What is the Best Substrate for your Reef Tank?

Aquarists sometimes wonder what they should put on the bottom of their aquariums. Is there a benefit to having substrate that is super fine vs something more chunky? What about no substrate at all? We will take a look at these options and you can decide which works best for you. Check out http://www.tidalgardens.com for information or if you want to buy corals for your reef tank. Check out Tidal Garden's sister site Advanced Reef Aquarium reef-related goodies: http://www.advancedreefaquarium.com Follow us on Facebook if you can't get enough reef-related shenanigans: http://www.facebook.com/tidalgardens Follow us on twitter (http://twitter.com/tidalgardens) @tidalgardens We tweet up-to-the-minute updates on new corals we upload to tidalgardens.com #TGlive Music: Tracks: “Easy Jam” Artist: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License Terms: Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/faq.html Video: Camera information: Footage was shot with a Canon C100 Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS macro Canon EF MP-E 65mm f/2.8 macro Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4-4.5 STM IS Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8 Copyright Information: This video was shot and edited by Tidal Gardens. Tidal Gardens owns all intellectual property rights to this content. Editing Software License: Final Cut Pro License Agreement 1. C. - "Title and intellectual property rights in and to any content displayed by or accessed through the Apple Software belongs to the respective content owner." 2. B. – “Sample Content. Title and intellectual property rights in and to any content displayed or accessed through the Apple Software belongs to the respective content owner…Except as otherwise provided, you may use the Apple and third party audio file content (including but not limited to, the built-in sound files, samples and impulse responses)(collectively the "Sample Content"), contained in or otherwise included with the Apple Software on a royalty-free basis, to create your own original soundtracks for your film, video, and audio projects.

What is the Best Substrate for your Reef Tank? sentiment_very_dissatisfied 10

Reef tank 9 years ago 59,017 views

Aquarists sometimes wonder what they should put on the bottom of their aquariums. Is there a benefit to having substrate that is super fine vs something more chunky? What about no substrate at all? We will take a look at these options and you can decide which works best for you. Check out http://www.tidalgardens.com for information or if you want to buy corals for your reef tank. Check out Tidal Garden's sister site Advanced Reef Aquarium reef-related goodies: http://www.advancedreefaquarium.com Follow us on Facebook if you can't get enough reef-related shenanigans: http://www.facebook.com/tidalgardens Follow us on twitter (http://twitter.com/tidalgardens) @tidalgardens We tweet up-to-the-minute updates on new corals we upload to tidalgardens.com #TGlive Music: Tracks: “Easy Jam” Artist: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License Terms: Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/faq.html Video: Camera information: Footage was shot with a Canon C100 Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS macro Canon EF MP-E 65mm f/2.8 macro Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4-4.5 STM IS Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8 Copyright Information: This video was shot and edited by Tidal Gardens. Tidal Gardens owns all intellectual property rights to this content. Editing Software License: Final Cut Pro License Agreement 1. C. - "Title and intellectual property rights in and to any content displayed by or accessed through the Apple Software belongs to the respective content owner." 2. B. – “Sample Content. Title and intellectual property rights in and to any content displayed or accessed through the Apple Software belongs to the respective content owner…Except as otherwise provided, you may use the Apple and third party audio file content (including but not limited to, the built-in sound files, samples and impulse responses)(collectively the "Sample Content"), contained in or otherwise included with the Apple Software on a royalty-free basis, to create your own original soundtracks for your film, video, and audio projects.

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Most popular comments
for What is the Best Substrate for your Reef Tank?

