TLF Reborn Substrate
- Thread starter trevorhiller
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OP
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trevorhiller
Reefing Nurse
I’m digging it. Maybe the new smaller stuff is the way to go.
I really liked the older stuff because it’s very obvious what it is (dead coral). But your substrate looks pretty good. This might be my plan B if I don’t have any luck.
I’m not in a hurry at all, this is a long term plan. But I figure someone has to have a box of it sitting around somewhere.
Honestly I would even take a small bag of the bigger stuff and supplement the remainder with the new stuff that’s readily available. I do like the idea of having some larger pieces mixed in on the bottom.
The old stuff might be too large by itself. Depends on tank size. Mixed as you mentioned might look better.
The new Reborn is still old coral skeletons which should be very porous and why I’m using it for nitrification and detritus trap. Keeps my tank water clearer while nature does it’s thing.
Does have a lot shells. Don’t know if the original did.
powers2001
started reefing 1999
@trevorhiller @GARRIGA I email Big Al's to see if they have the larger size.
powers2001
started reefing 1999
@trevorhiller bought (4) 8.8 pound bags of TLF ReBorn media from Champion Lighting & Supply for substrate on my Reefer 250. I emailed Champion about particle size and they said this is the smaller size but it’s still ReBorn and it’s the only size TLF is shipping now. However as you can see in the photo the particles range from 1” to an 1/8” in size and due to the porosity of the individual particles there is plenty of area for bacteria to colonize. You won’t go wrong with using this as substrate. Cleaning should be easy as taking a powerhead and blowing water into the substrate to get detritus water born and the overflow should export the detritus into your filter socks or fleece roller.
— Mitch
— Mitch
Did you find the new reborn to be loaded with po4? I have read several reviews saying it's really bad with phosphates...
OP
OP
trevorhiller
Reefing Nurse
Interesting… I’ll have to do some research on that. Good to know.
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I have the old version
I have the new version but being it’s old coral skeletons then it would make sense it had PO4 although I didn’t notice any and I’m using it as a substrate to perform nitrification and buffer the acidity from that process. I’ve actually had to add NeoPhos to raise those levels to lower nitrates.
powers2001
started reefing 1999
@GARRIGA interested to see if there’s nutrients in this. I’m starting out bare bottom until I’m cycled as possible and done with the uglies. So much easier to remove uglies without substrate on the bottom. Then add the ReBorn.
Nitrates were under 5 ppm and phosphates under 0.25 ppm but now my Nitrates went up for no apparent reason and started seeing GHA but it’s back down and GHA receding on its own. Nature finds a way. Just takes time.
Since it’s been there since cycling so I don’t know if it contained nutrients but wasn’t a concern. Cycling went as planned including denitrification. Performed one water change since I started in September and that was only to reduce salinity to introduce freshwater mollies. I have zero regrets
OP
OP
trevorhiller
Reefing Nurse
How deep did you end up making your sand bed? About a 1.5" (if I did my math correctly)?@trevorhiller bought (4) 8.8 pound bags of TLF ReBorn media from Champion Lighting & Supply for substrate on my Reefer 250. I emailed Champion about particle size and they said this is the smaller size but it’s still ReBorn and it’s the only size TLF is shipping now. However as you can see in the photo the particles range from 1” to an 1/8” in size and due to the porosity of the individual particles there is plenty of area for bacteria to colonize. You won’t go wrong with using this as substrate. Cleaning should be easy as taking a powerhead and blowing water into the substrate to get detritus water born and the overflow should export the detritus into your filter socks or fleece roller.
— Mitch
For anyone else searching this and trying to estimate:
I filling a 12" x 15" box with two 8.8 lb bags of the current/new stuff and it was roughly 2.75 inches deep or 495 cubic inches. By my calculations, I'm thinking I may one more bag to get between 1-2 inches (576-1152 cubic inches) in the 24" x 24" tank I want to get.
I don't know that I want a full 2" of this stuff. I'm thinking a shallower sand bed would be better to prevent detritus collecting in it and facilitate turkey basting it off. Right now, I think I would have about 0.85 inches with the two bags I have right now.
powers2001
started reefing 1999
@trevorhiller first of all I would call it something other than a sand bed. Maybe a gravel bed. And I don’t have my tank set up. I think (4) bags will give my RS Reefer 250 at least an inch with some foundation Marco rock taking up space. I just want enough substrate to hide all the bottom glass.
OP
OP
trevorhiller
Reefing Nurse
Ahh gotcha... yeah that is kind of what I am going for too--thin layer of coral rubble. I think I'm going to stick with the two bags and add a third later if I need it.
The aquarium I want is on backorder, so I am killing time picking up pieces and parts while I wait.
Are you placing rocks on the glass or on top of the substrate? Rocks depending on being flat or typical base will take up space when placed more securely on the glass. Flat ledge style rock will take up the most.
I wouldn’t worry about buying more than needed. Excess can be used for filtration as it is very porous. Considerably more bacterial surface than placing live rock in the sump plus this can be placed in a reactor or canister to supplement the filtration. Along with pumice. Can’t have too much filtration.
OP
OP
trevorhiller
Reefing Nurse
I'm planning on placing the rocks directly on the glass since the pieces are larger.
That's a good point! I didn't think about that
That's a good point! I didn't think about that
Fantastic ! introduce some baby bristle worms and pods..and you have a living easy to maintain substrate that cleans itself ...Here’s a better pic and before the diatoms took over. I believe just before converting to full salt.
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