Best substrate for the money? ?

[JoshH]

Hey everyone, I've given a lot of thought to the appropriate substrate for my new build and am stuck. Tropic Eden seems to be the top of the game but in my situation (My location) one 30lb bag rounds out to $130 CDN with shipping. I'd like to hear from others and there experience's to weigh in on my decision, is it worth the money? or is it worth going with a regular brand of sand and dealing with any pitfalls that may come with that?

 

[brandon429]

Ill use Fiji pink for good I guess, why chg after 17 yrs and not a prob

 

[JoshH]

Something I thought of originally but wasn't sure if it was the best route. I've heard lots of good things about the tropic eden just want to know if it's worth the cost. Any pros or cons to the fiji that you have found??

 

[beaslbob]

I jus use $3/50# play sand from home improvement stores.

 

[JoshH]

You don't have a problem with silicates or anything like that with the play sand??

 

[beaslbob]

You don't have a problem with silicates or anything like that with the play sand??

that's correct.

 

[Reefrookie220]

Do you test for silicates, @beaslbob ?

With play sand, in which silicate is a major ingredient, there have been many known issues.

Do you have long term success with this substrate (more than a couple years) ?

 

[JoshH]

My concerns as well, I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest solution as really I only need a bag but I'd like a reasonably priced alternative or at least someone to confirm the tropic eden is definitely worth the money I'd shell out for it.

 

[ksc]

My concerns as well, I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest solution as really I only need a bag but I'd like a reasonably priced alternative or at least someone to confirm the tropic eden is definitely worth the money I'd shell out for it.

Here's a good read on the subject.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/1/aafeature1

 

[beaslbob]

Do you test for silicates, @beaslbob ?

No.

With play sand, in which silicate is a major ingredient, there have been many known issues.

Yep as is glass

Do you have long term success with this substrate (more than a couple years) ?

Ran a tank with play sand for ~5-7 years.

Sure you may get some silicates at first and therefore diatoms but that is temporary. Some people like Dr Randy Holmes-Farley actually dose silicates which are needed for sponges and the like.

Actually the main downer is probably the color compaired to the ultra white of aquarium products.

my .02

 

[MaiReef]

Coraline reef gravel

 

[JoshH]

Excellent article, well worth the read. Thank you very much for recommending it!!

 

[Lovemycj7]

i love tropic eden.

 

[JoshH]

i love tropic eden.

What size did you go with? and would you still have purchased it if it were $100 for one bag?? (As stated above that's roughly what I'm looking at in price)

 

[Lovemycj7]

You can see my build thread but 1 bag of each reef flakes and mini flakes. Hard to say as I did pay more for it than other sands so I like it enough to pay more just not sure where that stops but It is the best sand I have ever used based on color and never had issues with uglies that show up with new sand so that's worth a lot to me.

 

[JoshH]

Yeah it's a hard line to draw as to whether or not it will be worth it which is why I'm looking for some solid feedback from as many people as I can

 

[Lovemycj7]

In general if time can be saved and headaches avoided that's worth dollars.

 

[JoshH]

Coraline reef gravel

Is this something you have been using for a while?? any benefits or drawbacks that you have found?

 

[Lovemycj7]

Is this something you have been using for a while?? any benefits or drawbacks that you have found?

Had this in the bc29 for a year. not sure if it helped me avoid the ugly problems others have but i never had any issues so im staying with the didnt cause a problem im staying with it line of thought :). uglies meaning diatoms, cyano etc. who knows if the sand help but it didnt hurt.

 

[PatW]

I think you should get a calcium carbonate based sand. If you have a high flow tank, you will need a larger grain size. One way to keep expense down is to buy some sand from some other reefer. If you do that, clean the sand really, really, really thoroughly. You do not want to introduce detritus, excess nutrients, disease or pests. That is why most reefers just buy new sand.