Sand or Crushed Coral?

[Oddomatic]

Ok, so I'm researching all about live sand vs. reef grade dry sand and crushed coral (aragonite). I am setting up a 28g nano tank and planning to use a combination of live sand and dry sand just to kick start the sand bed with bacterial growth. I was wondering if it's worth throwing some crushed coral into the mix. Will it benefit me by adding some crushed coral rather than only using sand? And, how deep would you say is good for a healthy sand bed without creating bacterial pockets? Thanks for the help!

 

[Awibrandy]

First, and most important is what animals are you planning on keeping. Second is how much time do you want to spend on maintenance. Third would be what look are you going for.
How much life do you seriously think is in a bag of wet sand with 0 oxygen sitting on an lfs' shelf have?
Remember you will also get tons of different opinions on any question you ask.

I started many years ago with a FO with crushed coral which I vacuumed weekly removing detrius. Very easy to vacuum, would not get sucked up into the tube, and therefor go down the drain.

Second set up was with "Southdown" sand, loved the look, but vacuuming was pretty tough to do with out loosing sand. Therefor skimming the sand was the way to go with muck being built up below.

I now have very fine ESV sand - same issue as above. Can't really do deep vacuuming without loosing sand down the drain. Not really concerned with loosing sand, I much prefer to loose the sand then to build up detrius under the sand bed.

If I had to do it all over, I'd probably go with a mixture of both. Love the look of sand, love the ease of crushed coral.

 

[Oddomatic]

I agree, the look of the mixture of both would have a nice natural appeal to it, as well as help with the cleaning. Also, I have some work to do in deciding what livestock I'm planning on keeping, but for now it seems that sand/coral with be fairly versatile for me. Any thoughts about a good depth for the sand bed?

 

[KathyC]

Crushed coral is typically not suggested due to the fact that it tends to trap more detritus.

As far as kick starting the cycle, live sand has so littlew (if any) actual 'live' bacteria in it - after sitting on a store shelf for who knows how long - that is isn't worht the extra money you will pay for it. You are better served to ask another reefer for a cup of live sand to add to your sandbed for seeding purposes.

Regarding the depth of a sand bed - unless you are planning a DSB of more than 6", the depth doesn't much matter as it is pure aesthetic, but the other consideration is the livestock you are planning to keep. If you plan to have any Wrasses that sleep in the sand bed, you should go with a minimum of 2 ".
What are your stocking plans for fish?

 

[Awibrandy]

Crushed coral is typically not suggested due to the fact that it tends to trap more detritus.

So true, but in my opinion if it is regularly deep vacuumed it will not collect as much detritus as a sand bed that cannot be deep cleaned.

OP, I told you; you'll get tons of opinions that will be miles apart.:catsmiley:

 

[Oddomatic]

Well maybe a wrasse, but other than various coral, just some inverts and misc smaller fish like a clown or something. I plan to make the focus of the tank more coral / inverts than fish, but I plan to finish off the tank with at least 3-4 smaller fish.

 

[MatthewScars]

Crushed coral is typically not suggested due to the fact that it tends to trap more detritus.

+1 KC
-1 AB

Sorry AB

 

[Oddomatic]

By the way Kathy, I really like your suggestion about seeding the sand bed with a cup of sand from another reef tank. Great idea. All you guys make a really good point about live store bought sand being a waste of money.

 

[MatthewScars]

By the way Kathy, I really like your suggestion about seeding the sand bed with a cup of sand from another reef tank. Great idea. All you guys make a really good point about live store bought sand being a waste of money.

You can just buy one single cooked shelled shrimp, put it in a nylon sock and anchor it to a rock for a few weeks.

Live sand is what people that dont research saltwater as a hobby buy for insane prices.

Ill also blow your mind when I suggest only buying base rock and not live rock!

 

[Oddomatic]

Lol, I feel like the more research I do, the more questions I have. I don't know if it will ever end! But anyways I do agree with you, and plan to research plenty more, before i put a drop of water in my tank, do I'm just glad to have all your help.

 

[Oddomatic]

Btw, for the rock in my tank, I was thinking of using both a combination of both live and base rock. I just figured some of the beneficial hitchhikers might be a plus in my tank.

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

Regarding the depth of a sand bed - unless you are planning a DSB of more than 6", the depth doesn't much matter as it is pure aesthetic, but the other consideration is the livestock you are planning to keep. If you plan to have any Wrasses that sleep in the sand bed, you should go with a minimum of 2 ".
What are your stocking plans for fish?

If you have any bottom dwelling fish crushed coral could scrape their stomachs and cause infection...

General rule for sand bed is either >6" or <2"... a sand bed somewhere in the middle of that range would cause issues with trapped gases over the long run.

 

[MatthewScars]

Btw, for the rock in my tank, I was thinking of using both a combination of both live and base rock. I just figured some of the beneficial hitchhikers might be a plus in my tank.

I suggest ALL base rock. If you put in just one piece of live rock that has Aptasia, green bubble algae or Mojanos, or whatever on it, it will come to haunt you later down the line.

If you want to risk it, its your right. But i wouldn't want to when I could just buy snails/hermits/stars that do the same thing as anything in the live rock.

 

[Oddomatic]

That's what I figured... From what I've been reading, depending on the coarseness, 1-3 inches is the ideal range...

 

[Oddomatic]

I suggest ALL base rock. If you put in just one piece of live rock that has Aptasia, green bubble algae or Mojanos, or whatever on it, it will come to haunt you later down the line.

If you want to risk it, its your right. But i wouldn't want to when I could just buy snails/hermits/stars that do the same thing as anything in the live rock.

Well now you've got me thinking....lol

 

[Awibrandy]

-1 AB

Sorry AB

Why?

Nothing to be sorry about Matthew. Having a difference of opinion is nothing that needs nor requires an apology. My opinion is based on hands on experience, and plenty of re-search (not just on MR).

Sand beds also collect detritus, and it is much harder to clean IMO..... If you really want to get away from detritus collection you would need to go BB (bare bottom), have the rocks off the bottom of the glass, blow the rocks off weekly, place power head pumps strategically to push detritus out from it, and siphon what collects at the bottom of the tank.

I currently have both one tank has a sb 1" to 2.5", and one bb. If you were to ask me which I like better I would tell you both have it's pros & cons.

Keep researching O....