Substrate...Which is most popular???

[Krish]

Well, I'm about getting ready to put in my order for some substrate for my tank and I'm not really sure which way I should go. So many options and so many have their own preferences. I figured this would be a good topic for those who can't decide what to do (like myself) and also to see what point of view others have on the subject. I myself went with 80 lbs of crushed corals the first time around and found that it seemed to act like a nitrate factory...I guess in all of those little pockets. I know when I took out my crushed corals the first time to wash it out (to try rid myself of high nitrates) you should have seen the crap that was locked up in it and then about 3 weeks later when I took down my tank completely and put the crushed corals in a cooler, I couldn't see it for about 20 mins because the water was so mucky (and I'm a person who siphoned my substrate weekly). What are you guys using and why?

 

[SaltwaterTeen]

Im using black tahitian moon sand, because it looks awesom, and corals on it look so beautiful!

 

[mattseattle]

I went barebottom this time. I used to have a DSB of about 7" of fine aragonite.

I like the barebottom a lot better. Easier to maintain and keeps the tank cleaner looking. Also you don't have to worry about flow.

 

[Krish]

I went barebottom this time. I used to have a DSB of about 7" of fine aragonite.

I like the barebottom a lot better. Easier to maintain and keeps the tank cleaner looking. Also you don't have to worry about flow

Do you get algae on the bottom like most people get on their glass?

 

[Krish]

sorry "Mattseattlle". I tried to quote you, but it didn't work...LOL. Do you get alge on the bottom of your tank like most people get on their glass?

 

[mattseattle]

the only algae on the bottom is pink/lavender coralline algae. i think snails and my conch keep any detrius/algae vacuumed up off the bottom. it's quite beautiful with the coralline growing on it now....

 

[wrightme43]

I have a sand bed, I am seriously considering the barebottom method as well. I want to try it, I will do it on the next tank I set up, and if I dont like it, I think it would be pretty simple matter to cure and add live sand at a latter date. I hope that helps in some way. Steve

 

[Elmo18]

I'm a supporter and user of a Deep Sand Bed.

- Elmo

 

[Elmo18]

Im using black tahitian moon sand, because it looks awesom, and corals on it look so beautiful!

Corals do look nice due to the contrast of colors on black.

However, the sand itself doesn't buffer. Black tahition moon sand is actually olivine, i.e. lava glass. If you look closely at the grains it is actually greenish, instead of black. Growing up in Hawaii, I have seen an abundance of these near volcanoes.

I stayed away from this substrate because of its inability to buffer and its larger grain size. It does make the corals look nice.

- Elmo

 

[szidls]

Hey Krish,

Here is a thread on filtration. Hope it helps to make up your substrate mind.
Scott http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1974&highlight=substrate

 

[NaH2O]

Thanks for posting that link, Scott. When it comes to substrate - a lot of people don't like the look of BB. Corralline algae will eventually grow on the bottom of the tank. Some things to keep in mind are the type of flow, the corals you are targeting, how much maintenance you want to perform, and aesthetics.

 

[wooddood]

:lol: substraight i dont need no stinking substraight :lol: starboard here and lovin it.



dave. :razz:

 

[SaltwaterTeen]

Elmo, my ph levels keep stable, maybe its just the liverock that keeps the ph stable. I like the better looking of the black sand, my plate is just beautiful on it!

 

[damer]

gday krish,

here in australia one of the most popular substrates used would have to be crushed marble. quite cheap, pure white in colour and comes in different sizes.


damien

 

[Krish]

Szilds, I checked out the thread and it was very informative. I wished I didn't read it because I'm even more confused on which way to go (LOL). No but seriously, what about crushed corals? It wasn't mentioned and I wished there was a little more info on shallow sand beds also. I used crushed corals the fist time around and had terrible success. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean it was bad because I did everything wrong like using well water high in nitrates (off the test chart), adding fish too quickly, wrong lighting and no form of phosphate removal etc. Now I'm starting all over with all of the right stuff (ro/di water, phosban reactor, power compacts, in addition to my wet/dry with skimmer, 2400 gph more flow, etc) so substrate right now is most important to me. Thanks