Crushed Coral Question

[Anonymous]

As previously stated in other posts, ive recently got my hands on another 55gal tank, which was given to me from a relative that left the hobby, along with the tank and the equipment,etc., i was a given a healthy amount (not sure of total weight, if its relevant, i can weigh it) of crushed coral which i believe was used with an undergravel filter in their tank. Seeing as that im not totally framiliar with the use of the crushed coral/UG filter setup is this worth putting back in the tank? and if so, how should i arrange it?....or should i just ditch it and use live sand? ive been trying to research the crushed coral a bit and ive been hearing mixed opinions about it. figured id toss this one out to you guys 8)

 

[Anonymous]

If it were my tank, I'd go with sand. CC is "okay" but it requires maintainance (siphoning/vacuuming) to keep it relatively clean. THe coarse particles trap a good deal of waste and this ultimately compromises your water. I started my first tank years ago with cc and shortly thereafter switched to sand. I't just less hassle, and IMO looks better too.

 

[Anonymous]

the CC was free, so its no loss to me if i decide to get rid of it (utilizing it, because of the fact it was free, would be nice!), im leaning towards just getting the sand though

 

[shavo]

you don't plan on using the UG filter right?

 

[Anonymous]

would using the UG w/ the crushed coral be beneficial? im very open to ideas/opinions at this point. im relatively new to this.

 

[Brian5000]

I think shavo is implying that some people get crushed coral because they think they want undergravel filters. Undergravel filters are a bad idea all around. Junk gets sucked down into the bottom of the tank and rots as you sit back and wonder why your tank has turned into a box of reddish slime.

I like sand personally, just because I think it looks nice. Plus, if you ever want bottom dwelling critters (certain stars, gobies, snails), you need sand. I'm not sure how the crud eating worms and random critters I've found in my sand reguard crushed coral.
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[Anonymous]

The debate of years now...cc vs. sand.

Both are good and bad, both require maint of some kind. I have cc and never had a problem.

I think you are more apt to have problems in other ways way before a sand bed or cc bed is going tomake any difference.

Undergravel filter...no way. Garbage.

PS...I used to vacuum my cc and I believe it is healthier now NOT vacuuming it then it ever was when I vacuumed.

 

[habsfan]

Doesn't your CC turn green without vacuuming? I have CC in my 55 and I vacuuming/ water change every two weeks.

 

[Anonymous]

Doesn't your CC turn green without vacuuming? I have CC in my 55 and I vacuuming/ water change every two weeks.

Nope, never. I really never heard of that either...however, I do have a lot of hermits (large and small) and snails, as well as cbshrimp, peppermints, brittle stars, and quite a bit of life in the cc.

 

[Anonymous]

im gonna pitch the UG filter, luckily im still in the process of building the stand for this tank (and im not a big fan of just jumping into something w/o getting all the neccesary info), so i got some time before i make some decisions about what im gonna use.

going back to the CC, i took a second look into some of the containers all the CC was given to me in, and it seems that there is a few different sizes, some being fairly large. is it safe to assume that if this were to go in the tank, the larger stuff should go at the bottom? or should i try and keep it a uniform size.

ctgretzky99 - how deep is your CC?

 

[Anonymous]

im gonna pitch the UG filter, luckily im still in the process of building the stand for this tank (and im not a big fan of just jumping into something w/o getting all the neccesary info), so i got some time before i make some decisions about what im gonna use.

going back to the CC, i took a second look into some of the containers all the CC was given to me in, and it seems that there is a few different sizes, some being fairly large. is it safe to assume that if this were to go in the tank, the larger stuff should go at the bottom? or should i try and keep it a uniform size.

ctgretzky99 - how deep is your CC?

Just dump the cc in, and let "god" sort it out :wink:

Mine is appx 2-3" or so depending on where in the tank it is.

 

[mr_X]

i have a fiji pink/crushed coral mix in my tank, and after a while has passed, i think it's gotten downright ugly. mine was also free. i don't vacuum it, due to the large amount of life i would kill in the process, but if i had it over again, i would NOT add it.

 

[Anonymous]

i have a fiji pink/crushed coral mix in my tank, and after a while has passed, i think it's gotten downright ugly. mine was also free. i don't vacuum it, due to the large amount of life i would kill in the process, but if i had it over again, i would NOT add it.

Your first mistake was "pink". lol...

 

[mr_X]

it's not the fiji pink that's ugly. IMO that's the best looking live sand you can buy. it's that nasty cc

 

[Anonymous]

it's not the fiji pink that's ugly. IMO that's the best looking live sand you can buy. it's that nasty cc

Sand, yes for the pink. cc, no for the pink. Different substrates, different colors look good.

 

[Anonymous]

at this point, im thinking im just going to go with sand.

im aiming for prolly a 2-4in bed, i have a Q... could i use the CC on the bottom and use sand as a top layer (atleast 50+% sand), or will this cause a problem

 

[shavo]

I switched from cc to sand but left some cc on the bottom for filler, the cc has made it's way up to the top somehow, If you want it to look nice just use sand.

 

[SnowManSnow]

did he have the cc as a type of plenum systeam? I know the plenum area is suppose to be mostly empty, but I suppose you could do it with just a much more coarse substrate that what was on top.

Just an idea.

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