What do you prefer ?

[sa2]

Hi guys
What do you guys prefer between fine sand for substrate or gravel/crushed coral ? Which would work beter and will one of them give me problems later if I have it 2-3" deep?
Thanks alot
Sa2

 

[broncofish]

South Africa? Welcome to the board. I would use at least four inches of Fine aragonite sand. I used crushed coral in my first fish only tank. It did not look natural, and it's a factory for nitrate and garbage build up. Just my .02

 

[sa2]

Would this be as fine as ordinary beach sand?

 

[elcid]

The best way to go, specially if you have corals, is to have live sand, at least a good 4". Why? because it is good in order to filtrate the tank and also it will not accumulate garbage live CC does, not to mention that if you have crashed coral the fish will be more propense to get ick.

 

[elcid]

DO NOT get beach sand (from any of your local beaches) the reason for that is that they tend to have a lot of impurities (contaminated) and that will affect your tank when you put it in. Unless you can get sand from 3 miles away in the ocean and 1000' deep