What substrate to use???

[loodachris]

Hello everyone! Right now Ive got a tank up and ruuning but when i started it i originally put crushed coral at the bottom, then my LFS said to stick some Live sand in there that was more like live gravel to mix in with the CC. I am staring another tank and i took a lot of the substrate from the first tank and used it all in the new tank to cycle it faster. I am about to fill the tank with live rock, would it be wise to switch all the substate to Live sand?? I hear sand is a better substrate to have under Rock?? Any thoughts, comments, advice??

 

[arkey.d]

Yes use Sand instead of CC. CC is very high maintenance and is a nitrate machine.

 

[loodachris]

Thanks that definately explains why i cant get my nitrates lower than 40 in my other tank, i took the majority of it out now the rock just sits on glass but theres still like 10 lbs of it in there. I also need to figure out a way to filter the filter when i feed so the uneaten food that gets sucked up doesnt get into my filter media. I need to get these Nitrates down.

 

[cveverly]

I have live sugar sand (not sure what kind) in my 125 and I am setting up another tank with aragonite. I am told that aragonite is really good and should help stabilize ph at 8.2. Truth or BS not really sure but I have not see any thing bad about it other than the price. I have read a lot of good things. Search google for aragonite and there is some good information.

 

[mbrands]

Originally posted by cveverly
I am told that aragonite is really good and should help stabilize ph at 8.2. Truth or BS not really sure but I have not see any thing bad about it other than the price.
I used aragonite sand and no live sand. I had enough LR I figured I didn't need any LS. With regular water changes my pH has never tested anything but 8.2.