Who Gives A Fish Forums

Setting up a new tank and wanna get the substrate right. What's the best option for corals? Heard mixed things about sand vs crushed coral. My tank's a 40 gallon with moderate flow, planning to keep mostly LPS like Torches and Hammers.

Crushed coral's got that chunky vibe, but sand's way easier to clean. I've had both, and sand's my go-to now. Less detritus buildup, and my Zoas seem happier. What's your lighting setup? That can mess with how much gunk settles.

I prefer a mix. Fine sand on top for looks, crushed coral underneath for stability. Keeps the pH steady too. My tank's been running 2 years with this combo, and my Acans are thriving. Just make sure you've got enough cleanup crew to handle the sand.

Sand's better for burrowing critters like gobies or pistol shrimp. If you're gonna have those, skip the crushed coral. It's too rough for them. My tank's got a 1-inch sand bed, and the nutrient export's been solid with weekly 10% changes.

clownie wrote: ↑Sun May 11, 2025 4:00 am Crushed coral's got that chunky vibe, but sand's way easier to clean. I've had both, and sand's my go-to now. Less detritus buildup, and my Zoas seem happier. What's your lighting setup? That can mess with how much gunk settles.

Yep, sand's the move if you're lazy like me. I run a bare bottom frag tank, but for display, sand's gotta look natural. Just don't go too deep or you'll get dead spots.

I've seen tanks with CaribSea Arag-Alive work great. It's got live bacteria right outta the bag, so cycling's faster. My Torches opened up within a week of adding it. Just rinse it first unless you like cloudy water for days.

How deep's your sand bed, florai? I've heard anything over 2 inches can cause issues long-term. My tank's only 6 months old, so I'm still figuring it out.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Leaning toward a shallow sand bed with maybe a small crushed coral section in one corner. Gonna pair it with a couple nassarius snails to keep things stirred up.

Don't forget grain size matters too. Too fine, and it'll blow around. Too coarse, and it's hard to plant stuff if you want macros. I use Special Grade Reef Sand, and it's been chill.

pennyplus wrote: ↑Sun May 11, 2025 9:13 am How deep's your sand bed, florai? I've heard anything over 2 inches can cause issues long-term. My tank's only 6 months old, so I'm still figuring it out.

Mine's just under 1.5 inches. Deep beds are sketchy unless you're running a full DSB setup, which I'm not brave enough for. Stick to 1-2 inches if you're new to this.