Best substrate for a SPS/LPS mixed reef (1 Viewer)

[thegrimreefer]

No, I'm not trying to re-open the DSB vs BB debate...

Mostly just looking for advise on which way to go in the new system.

I like ease of keeping a BB more detritus free, but there's so much biodiverity in a sandbed, and sand sifting fishies are cool, too.... Help?


ALSO - What's the most economical source of some form of aragonite that's reef/coral/fishies safe? Buying 20-30 little bags of that darned water-packed stuff from the LPS will break both the bank, AND the suspension on the car!

Thoughts?

 

[Redwinger]

Well I will be the first to say it. BB! I have run tanks with just about every substrate but always go back to what works. Hi flow, over skim and HDPE. My tanks that have been run BB are the best looking, running and stable tanks I have ever had IMO and IME. Plus I notice if there is a large swing in any parameter I usually never lose anything. Where as on a DSB or SSB tank in the past a swing usually resulted in a death of some sort. The water stays much more oxygenated in a BB tank than it does in another tank with all that fauna absorbing the o2 from the water.

 

[mtfatwork]

I love that you can pick more than one answer.

I went with:
#1
#5
#7
#9
#10


1- When I had the 40 it ran great barebottom, no issues
5- because that is what the 65 is now, and once again, no issues.
7- because that is what my big tank is going to have. I think that sandbeds do create a little more room for error, and the fact that you dont have to tear the display apart to replace it every couple of years, sold me on the idea.

9- DUH
10- Double DUH...



lol

 

[spsick]

I said 3 b/c i've never lost a single living thing in my system, even with big errors on my part.

 

[mtfatwork]

Ron, also take into consideration what your flow plans are. Acrylic scratches really easily, so if you are planning on having extreme flow be cautious about your sand choice. Something like southdown is probably too fine... scratch that... Definitley too fine to use in an extremely high flow tank.

 

[David Grigor]

I voted for 1,6,8.

I like 1 the best but for those who just can't stand the look, anything shallow enough to just cover the bottom that is large enough to be siphoned during all water changes so to not collect alot of crap. Arogonite, araga-live, crushed coral, whatever doesn't make any difference to me as long as it isn't too fine....

 

[mattb]

I agree with many who said they don't like the look of BB... I can't get over that. I also like all the other benefits that a DSB or jaubert provides. I also haven't had the sand storm that many talk about with sps centric tanks. I've got over 50x turnover, no sand storms.....

 

[latazyo]

I voted number 2

that is my exact situation...I have shallow sandbed right now and Im really limited to my flow

(on the other hand it may be the small size of my tank 24x18x18 that causes weird flow problems)

 

[PLNelson]

I've got calcite in my 3 gallon, and the pieces are pretty large, and look rather heavy (as far as sand goes), plus it looks pretty cool.