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I’m digging it. Maybe the new smaller stuff is the way to go.I’m using it in my test 20H. It’s the new stuff. Couldn’t source the old but it still looks good. Picture is yellow but Reborn is white. Looks really nice.
Using it because I like the asthetics but also to house pods, trap detritus and acts as both an initials area for nitrification as well as buffer as I expect it will melt slightly where nitrification occurs. Sits on top of a custom filter that houses pumice to compete the nitrification/denitrification process. Oddly my alkalinity has been going up. No corals yet but since this pic was taken have added fish. Magnet for diatoms which I’m not fighting off successfully. Should be a haven for coraline for which I’m not sure how I feel about that. Wanted it on my walls and rocks. Not sure something for my gravel. Will have to see.
The old stuff might be too large by itself. Depends on tank size. Mixed as you mentioned might look better.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.
I have- comes in a couple of sizes, very porous and melts slowly compared to other substrates.
Interesting… I’ll have to do some research on that. Good to know.Did you find the new reborn to be loaded with po4? I have read several reviews saying it's really bad with phosphates...
They have a USA website but it is shutting down or already shut down by noeSomeone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Big Al's is in Canada. It's possible there's no law there governing the importation of coral skeletons.
I have the old versionDid you find the new reborn to be loaded with po4? I have read several reviews saying it's really bad with phosphates...
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.Did you find the new reborn to be loaded with po4? I have read several reviews saying it's really bad with phosphates...
@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.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.
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.@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.
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
@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.How deep did you end up making your sand bed? About a 1.5" (if I did my math correctly)?
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.
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.@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.
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.How deep did you end up making your sand bed? About a 1.5" (if I did my math correctly)?
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.