Substrate? - Aquarium Advice

LittleParr · 12-19-2007, 11:46 AM

Is aragonite the best substrate to use, and if so, what brand?

cmor1701d · 12-19-2007, 02:43 PM

Sure, why not?
As for what is the best brand? There is no such thing.

You can read How Sandbeds REALLY Work by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D and The Importance of Deep Sand for an overview of what a sand bed can do and what size particles to look for.

From an old post on another board:
-------------------------------------
60% ESV “Fine Grade Oolitic” (<0.5mm) Product #140 (50lb Bucket) ESV ships direct.
30% CaribSea Oolitic Select, product #932 (~0.5mm) (30 lb Bag)(This was formerly called “Sugar Size Select”
10% CaribSea “Sea Flor Special Grade Reef Sand” (~2.0mm)Product #50 (44lb Bag)

The intended purpose of this mix is to provide a substrate that is most conducive to the types and population densities of fauna that constitute an “optimum” nutrient/detritus processing sand bed.

The ESV “fine grade oolitic” has particle sizes that predominate from 0.5 mm down to silt/dust size grains.

The CaribSea “Argomax Oolitic Select” is graded to average around 0.5 mm size grains.

The CaribSea “Sea Flor Special Grade Reef Sand” is graded to average around 2 mm size grains.
------------------------------

**melosu58** · 12-19-2007, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleParr

Is aragonite the best substrate to use, and if so, what brand?

The reason for using this type sand is it`s buffering capabilities. Most of them will be bagged saying that they are live but I have my doubts about the live part.

**Ziggy953** · 12-20-2007, 03:35 AM

I agree good choice of substrate! It is worth it to start out right rather then try and fix things later.

beachbumin · 12-20-2007, 12:30 PM

What are you looking to keep? I prefer very fine sand if Im not keeping many fish but that is just my personal preference

fijiwigi · 12-20-2007, 01:01 PM

I have seen bags of live sand sitting around at the LFS for months. My opinion is that buying live sand is a waste of money. Whatever was alive originally will most likely die fairly quickly. At least with live rock you get it next-day air so die off is minimal. I decided to use this http://www.petco.com/product/7534/Na...ubstrates.aspx it is really cheap and available locally so no shipping charge and I like the fact it is white unlike the home depot play sand that some choose to use. I cycled it with my live rock during the curing process. eventually I think I will get a detrivore kit at this site http://www.inlandaquatics.com/prod/prod_detrit.html or this one http://www.ipsf.com/ and then I should really have live sand.

cmor1701d · 12-20-2007, 02:29 PM

That sand from Petco looks very powdery. The tps I got at home depot was white and cost $4.00 for a 50 pound bag. Too bad it's no longer available.

12-19-2007, 02:43 PM	#2
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,920 Images: 43	Sure, why not? As for what is the best brand? There is no such thing. You can read How Sandbeds REALLY Work by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D and The Importance of Deep Sand for an overview of what a sand bed can do and what size particles to look for. From an old post on another board: ------------------------------------- 60% ESV “Fine Grade Oolitic” (<0.5mm) Product #140 (50lb Bucket) ESV ships direct. 30% CaribSea Oolitic Select, product #932 (~0.5mm) (30 lb Bag)(This was formerly called “Sugar Size Select” 10% CaribSea “Sea Flor Special Grade Reef Sand” (~2.0mm)Product #50 (44lb Bag) The intended purpose of this mix is to provide a substrate that is most conducive to the types and population densities of fauna that constitute an “optimum” nutrient/detritus processing sand bed. The ESV “fine grade oolitic” has particle sizes that predominate from 0.5 mm down to silt/dust size grains. The CaribSea “Argomax Oolitic Select” is graded to average around 0.5 mm size grains. The CaribSea “Sea Flor Special Grade Reef Sand” is graded to average around 2 mm size grains. ------------------------------ __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

12-20-2007, 02:29 PM	#7
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,920 Images: 43	That sand from Petco looks very powdery. The tps I got at home depot was white and cost $4.00 for a 50 pound bag. Too bad it's no longer available. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

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12-19-2007, 11:46 AM	#1
LittleParr Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 164	Substrate? Is aragonite the best substrate to use, and if so, what brand?

12-20-2007, 12:30 PM	#5
beachbumin Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 516 Images: 2	What are you looking to keep? I prefer very fine sand if Im not keeping many fish but that is just my personal preference __________________ Any home mortgage questions feel free to ask. Thats what I do when I'm not tending to my tank!!