Reef tanks using TBS sand

[mjw011689]

I’m not finding much on Google for this, but how many here have a full reef tank using TBS sand?

I’m considering it, but that’s an expensive tab for sand if it doesn’t look great under modern reef lights and spectrum. I’ve seen plenty of pics of older tanks under 10k lights, and tanks that are softie or macro tanks and stuff like that, but I’ve seen very few examples of what it would look like in a true mixed reef with the blues that most people run today. And also, almost zero examples of a long term reef tank of that type.

Im assuming one downfall would be coralline growing on it long term. And id also assume some of the sand sifters don’t do as well with it as reef special grade sand.

I love the look of white sand in a coral tank, but I’m curious as to what a modern reef tank would look like using this stuff long term. Does it take away from the color of the coral or anything?

Is there a similar option that is finer and lighter color?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do. I’m very happy with it.

In my old tank years ago, I started with oolotic aragonite (fine white sand). Over time, it ended up looking about the same as bits and pieces of things accumulated in it.

 

[kevgib67]

I used 90 lbs in my upgrade at the beginning of the year and I love it. As for sand sifters, these two started out just under an inch and are now 2 1/2 inches long.

 

[areefer01]

I’m considering it, but that’s an expensive tab for sand if it doesn’t look great under modern reef lights and spectrum.

You do not need to fill the whole tank up with sand and rock. You can buy some to seed the sand you want to use. Same with their live rock. Buy a treasure chest or whatever you want to spend and use it to see the rest.

 

[mjw011689]

Thanks for the pics! I think I’m sold.

As for not needing to fill the whole tank, yeah I considered just a layer but I think id prefer a uniform look. O less someone’s got pics of what it looks like mixed with white sand?

I wouldn’t be using their rock, only the sand. The rock is too bouldery for my liking.

 

[swanedog]

Thanks for the pics! I think I’m sold.

As for not needing to fill the whole tank, yeah I considered just a layer but I think id prefer a uniform look. O less someone’s got pics of what it looks like mixed with white sand?

I wouldn’t be using their rock, only the sand. The rock is too bouldery for my liking.

I’m in the process of cycling my 120 with it. Here’s the initial picture of seeding. Used 120 pounds of Fiji pink and 20 of treasure chest from TBS.

I like it myself. It’s slowly mixing on its own. Here’s a picture from Saturday:

 

[petcellar]

I did Marco Rock with all TBS sand.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I did. I used 90% TBS sand to start my main display up. The sand is magic. In the end I think I put 250 pounds of TBS sand. I also used their premium rocks. Complete game changing products. I’m running out for work. I can circle back here later this evening.

 

[Subsea]

Thanks for the pics! I think I’m sold.

As for not needing to fill the whole tank, yeah I considered just a layer but I think id prefer a uniform look. O less someone’s got pics of what it looks like mixed with white sand?

I wouldn’t be using their rock, only the sand. The rock is too bouldery for my liking.

“I wouldn’t be using their rock, only the sand. The rock is too bouldery for my liking.”

The biodiversity introduced by diver collected live sand is quite differrent than the biodiversity on diver collected live rock. I use both when I cycle a tank.

“I think id prefer a uniform look. O less someone’s got pics of what it looks like mixed with white sand?”

I concur with Randy, “The homogeneous white sand will mix in time and it WILL BE MIXED.

PS: This tank is 35 years set up.

 

[dangles]

My lighting definitely leans more toward daylight than windex-blue (I sincerely hope that fad ends soon!). This tank is 2+ years old. I used Marco rock and about 80 lbs of TBS live sand. Almost no ugly phase at all (although I pre-seeded my rock before I started the tank as well).

I personally love the look of the rubble and large sand particles. And I think the biodiversity alone is a massive benefit. Nothing besides true live rock comes close. I’ve only really had tiger conchs and nassarius snails for sifters and they do just fine. I tried a couple of sea cucumbers but didn’t have much luck. I’m not sure if that was a shipping stress or if the substrate was too chunky though.

I tried the “no vacuuming” approach until recently. I can say now from personal experience: don’t neglect the vacuuming. This substrate can be a major nutrient sync.

 

[mjw011689]

Thanks for the pics everyone. Very helpful. Do you guys still vacuum the sand occasionally? I don’t usually gravel vac my sand, maybe a quarter of it a month, if that, but that is one concern of mine that this will look much darker if not vacuumed once in a while.

For sure id seed some rock with theirs, I just don’t think I’ll be using it in the display. I see they sell dry pukani now, wish they’d start throwing some of that stuff out in their farm or whatever you want to call it. That would prob be the only way id use their rock in the display.