Subsrtate

Which substrate do you prefer and why please thanks. The tank will be a reef community.

 

from what I've seen this site really feels that sand is the best, but there are a few people on here that will defend crushed coral, I'm still on the fence about it.

 

Sugar Sized Oolite Sand from Caribsea.

Looks the best, works the best. Is the best.

LOL - of course that's just all my opinion.

Do not waste your money on Livesand. Get base sand and "seed" with a small ammount (5% total weight) of sand from a TRUSTED, ESTABLISHED tank - you will be much better off than buying expensive livesand that is no longer even alive!

 

I have reef sand, which are medium sized grains and it works well for me. I've seen a lot of tanks with the very fine, white sand and it looks awesome, but at the same time I have also heard that you can have sand storms at the beginning if your flow is fast. That goes down as you biological filter populates it as it somehow starts tying things down.

Coarser sand may be harder to swallow for sand sifters though. But I have a rainsford's goby that can pass my medium-small sand grains through his gills without major problems.

The one substrate I would not recommend is crushed coral, since it will trap a lot of detritus, causing your nitrates and ammonia to raise and feeding algae at the same time.

- Mag.

EDIT: The reason I do not recommend crushed corals is because of the bad experience I had with this type of substrate. My nitrates were always high, until I changed to sand.

 

Crushed Coral is a traps detritus and becomes a nitrate factory.
Fine grain or sugar sand is hard to keep from blowing all over the tank so can be a pain.
I like grain size of CaribSea Seaflor Special Grade.
Just my opinions

 

I use aragonite, because I think it gives a more natural appearence and it is easier to keep clean.

 

Thanks to all

 

I dig the marco rocks sand. It is fine, but is heavy enough not to get thrown around by my 2 korallia evo 1400s

 

I have only used sand and I like it.

 

I have the marco rocks sand also and it is my favorite too...