Hunter Timpson
Hunter Timpson - 6 years ago
You should be on NPR you have  a soothing voice
Corey Ramsey
Corey Ramsey - 7 years ago
fine and medium mix for wrasses and also being mixed holds the fine from blowing around with high flow
Tim Harris
Tim Harris - 7 years ago
Thanks for the info! We're working on a separate display refugium and would have chosen to use the same medium course sand as the main DT (Caribsee Arag-Alive Special) but now I think we'll purchase something lighter and more fine in courseness to hold the mangroves and other macro algae. Open to any suggestions.
Anonymous Anonymous
Anonymous Anonymous - 7 years ago
Easy. No substrate at all.
muffemod
muffemod - 7 years ago
Chunky asses
Jeremy Young
Jeremy Young - 7 years ago
Have you thought of undergravel jet filters? There basically an undergravel filter in reverse creating uplifting flow and keep food and detritus suspended and oxygenat the Substrate. Also prevents things like sulfur gas buildup.
It can use a small pump with a sponge filter to trap suspended food for your cleaning crew and shrimp and such to feed from, other fish will pick from it too. It can be made with pvc in a grid format with holes drilled in the side for sand, or bottom for gravel, YouTube it =)
Boohbahdude2004
Boohbahdude2004 - 7 years ago
can you use gravel
hakan ozdemir
hakan ozdemir - 7 years ago
https://youtu.be/d0mN3W_CZ9Y
I was convinced in having a bare bottom tank however after doing some research and coming across these three videos I included above made by newyorksteelo, I was definitely convinced a deep bed sand bed is the way. in the videos shows how hydrogen sulphide is created what it looks like up on the front of his glass and within a few days how the system removes and clears that and you can clearly see it
Franklin Michael
Franklin Michael - 7 years ago
0:55 what are the dimensions of the tank?

10. comment for What is the Best Substrate for your Reef Tank?

Jason Solomon
Jason Solomon - 7 years ago
Wondering what kind of led for a 170 red sea reefer for sps lps
Brett's Reef Tank
Brett's Reef Tank - 7 years ago
Jason Solomon radion g4 pro xr30
Revulsion OK
Revulsion OK - 7 years ago
What light do you recommend for a 2 meters, 300 G tank?
Dubsy Dabster
Dubsy Dabster - 7 years ago
hhhmm. Guess I'll be going with the crushed coral. Looks amazing and I'm tired of sand blowing on my rocks.
FishyMats
FishyMats - 7 years ago
What experience have you had with the Hawaiian Black sand? Thanks for any advice
Tidal Gardens Inc.
Tidal Gardens Inc. - 7 years ago
I've never used it. It's not my favorite aesthetic but I know others like it. When I saw them in person in Hawaii, it looked like an oil spill that was unbearably hot to walk on. Never thought about using it in my tanks since.
N7801Z
N7801Z - 8 years ago
Greetings, y'all!

That was an informative video explaining the options.
Way back in the early 70s, before I knew any better, I used crushed oyster shell with undergravel filters with lots of bubbles coming out of the tube risers, and salt creep over the sides and on the lights. I used no other kind of filtration and had great success. One of my aquariums was 6G (a former Zippo lighter display: hexagon, sealed acrylic, and tall), and another was a pentagon (home plate shaped) of about 72G. Then we moved around 1980 and I gave up my aquariums, until now.

I am planning to get started again and, again, thinking of using crushed oyster shell, anywhere from 3-4 5" thick. It is cheap, seems to be basically the same as crushed coral, and maybe mix some crushed coral in for looks. Also, I would mix in some sand in areas where I would like to encourage gobies to live. Underneath all that I am thinking of using eggcrate covered with plastic window screen type mesh. Maybe have some holes in that to glue rock to the glass.

I would love to read comments and, even, criticisms.

Thanks!
Marek Tustin
Marek Tustin - 8 years ago
Nice tank, man :)
Joseph Wong
Joseph Wong - 8 years ago
Whats the type of sand used at 3 min into the video? Thanks :)
Weekend Warrior
Weekend Warrior - 8 years ago
Very informative, I have fine sand and you have to be very careful when cleaning not to scratch the glass. I have been thinking about using crushed coral on my next tank.
Team Plazma TCG
Team Plazma TCG - 8 years ago
Would you suggest live sand for reef tanks
DOLO BANKS
DOLO BANKS - 8 years ago
can african cichlid mix by caribsea in white sand work?

20. comment for What is the Best Substrate for your Reef Tank?

