From FOWLR to Reef

[steelchromis]

I have a 29 soon-to-be reef tank and was wondering something about my subtrate, I have CC and have been over months hearing of how sand is better than CC. Since I have an established tank and feel that taking the CC would be a fiasco, I was wondering if it would be ok if I put 1" to 2" of AragAlive sand on top of the CC. Info Please.

 

[m.rogers]

you can just leave it as is and it will be ok. some people don't have either of them they just have a glass bottom. what lighting do you have for the soon to be reef tank.
mike

 

[dacia]

Crushed coral alone will be fine for your reef. The main reason people like sand better is that with CC you actually have to clean it yourself. With sand, snails and other cleaners do that for you. It may be more work in the long run, but a reef with CC can be done.
I don't think that I would add anything over the CC, because cleaners might hurt themselves in it. I mean, if they are sifting through the sand and then make it to the CC, the sharp edges might get them.

 

[steelchromis]

I am only going to have polyp and mushroom corals. So I am not going for a full reef yet. I will see whether or not I can handle these corals then upgrade my lighting later. I have for lighting:
24" 50/50 /w/ reflector 25 watt.
24" Blue Actinic 25 watt.

 

[steelchromis]

So it is a total of 50 watts. I did a thread on lighting a few weeks ago and someone said that 50-90 watts would be efficient.

 

[karajay]

Originally posted by SteelChromis
I was wondering if it would be ok if I put 1" to 2" of AragAlive sand on top of the CC.
Your sand would settle down and leave the CC back on top anyway.

 

[steelchromis]

Ok so I guess I shouldn't get it.

 

[clarkiiboi]

The choice is either or, but not mixing both. Like said, the sand will settle and the cc will emerge ontop eventually. I know members here still have cc, just have to clean more. IMO, I wouldn't mix the two--cant clean the cc without sucking up/disturbing the sand bed underneath. HTH.

 

[jonthefb]

the problem with cc as a sub in a reef is that it can and usually will become a nitrate factory. it traps detritus that then decays and causes hari algae probs.... if you can and want to keep a more advanced reef tank in the future, change it out to sand. you can take the top two inches of cc and put it in some pantyhose, and then lay this on top of your sandbed, so you will in essence be seedign it without having to do too much stuff
also i would consider upgrading your lights....under your current lighting scheme, you could keep some shrooms, polyps, but they will not thrive, they will only survive!
good luck
jon