how many # of sand

Hi wanted to know generally how many # of sand to get for a 210 gal reef tank fish and corals. using about a 2.5 in sand bed will want more sand for refug. 4 in sand bed for refug. all sand will be sugar grain. any advice would be helpful. Once i wash it all i do not want to have to order more and wash more. Thanks

 

3reef.com - Forums for coral reef aquariums, salt water fish, corals, inverts, protein skimmers, aquarium lighting and more - Calculators

 

Please, don't get sugar grain!!!!! I made that mistake on my tank. Any I mean ANY thing that touches the sand with start a sand storm. Your powerheads will make sand dunes! I recomend 1-2mm aragonite sand.

 

thanks i will use the larger grain as you suggested. and thanks for the link

 

I have 330 lbs of sugar sized Southdown in a 100G 60" long reef at about 5-6" deep. it has been in place 9 years, never cleaned and as white as the day it was installed. It also stays put fine with 2x Evolutions 1400 powerheads and a OR3500 through an Oceans motions Squirt two way for current. Once the bacteria coats the sand it settles like a rock.

 

That's true but at first it's a nightmare. How long did it take before you could add gobies and bottom dwellers?

 

My first fish was a Wrasse. They do move things around a bit but it settles right away. I try not to have too many digging critters since I have a fully functioning deep sand bed and don't want to upset the bacteria. The worst thing I ever did in 30 years of reefkeeping is add a sand sifting star. It wiped out my spagheti worms, pods, baby nassarius snails and other sand dwellers in a matter of months. It took years to get it back once the star went bye bye.

 

+1 180lbs with 2 mp60wes and 1 mp10wes and my mag24 return... and after the first settle out I experience no issues...

Swimswithfish.. you really need to be careful making broad judgements based on your first tank experience.

 

if you goto saltwater fish . com and go to their rock and sand tab, they have a calculator that you put in the legth and width and desired sandbed depth, and itll give you the exact ammount.

 

That's just my experience. Were here to share our experiences right?