What sand?

[35delivery]

I'm setting up my 29g jbj nano and was wondering what types of sand/coral everyone uses. Bare bottom,white,black,coral crushed? Any pros or cons to your bottom setup? I have heard that some of the black sand is magnetic...true? Thanks!:bigsmile:

 

[AlexStinson]

As a geologist, I don't trust black sand. Black aragonite is really not natural, and typically in the world of geology black = heavy metals or high organics. Crushed coral is a pitiful subtrate for a reef tank as it doesnt really "clean" itself like sand can. I would go with a nice white sand. From there you have many choices. In our store we use a "reef grade" sand which is like small flakes. I personally use seafloor special live sand, which has all grain sizes. If i did it again I would go with a oolitic live sand or sugar-fine. I like the look of all small grains.
Bare bottom is a very viable choice... I just personally don't like the asthetics of it.

 

[35delivery]

Doesn't sugar fine sand cloud up a lot with sand sifters??

 

[stunreefer]

Doesn't sugar fine sand cloud up a lot with sand sifters??

It can if they're constantly disturbing it.

Are you planning on running a DSB or a SSB? This is really the determining factor... SSBs should be occasionally siphoned, whereas DSBs should not. In a SSB it really doesn't matter what you use - I prefer the looks of larger grains in a SSB. Right now I use Tropic Eden "Reef Flakes" in my nano. I can honestly say it's BY FAR the cleanest substarte I've ever used. Put's any CaribSea product to shame, and releases very little PO4 initially (I soak all new substrate in RO/DI for a week doing 100% water changes no it daily to remove any PO4).

 

[35delivery]

I'd like to do a SSB but I do want to have a deeper section fo some "burrowing". Has anyone ever built a retaining wall to have a deeper section??

 

[hollback]

I went with a SSB but my Tunze's decided I'd have a DSB in some places and barebottom in others. I have the sugar-sized sand. It did move a lot at the beginning but now it stays where it's at.

 

[sprinklerdudes]

I used carrib sea live sand, after a month or so of the sand sifters moving it around, it is stable, and clean, there are a few pieces of crushed coral that have worked up to the surface, but the star fish loves it it is about 1-1/2-2" deep