure they will buffer the water.

 

[rhudgins]

Fiji pink is the way to go. Perfect size

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

1+ on pink Fiji sand love how it looks

Sent from HTC Rezound Using Reefs

 

[tosiek]

The fiji pink that everyone is recommending is the perfect long term color and grain size for the tank. Anything bigger and any waste is going to filter through to the bottom of the sand, and anything finer you will have problems with sand storms.

That said, anything in that grain size will work, the rest is personal preference. I personally hate the black/white cichlid style sand because it reminds me of my cichlid tank and this is a SW tank. The whiter the sand the more you will curse when it starts to get darker due to coralline/dietrius.

 

[kres1024]

Seaflor Special Grade reef sand much better than figi pink IMO ...
Great for shallow beds also

 

[kres1024]

Good for high flow also Don't blow around

 

[kenconnect]

I use caribsea specail grade reef sand and love it