Fabrizio Apelo
Fabrizio Apelo - 8 years ago
I choose the crush coral sand it lesses the sand storm in my reef tank
Franklin Michael
Franklin Michael - 8 years ago
1:59 what type of coral is that? it's really cool
Franklin Michael
Franklin Michael - 8 years ago
+Tidal Gardens Inc. thanks!
Tidal Gardens Inc.
Tidal Gardens Inc. - 8 years ago
+Franklin Michael Acanthophyllia
eric olsen
eric olsen - 8 years ago
what do you think about very porous lava rock. Can it act like Marine Pure blocks? If cured with dry rock will benificial bacteria grow in it and will corals grow on it? Love your channel
9StickNate
9StickNate - 8 years ago
I have Tropic Eden substrate in my tank. It's a large particle size. It's great because it can handle high flow for my SPS; however....The tank has been set up for 2 1/2 years and I've been having substrate clumping issues due to detritus that has settled and solidified. My phosphates have been a problem lately. I'm going to transition and go bare bottom.
R e e f f r e d
R e e f f r e d - 8 years ago
Nice!
Andrew Hales
Andrew Hales - 9 years ago
Holy shit, look at the stress at 1:04. I didn't know tanks could handle conditions like that lol
Brotbaumfenstertisch
Brotbaumfenstertisch - 9 years ago
i watch this video when i'm drunk because he has such a smooth voice :D nearly as good as Bob Ross
Susie Que
Susie Que - 8 years ago
+Brotbaumfenstertisch Check out Gentlewispering, or just search ASMR. You're not alone. ;)
Tidal Gardens Inc.
Tidal Gardens Inc. - 9 years ago
+Brotbaumfenstertisch I love Bob Ross!
thatReefGuy
thatReefGuy - 9 years ago
Barebottom, Barebottom, Barebotton !!!!!!!

Sand is the Devil

It takes forever to clean.

And it leaches out Phosphate like no other.

I have a Tank with 8 Inch Long Hair Algae that Takes 4 Hours to do a Water Change.

My other 5 Tanks are Barebottom and they are Immacculate with no Algae at all.

I will never use sand again.

It is the Worst!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pedro4490
Pedro4490 - 9 years ago
I chose aragonite, because I find it very beautiful, natural and pleasing. I do not like crushed coral, the less finer varieties are an eyesore for me, although it is true my snails struggle with aragonite, nassarius snails, sifting hermit crabs and sand worms love it though. Other than that it is perfect, I use Tunze NanoStream 6020 pumps with a different type of stream, so no issues with sand. The worse option for me is a bare bottom tank, very artificial looking, corals look like colorful toys... lol I do not like those tanks, some people are using white sheets bellow the tank for sand mimicking, it is a good idea to show that type of setups on the net.
Ken Rosecrans
Ken Rosecrans - 9 years ago
pink reef sand

30. comment for What is the Best Substrate for your Reef Tank?

