Substrate Poll

[mickyfin]

out of curiosity -

What substrate do you keep in your tank?

Have a stance on a DSB vs BB debate?
Uneasy compromise with a Shallow SB or CC?
Some kinda plenum?

I've read a ton of dogmatic arguing on other boards and would respect your opinions.

I made the ultimate mistake on my first tank with a deep crushed coral bed. :wha?: Ouch.

[xerces]

Main tank is 3" of cc. Tank at work is 3" of aragonite (sp?) and 1" of cc. I like the setup at work better then the one at home. Next tank will be all sand!

[papafish]

Main tank is 1-2" crush coral, sump is 4-5" aragonite, similiar to Jaubert's plenum.

[mickyfin]

Shameless bump!

Maybe if I qualify my poll i'll get a few more responses -

I'm getting a new tank on Sat - 120 gal.
I'm going to have mostly SPS with a few LPS transferred from my 30 gallon.

I've read a lot regarding Deep Sand Beds (DSB) on other forums, the arguments both for and against get pretty heated.

I think I like the idea of a Bare Bottom tank (BB), exporting nutrients as much as possible, rather then allowing a Deep Sand Bed (DSB) to absorb them and (potentially) lead to problems years down the road.

... but asthetically I like the look of Sand! So I'm thinking of a compromise -

Shallow layer of sand (1/2 inch - inch) in display with a sump and refugium with macro algae for nutrient export, heavily overskim and vacuum out as much det. as possible weekly.

I'm not sure though, how my LPS will do in a high flow tank so i'm still weighing the options here.

Some of you guys have phenominal tanks and I was hoping you could share whats working and why.

Thanks in advance.

[mickyfin]

hmm I see 5 people so far have a Shallow Sand bed - indicative of the recent claims a Deep Sand Bed (DSB) will eventually turn on you or just a coincidence?

Or are other reefers sitting on the fence like me and compromising in their tanks when it comes to substrate?

[piatchie]

My two tanks right now have about 3" of CC. I am setting up a new 50gal before X-mas and hopping to do about4" of arregonite. I was hopping to use white playsand cause I love the real white look but there are no suppliers of the stuff in NL!:bawling:

Oh well I guess the the aregonite will have to do for now!

[mickyfin]

I really don't like my CC bed. Its so deep and traps crap so efficiently - vacuuming is such a PITA. i don't like to vacuum my house let alone the fish tank :-P

Just to clarify - the term argonite can refer to both sand and crushed coral, correct? It's my understanding that argonite is the material that both can be composed of?

I see the term argonite used to mean Sand, not sure if it's entirely correct... Can anyone comment? (thinking of the newer members here).

[reefmania]

After much reading I settled on the plenum method. I use 1.5" SeaFloor Special aragonite, plenum, then 2" of Aragamax Select. Basically 70 lbs of Seafloor and 90 lbs of Aragamax.

[piatchie]

IMO CC is much larger then Aregonite. CC is like little tiny shells while Aregonite is more like sand. At least the stuff that I have if anyway!

[piatchie]

as for CC traping stuff I have to agree but I have a Goldenhead Sleeper Goby and he keeps it nice and clean for me so I don't have to do any "vacuming". I don't like to vacume my house much less my tank!