Substrate advice

[SBethH]

I'm Setting up a 150 gallon tank, and put in about 20 lbs of substrate before realizing I might be making a big mistake. It's made by CORALine and it's essentially a mix of shells. They are not crushed, mostly whole. I know that this will be difficult to keep clean, but aside from that, what problems could this cause? Will my eels be unhappy with the coarse bottom? I have a jeweled and a snowflake. I have a feeling I know the answer to my own question I was planning to mix it with the crushed coral thats in their current tank.

 

[Gti_Leo]

crushed coral on its own can become a nitrate factory, they hold alot of detritus that will eventually break down into nitrates. the shells would be the same thing, but i put carebisea live sand in my 26 and there are shells and what nots in it. so its not totally bad but i'd mix the shells with argonite sand and hope it doesn't raiseto the top like mine has