Substrate for a reef tank?

[DanMan092]

Hi, I'm gonna set up a marine tank!



K...

And I was wondering, what should my substrate be? Should I get big bulky crushed coral, small crushed coral, live sand etc.

Thanks!

 

[Dragonscales]

Alot depends on what you plan to keep and personal taste really. Burrowers will apreciate a finer substrate for instance. There is always the option of using a combination of things as well, many people use a fine sand scattered with pieces of rubble.

The shortest answer though is to use something that will buffer the ph, it will make life alot easier. Give us a run down of what you want to keep in the tank so we can give you the best possible answer.

 

[DanMan092]

Well its gonna have live rock and soft corals. I want to try to fit a flame angel in there somewhere too. My dad had a 125 gallon reef like 10 years ago but a lot has changed, so we're doin our research

I don't know if a Mandarin fish burrows, but if it does, I dunno. I don't think we're gonna get crushed coral, or doulomite, but agronite(sp?) we might get. I think we'll probably does a 50/50 mix of live substrate and non-live. I want something small, but not so small it will be blown into dunes. And I dont want bulky gravel either.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[steelhealr]

Hi..crushed coral is not considered a good substrate for the following reasons:
1) rough, large edges/size makes it catch detritus and make it more difficult to keep clean, ie, nitrates

2) many animals/inverst prefer a sand substrate

3) some animals can be injured on it SH