mitian
mitian - 9 years ago
I love the tank, and how nice you explain everything, thank you for sharing.
Rigel Martinez
Rigel Martinez - 9 years ago
Than you are so Kool man. Thank you for sharing with us.
vidextreme
vidextreme - 9 years ago
sugar fine aragonite mixed for the aesthetic and biofiltration. If and when sand storms occur in my tank, they don't bother me.
BLUE DAMSEL
BLUE DAMSEL - 9 years ago
Fiji Pink Live Aragonite. Not too fine, not too coarse.
Rico Suave
Rico Suave - 9 years ago
I have this sane struggle except with freshwater tanks....here's my take on it...crushed coral was nice at 1st but got dirty looking after a while and had build up on the bottom from food and fish waste but I don't care for it to much ....sand it's almost essential for most of the fish I keep to be able to sift sand every now and then but this needs to get cleaned or fish poop well end up breaking down and getting to the bottom....bare bottom is my fav just suck up what's on the bottom and that's it plus when your filling a tank back up you don't need to worry about disturbing the substrate and causing a mess
casino007007
casino007007 - 9 years ago
with sand more nice looking
Wesley Forbes II
Wesley Forbes II - 9 years ago
I run a coarse sand bed. Is there any way you can do separate updates on each of those tanks in this video?
Simon Johnson
Simon Johnson - 9 years ago
I ended up going for the larger coral gravel in my new reefer so that the ricordea florida/fungia collection have something to grow across.
Yazz Shopovich
Yazz Shopovich - 9 years ago
Aaronite white small sand. Because it looks cool like a real reef. Aquarium become more brighter
majik mesa
majik mesa - 9 years ago
Deep fine sand be is what I go with, my snake eel needs and I am planning on putting a coral catshark in my system in a few months.
RocketBunny2k
RocketBunny2k - 9 years ago
BB high flow and good nutritient control
radsdad1
radsdad1 - 9 years ago
Bare bottom and quarterly typhoon/superfine fine filtration.
Patty O'Grady
Patty O'Grady - 9 years ago
Caribsea ocean direct live sand
Cameron Dougan
Cameron Dougan - 9 years ago
Very helpful
Dave Davis
Dave Davis - 9 years ago
Another great video.  I prefer a mix of smaller gravel with oolitic aragonite sand.  I like a mix that will withstand a higher flow yet allow for a variety of macrofauna as well as microfauna.  My most successful tank had this mix and other than a small amount of sand sifting in one corner the tank flourished.
dajc1990
dajc1990 - 9 years ago
i like a medium sized sand. Not to small, not to big :)
MoneyMarcMes
MoneyMarcMes - 9 years ago
What's your opinion on special grade reef sand by Caribsea???
DMJazzy
DMJazzy - 9 years ago
Have a 90 gallon with 80lb sand. I ran the sand thru a sifter to get rid of shells and bigger chunks. My diamond Golby sifts thru 100% of my sand everyday. I have not once cleaned my sand in over 1.5 years
Gene Alameda
Gene Alameda - 9 years ago
Another great video, Than. I have 3 tanks and all 3 have different substrate. First tank has crushed coral, second has medium sand and the third has fine sand. I chose crushed coral in the first tank as I was most familiar with it from my tanks on the 80's. The second tank I wanted wrasses and went with a medium sand as a balance for them and flow. The third, a nano, tank I went with fine sand so the detritus would sit on top for easy cleaning.
SPL
SPL - 9 years ago
Sand, because aesthetics!
muffemod
muffemod - 7 years ago
A E S T H E T I C

50. comment for What is the Best Substrate for your Reef Tank?

spllbnd2
spllbnd2 - 9 years ago
My favorite by far is Tropic Eden. I use 2 bags of Reef Flakes to one bag of Mini Flakes and the size is Awesome!!! Also stay clean compared to the rest of the stuff I've used. I've been in reef tanks for about 15 years now.
Leo
Leo - 9 years ago
I use Tropic Eden's mid range substrate. Not too fine not too coarse. Just pleasing to the eye. Does not create a sandstorm if I increase the flow, at the same time it is not coarse enough to let leftover food pass thru.
kidsWearCrowns
kidsWearCrowns - 9 years ago
Bare bottom looks really nice in rimless aquariums.
triumphags
triumphags - 9 years ago
I've had sand beds in all of my set-ups for 22 years, but after running a 'Zeo-lite' (Fauna Marin) system for about a year I'm thinking of switching it to bare bottom simply because its such a pain to keep the thin ( 1c - 2cm) sand bed clean in a 5'+ tank
sygy
sygy - 9 years ago
thin sand is good, but you should get some nassarius snails and a diamond goby.
LuminosityAuto
LuminosityAuto - 9 years ago
I use caribsea live sand which looks like a natural reef which is the look I'm going for and I have a Mp10 running at 90% high flow in a 34 gallon cube and I never had a problem with sand blowing around so I don't know what kind of sand others are talking about I recommend caribsea fiji live sand.
Jacob Fonseca
Jacob Fonseca - 9 years ago
Crushed Coral, I'm running a relatively high flow SPS tank and when I originally tried sand I could never get the tank to look clean and clear with how much fine sand the flow would kick up. Crushed coral was the answer now I have both high flow and an aesthetically pleasing substrate.
coralinealgae
coralinealgae - 9 years ago
I've always used a medium grain crushed aragonite substrate. It works very well.
Dean B
Dean B - 9 years ago
Thin layer of fine sand works for me..gd video!
Clu
Clu - 9 years ago
Crushed coral has always been good to me
Mbuna Marcus - Aquariums, Cichlids and More
Mbuna Marcus - Aquariums, Cichlids and More - 9 years ago
Great vid...great breakdown.
Litlle112
Litlle112 - 9 years ago
First
SuccMyEgg
SuccMyEgg - 9 years ago
+Litlle112 you win the internet bravo

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