Substrate options

[biotoxin]

Ive been looking around for a while for reasonable prices on live sand and have come to nothing but high prices for low amounts of it. Ive read on a few pages that sandblasting sand is good for a substrate and its readily available and pretty cheap. Anyone ever used this or recommend it? I have crushed coral right now and id like to replace it or totally remove it and make a dsb.

 

[MACATUA]

I wanna be the first to say it, Southdown! I never used the stuff, but apparently it is the bomb for setting up a DSB. I got jipped into the LS in a bag, but I wanted black sand and it does look pretty cool, so ooh well.

 

[Michel]

Why go from CC to DSB ?
Sandblasting sand can be used but edges are not round like playsand and critters may not like it !

 

[biotoxin]

from what ive read live sand is better than crushed coral for inverts and overall health of the tank. I may be wrong tho...

 

[Michel]

Well if you are willing to do a bit of maintenance like vacuuming and so... CC is ok
There are a lot of school of thoughts on that .... Some will use DSB some CC and even some of my friends here use CC in front and bare behind the LR so !!!!
I have had crushed corals for almost a year and it works fine for me ..
Just my opinion !

 

[biotoxin]

Ya, to each their own. Many ppl say that cc has sharp edges and detritus can get between it and make problems. But i think ill just get some LS and add it to the cc to see what happens.

 

[Michel]

A suggestion : don't rinse it since you would use the small pieces you want ! However wet it first with SW and then put it in ... your will have less of a sand storm
Good luck !