Top 5 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Sand or Substrate
- Jun 16, 2022
- Anshika Mishra
- 217 0 0
These are the top 5 most frequently asked questions about sand or substrate for our marine aquariums:
What Kind of Sand Can We Use For A Reef Tank?
The vast majority of sand or substrate marketed for our marine or saltwater tank will be some form of aragonite.
Aragonite substrates are made from calcium carbonate, the same substance corals are made from and what you find on the seafloor when you're snorkeling around your favorite wild reef. It makes for an excellent natural substrate and has been used successfully for decades.
It comes in various grain sizes, from fine sugar sand to coarse hits of crushed coral, and the overall white appearance looks very natural and completes the look of the reef aquarium that aims to recreate the beauty of a wild wreath.
Now, with that said, there are other options out there. The most common probably is the Hawaiian black sand. But, it does have some drawbacks.
First, it's pretty sharp compared to aragonite substrate, and it is less inviting to fish and inverts make the sandy bottom their home. And secondly, it often has magnetic bits that can stick with your magnetic glass cleaner, which can cause wear and tear and scratch.
It does look pretty interesting, though. So, if the black substrate is something you are very interested in, make sure to process with caution.
What is the Best Substrate For A Reef Tank?
Although this question is somewhat subjective, one particular substrate is very popular and widely used by many saltwater and reef aquarium owners globally.
That is Carib Sea's Special Grade Aragonite.
It is the perfect balance between the sandy appearance and coarse and heavy enough not to kick up and float around the tank, which is a common issue with finer sand.
It is suitable for various sand-dwelling inhabitants, from snails, starfish, and cucumbers to sand sifting and burrowing fish species. It is easy to siphon and clean without accidentally sucking it out of the tank.
Another great option is Carib Sea's Fiji Pink. It is slightly more refined and looks a bit more like fine sand. It can be a better choice if you intend to have smaller sand sifting Gobbies or want a sandier look.
However, do know that it will be easier to kick up, so keeping flow pumps from pointing towards the substrate is going to be essential, and you are going to have a valve in your siphon so you can use the suction regularly.
Do Saltwater Tanks Even Need Sand?
No! A bare-bottom tank does have some benefits.
Notably for super high flow SPS-dominated systems. However, sand does play a few critical roles.
Sand creates necessary habitats for certain species of fish and inverts; without sand, you may not be able to keep them successfully. Sand also plays a massive role in the microbiome and filtration in your aquarium.
It provides vast surface areas for microbes like bacteria to increase, which positively impacts the biological filtration in the aquariums.
Without substrate, it can take much longer for a re-tank to mature, stabilize, and be ready to support corals. So long story short, bare-bottom tanks should be considered an expert-level option.
Adding substrate will be the best option for most reefers in the hobby.
How Much Substrate Do You Need?
Anywhere from one to two inches of the substrate will be plenty to get the job done. However, it is better not to go any deeper than four inches, for you will end up harboring some pretty nasty-looking slimes within the sand bed that you can see from the side of the glass.
2-inches is easy to keep clean, deep enough for a wide variety of sand-sifters and has enough substrate that the pumps are unlikely to blow away, exposing the glass bottom of the tank.
Should I Use Live Or Dry Sand?
If you plan on using an established rock that is already alive and is teaming with beneficial bacteria and other essential microbes, then dry sand is lovely.
On the other hand, if you are going for dry rock, live sand is the way to go.
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