Substrate suggestions

[bradyrollie4]

So I just won at auction, a 200 gallon tank.
This is a big jump going to that from my 75 gallon mixed reef. My question is what people think on substrate options. Sand vs argonite or other options??

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I used Carib Sea Arag Alive Sand and loved it.

 

[bradyrollie4]

He

I used Carib Sea Arag Alive Sand and loved it.

how thick? Did you ever get red algae from it?

 

[BryanM]

I used caribsea special grade. larger substrate size, doesn't blow around.

 

[bradyrollie4]

I used caribsea special grade. larger substrate size, doesn't blow around.

How thick?

 

[fishface NJ]

Congrats on the new free tank. Nothing better than that!

Sand, my first pick is Tropic Eden Miso and/or Reeflakes. Second choice is Caribsea Special Grade

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Live ocean sand. :)

 

[BryanM]

How thick?

1-2mm

 

[jonelder68]

Tropic Eden has some nice sands. My new favorite is TBS live ocean sand. Hard to beat 100% natural and loaded with goodies!

 

[mmorrison55]

TBS live sand if it’s within your budget.

If you go with bag sand, I startered with Carib sea, then had issues with mp40s blowing it off the front glass so added tropic Eden reef flakes to keep it put.

Premium aquatics caries tropic Eden.

Grain Sizes Available (please note, grain sizes may vary some to due collection and processing, but these are the general grain sizes):
Aragasnow - 0.5mm
Tonga Special Pink - 0.8mm
Miniflakes - 2.0mm
Mesoflakes - 2.7mm
Reefflakes - 3.5mm
Reefflakes Grand Select - 4.5mm

 

[EricR]

I used caribsea special grade. larger substrate size, doesn't blow around.

I like the CaribSea "special grade" aragonite sand also.
I bought the "dry", not "live", since I rinse well first anyway.
When I purchased, it was on sale at PetSmart for $19.99 for 40 lb bag.
*only mention because I see it pop-up on PetCo/PetSmart/Chewy sales periodically

For sand depth, I like 1"-1.5", but that's just personal preference.
*just deep enough for nassarius and conch to dig in

 

[slingfox]

If you have the budget then it’s hard to beat the ocean live sand from TBS.

If you go the bagged sand route, I have had the following:

Carib Sea Special Grade: Did not work in my high flow tank since it kept blowing around

Tropic Eden Reef Flakes: Did not blow around but the large flakes would grow algae and get discolored

Aquaforest Biosand: Gleaming white and does not blow around even when under high flow. Even the smalller grain size does not blow around. By far the absolute best bagged sand of the three I have used since it looks the best and does not move around.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I like the CaribSea "special grade" aragonite. But @slingfox makes a passionate case for Aquaforest Biosand (which I've never tried).

 

[slingfox]

I like the CaribSea "special grade" aragonite. But @slingfox makes a passionate case for Aquaforest Biosand (which I've never tried).

Caribsea Special Grade also looks fantastic which is why it is the most widely recommended. Great for a mixed reef tank for sure!

If planning for very high levels of flow and you don’t want to go bare bottom then other options can be a better fit.

 

[JumboShrimp]

My 150-gallon FOWLRs don't need any strong flow down by the sand... Translation: my fish swim the way I TELL them to swim.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

He

how thick? Did you ever get red algae from it?

My sand bed was around 1.5-2' thick. Never once had red algae

 

[BryanM]

If you have the budget then it’s hard to beat the ocean live sand from TBS.

If you go the bagged sand route, I have had the following:

Carib Sea Special Grade: Did not work in my high flow tank since it kept blowing around

Tropic Eden Reef Flakes: Did not blow around but the large flakes would grow algae and get discolored

Aquaforest Biosand: Gleaming white and does not blow around even when under high flow. Even the smalller grain size does not blow around. By far the absolute best bagged sand of the three I have used since it looks the best and does not move around.

Dang, how high is your flow :o

 

[JumboShrimp]

 

[slingfox]

Dang, how high is your flow :o

Two MP40s running at 85%-90% but set lower in the tank which tends to move things around in a 110g display tank. My aquascape originally only went up 1/3rd the way up the tank height. I have since added more height to the scape (now it is halfway up) so I may move the powerheads higher at some point. I have a third MP40 (purchased used) for when the coral grow out with plans for a 4th. I am thinking of getting the Tunze Orca instead of adding 2 more MP40s when the time comes.

When I purchased the Aquaforest Biosand I didn’t do it hoping it would move less—I just liked the white sandbed look. To my surprise the sand moved around a lot less than I expected despite being lower grain size than the CaribSea Special Grade and Tropic Eden ReefFlakes. I believe the reason why is the smaller grains of the Biosand lock together with each other a little more than the larger grains of the other two sands. Somewhat counterintuitive.

 

[BryanM]

Two MP40s running at 85%-90% but set lower in the tank which tends to move things around in a 110g display tank. My aquascape originally only went up 1/3rd the way up the tank height. I have since added more height to the scape (now it is halfway up) so I may move the powerheads higher at some point. I have a third MP40 (purchased used) for when the coral grow out with plans for a 4th. I am thinking of getting the Tunze Orca instead of adding 2 more MP40s when the time comes.

When I purchased the Aquaforest Biosand I didn’t do it hoping it would move less—I just liked the white sandbed look. To my surprise the sand moved around a lot less than I expected despite being lower grain size than the CaribSea Special Grade and Tropic Eden ReefFlakes. I believe the reason why is the smaller grains of the Biosand lock together with each other a little more than the larger grains of the other two sands. Somewhat counterintuitive.

Counterintuitive for sure.

My gyres are only 1/4 way down on the sides of my tank, so this is almost certainly why my sand doesn't get blown around.

When I had live sand prior, the fines definitely were moved around some.