Sand or crushed coral?

[Shad]

Just want to see what peoples opinion on putting either sand or crushed coral in the tank.
Which do you prefer and why?

 

[bad coffee]

sand. crushed coral is a detrius trap unless you syphon and stir it on a regular basis.

B

 

[Tonyscoots84]

what brett said .... also fine grade sand provides a better surface area for bacteria to grow on....

 

[PalmTree]

I love my SAND!!!!!

 

[SuRFeR BoY]

FINE WHITE SAND rangehat

 

[meschaefer]

sand. crushed coral is a detrius trap unless you syphon and stir it on a regular basis.

B

ditto

and more importantly...

Corals are for growing not crushing

 

[masterswimmer]

Nice and fine here too

Russ

 

[reefman]

i used ooolite

 

[masterswimmer]

i used ooolite

FYI Shad, oolitic = fine (like shugah)

swimmer

 

[ellebelle]

I used crushed coral and now I want to change my substrate to sand.

 

[Shad]

Shugah you say! lol I need to get me some shugah. Just need to get rid of the crushed coral first.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

fine sand

 

[masterswimmer]

Shugah you say! lol I need to get me some shugah. Just need to get rid of the crushed coral first.

Remember, remove slowly. You've had that crushed coral substrate for a few years. There are a lot of nasties in there. 20%-25% at a time. Don't scrape it off the top. Remove one section from the surface to the bottom. Wait a week and remove another 20%-25%. Continue until it's all gone.

When adding the ESV fine shugah , make sure to add it slowly as well. It is a calcium carbonate sand and you don't want to overdose the tank with all that at once either.

R