Ok sand for current barebottom reef ?

[acropora4u]

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Currently have a 240 gallon cube that has been barebottom from day 1. Been running for 1.5 years. Tank is acrylic so I did not want to chance scratching caused by sand. Tank is sps and lps. Flow is ecotech vectra and 2 x 150 maxspect gyre and 1 x ecotech mp40 so flow is very strong. If I were to add sand bed what would be recommendation for type grain and depth. Thanks. Dean

 

[Fenzinna]

I think most people will tell you that depth is personal preference for style you're looking for. I personally only added enough sand to be visually appealing to me. Functionality wasn't important and I did not opt for a DSB. I only used about 40lbs of sand in my 5 ft 120. I set the rocks on the glass and filled it where I could reach. Admittedly, only small portions of sand made it behind the liverock but you can't see those areas of my tank.

I used special grade dry sand when I set my tank up. I advise not using a livesand version to prevent the dead matter from having a shot at causing a mini cycle.

In my tank, my return is nominal for flow. I run a sicce 3.0 and it's only about 4-5x turn over for my tank. All my flow comes from two pp-15s at opposite ends of the tank. I'm running them on constant flow at level 2. Even at this level, the center of my tank has a bare spot. Reef mode and pulsing causes sand storms.

 

[Seadragon1]

I personally wouldn't want to deal with the fogging and the potential of scratching the tank but it could be worth a shot.

 

[knukles55]

Crushed coral

 

[Seadragon1]

That would work great

 

[Blue Lip]

CarribSea arag alive reef sand. You normally only find it in 10 or 20 pound bags. Pet Mountain has them available in a case of 4 ten pound bags on sale.

 

[Jimbo]

Tropic Eden Reefflakes. Great stuff, good size.

 

[acropora4u]

tropical edes=n, is that calcium carbonate?

 

[Jimbo]

https://premiumaquatics.com/product...nd-30lb.html?gclid=CP_Ck8vHis4CFdgTgQod1LoCyQ

 

[Bunnee911]

I used this.

Wash it till you are sick of it. Then wash it some more.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I used this.

Wash it till you are sick of it. Then wash it some more.

That's what I use.
Bunneeee. Why do you rinse it?

 

[SeaDweller]

CaribSea seaflor special grade works well. I have mainly oolite which blows around too much but the special grade is heavier and works well. If you have any sand burying wrasses, seaflor may be too coarse. I wish I went with all seaflor in my tank but I have leopards.

 

[acropora4u]

just too nervous about scratching....think ill stay bare bottom

 

[knukles55]

That would work great

The reason I say crushed coral is that I have it in my 30g rimless it's only 12 inches deep with 2 mp10es so I have tons of flow and I don't disturb the sand bed.

 

[MaddyP]

Tropic Eden Reefflakes. Great stuff, good size.

I use this in all my tanks as well. The size is perfect for higher flow SPS tanks where smaller grains get blown around.