Best Substrate?

[Robert247]

I know you have probably been through this a thousand times before but what is the best type of substrate to use on a reef tank and how much?

I heard that aragonite sand was good but it is made up of what looks like little balls, coral sand probably looks the best and i don't even know what silica sand is about.
can someone point me in the direction of a topic that has already gone through this plz or give me some advice?

 

[SkiFletch]

Coral sand and aragonite sand are both a calcium carbonate based sand. There are obviously different grades or grain sizes from sugar fine to small bits of crushed coral, maybe the size of a pence or so. I reccomend aragonite/coral sand with a grain size slightly larger than table salt.

Silica sand is a glass-based compound that does not offer buffering capacity and not useful for marine life.

If you need a lot of sand and don't want to pay through the teeth at the LFS for aragonite/coral sand, check out your local hardware store or nursery. Bring a little vinegar to the store and put a bit of sand in the vinegar to test it. If the sand bubbles and fizzes for more than a minute, its aragonite, if not, its silica. I know here in the States, Kolorscape sand is aragonite based

 

[barker_23]

I was going to ask the same question!!

Would something like this be ok?

http/www.seapets.co.uk/product-details/stkcode/812560.html?

Thanks

 

[SkiFletch]

Sure

 

[barker_23]

Thanks ski,

Sorry robert didnt mean to hijack your post

thanks

 

[Cheebs]

What about using aquarium gravel? Is that a nono for marine tanks or just not as efficient as the alternatives?

 

[Musho3210]

Marine gravel has dissadvantagesL

A: Large grain sizes means not much use for burrowing creatures including fish and invert
B: Large grain sizes means less surface area for bacteria
C: Large grain sizes means doesnt de-nitrify as well
D: Ugly in marine tanks, especially compared to natural looking live rock
E: Doesnt buffer the tank.