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Post by naclh20nut on Mar 22, 2009 8:17:14 GMT -5
My wife likes the look of the pretty white sand bases in all the magazines. I am currently running a 90 gal with about 1/4 " fine CC bottom. Has anyone ever added sand over this or switched it out? Just the thought of removing this scares me to death.  If I gently rub the CC or pass the mag float to quickly near the bottom I get a large amount of floaters in the water column. And when it does settle down it is always on rock or coral. My thought is to use pvc to get wet sand to the bottom @ about 1" thickness, over a third of the tank. Then let that set for a week or so, then the next third. Pros, Cons- come on speak up. This is the place to help a newbie. I can take it- tell me I am crazy- please!!!! Also once/if I do this anyone with a sand bed- how do you keep it looking good?  |
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Post by mcox33 on Mar 22, 2009 8:37:19 GMT -5
My wife likes the look of the pretty white sand bases in all the magazines. I am currently running a 90 gal with about 1/4 " fine CC bottom. Has anyone ever added sand over this or switched it out? Just the thought of removing this scares me to death. If I gently rub the CC or pass the mag float to quickly near the bottom I get a large amount of floaters in the water column. And when it does settle down it is always on rock or coral. My thought is to use pvc to get wet sand to the bottom @ about 1" thickness, over a third of the tank. Then let that set for a week or so, then the next third. Pros, Cons- come on speak up. This is the place to help a newbie. I can take it- tell me I am crazy- please!!!! Also once/if I do this anyone with a sand bed- how do you keep it looking good? My guess, unless it is fish only you will regret putting sand in the tank. I started out with the black sand, because I liked the look of all black. I ended up removing it for several reasons. (a little at a time of course) But as you add corals you will need more and more waterflow. The more flow you have the more the sand will get blown around in your tank. It will build nitrates and anything you do to clean it will end with settlement on rock and coral. I ended up going bare bottom and from now on that is what I will do. Although I am considering painting the bottom of the tank, as much to block out the light from the sump in the bottom of the tank as anything else. Or perhaps install a light in the bottom of the stand to purposely send actinic light into the tank from the bottom just to see what it looks like, as well as how the coral like it. |
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Post by ADMIN2 on Mar 22, 2009 11:07:43 GMT -5
Adding an actinic light to the bottom of the tank is an interesting idea. I doubt it would last too long once coraline and other algaes start to grow but still is interesting. I myself like CC subtrate, it is large and does not move as easily as sand. It also is a good place for frags to fall onto and attach.
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Post by coolridge69vette on Apr 20, 2009 12:46:00 GMT -5
Do the bottom "Sifting" variety of fish have an easier time gobbling up the sand than more course substrate? I guess what I am asking, is....if you are going with a coarser substrate versus sand, does that preclude you from using the bottom sifting fish?
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Post by ADMIN2 on Apr 22, 2009 0:14:56 GMT -5
Yes sifting fish should be kept in a tank with finer sand. However, I would not recommend adding these fish to the tank as they usually cause problems. They blow sand on coral and can cause rock shifts.
I would suggest using certain cukes or cerith snails to work your sandbed instead.
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Solareclipsed
Reef Master
[M:200]
Professional Fish killer AKA Darla
Posts: 1,630
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Post by Solareclipsed on Apr 22, 2009 6:14:03 GMT -5
I really like my sand it gives it the natural look to me. But if you want high flow you definately dont want it. I have to have both of my powerheads aimed at the back glass or I get lots of sand shift and some floating which is really annoying. You just need to determine what corals you want to keep.
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Post by naclh20nut on Apr 24, 2009 8:07:00 GMT -5
I really like my sand it gives it the natural look to me. But if you want high flow you definately dont want it. I have to have both of my powerheads aimed at the back glass or I get lots of sand shift and some floating which is really annoying. You just need to determine what corals you want to keep. I still have the CC and with the added flow for hard corals, I am still getting stuff blown into the water column. I have an emerald crab and a few shrimp that I can find by the sand storm that they are causing. Bad kids! |
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If I gently rub the CC or pass the mag float to quickly near the bottom I get a large amount of floaters in the water column. And when it does settle down it is always on rock or coral.
[M:150]