FOWLR 210 substrate options

[tapeworm]

I am debating what kind of substrate for a 210 FOWLR:
1. Sand only, 1-2 inches of live sand, some new and some from an established tank. Great bio-filter, but can get clogged up, since I can not have sand stirring organisms.
2. Florida crushed coral only. Great buffering and easier to clean, not as good for bio.
3. Mix the two.
4. Layer of florida crushed coral, fiberglass mesh and then sand on top. The layer of extra water below the sand can help keep the sand "moving".
Can you guys help out? Am I anywhere close?

 

[tony detroit]

My personal opinion based on experience is run barebottom or run with just enough stone to cover the glass for aesthetics. I like crushed coral.

 

[lion_crazz]

I would just do a 1" layer of aragonite. It does not trap nitrates, plus it is very easy to clean. I would not do the live sand.

 

[tony detroit]

Originally posted by lion_crazz
I would just do a 1" layer of aragonite. It does not trap nitrates, plus it is very easy to clean.
I disagree.
If you are going to clean a 1'' deep bed you're wasting 3/4'' of gravel, just run it as low as you can go and run high flow, efficient filtration and don't clean.

 

[jon.316]

Hey, I have a 155 bow front agressive Fowler.....I went with CC at first, but had to change my water pretty often....switching out with Live Sand as soon as it finishes curing in a coupla weeks...I'd go with the live sand unless you have a lot of free time on your hands...I can go for about 6 weeks then my trates are up to 30-40ppm...my agressives get pushy by then.....CC does look better but is harder to clean with live rock...Of course that's jsut because my tusk will munch up any snails i toss in instantly...
For your purposes right now, argonite would be best but keep in mind that one day your prolly gonna want to upgrade to reef...kinda like where i'm headed.....I saw a reef tank recently with a tusk, emp angel and pbt ....i'm in love

My advice...get some nice superwhite live sand...

 

[squidd]

Originally posted by tony detroit
I disagree.
If you are going to clean a 1'' deep bed you're wasting 3/4'' of gravel, just run it as low as you can go and run high flow, efficient filtration and don't clean.
I'm not quite following this here...:notsure: (3/4" gravel...??)
Biggest reason I switched to sand (not particularly "live") was for the elasmobranch and bethnic creatures I keep...
Much "softer" and safer for their bellys to rub and lay on...
A bout an inch (maybe a little less) seems to be the minimum needed to keep it from "sand duneing" in the current and piling up and causing "bare" spots...
I do clean my sand...because "nobody else" will....
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...hreadid=144797
They tend to get "eaten"...

 

[tony detroit]

My mistake. Sand, not gravel. Forgot what fish we were talking about here. This reef and FO gets confusing...LOL. I like a barebottom or shallowbottom as well squidd. My shark and ray tank I had sand in. DSB......uuuugh.
My only complaints about sand were when I really tried to give the tank a lot of flow it blew the sand around. But for my ray it was a must.

 

[squidd]

Originally posted by tony detroit
... Forgot what fish we were talking about here. This reef and FO gets confusing...
This is the Aggressive Forum....
For my Reef I like Bare Bottom and Killer flow...