Best Substrate for SPS/high flow tank?

arnel0387 · Mar 26, 2015

We currently have a barebottom tank and my wife would like to add a shallow sand bed that's good for wrasses but won't blow around (we have a gyre xf150 and an mp40 in a 60x24x12 tank.

We like the Tropic Eden Grand Select (4.5mm).. Your thoughts on this sand? Can I get away with the Reef Flakes (3.0mm) sand?

Thank you!

143MPCo · Mar 26, 2015

My vote is for Reef-Flakes... love-um and that size should not be a problem in a high flow tank as long as you not directly pointing the flow at that sand bed.

butters417 · Mar 26, 2015

i use the pink fiji sand, no problems

diablomaster9045 · Mar 26, 2015

+1 for reef-flakes

Shep · Mar 26, 2015

Reef flakes would work great

FMF0331 · Mar 26, 2015

I like the grand select too

arnel0387 · Mar 26, 2015

Just a reminder, the tank is shallow, 60"Lx24"Wx12"H. I'm alsoleaning towards the reef-flakes (3.0mm),but I'm just afraid that it would be a problem and cause a sand storm or create bare spots. Just FYI, I'm running the maxspect gyre xf150 at 60% (pulse mode) and the mp40 at 70% (reefcrest mode). And both pumps are 2" below the water surface.

143MPCo · Mar 27, 2015

arnel0387 said:
Just a reminder, the tank is shallow, 60"Lx24"Wx12"H. I'm alsoleaning towards the reef-flakes (3.0mm),but I'm just afraid that it would be a problem and cause a sand storm or create bare spots. Just FYI, I'm running the maxspect gyre xf150 at 60% (pulse mode) and the mp40 at 70% (reefcrest mode). And both pumps are 2" below the water surface.

IMO, unless someone here has the exact same setup as you, tank, powerheads, powerhead placement, rock-work (if any), coral placement, etc... I don't think there is a real way of knowing if that sizes would or would not cause a sandstorm, you have a lot of flow in that tank so really you'ld have to test it but, reef-flakes are by far the best choice as indicated from the above post on your thread.