Hello GIRS -- Advice on Substrate

Brand new to saltwater tanks, though have had plenty of freshwater. Bought myself a 14 gallon Biocube and am planning a FOWLR w/ plans to add some corals in the long run. Thinking 2 clowns and maybe a gobi. My first, of many question concerns substrate. How deep/# pounds? (tank=16H"x17L"x15"W) What size grains? Type? Cleaning? I also don't think I want to go deep sand, though open to thoughts?

Thanks -- Cameron

 

First off... congrats on diving in! You've come to the right place.

You want your sand bed to be aragonite based for sure (don't use play sand, beach sand or crushed coral). The grain size is somewhat of a personal preference. I prefer Caribsea's special grade aragonite sand... it's fine enough for wrasses that bury themselves but not so fine that it get's blown around. I've used oolite (super fine) before and it was a nightmare... I couldn't get flow in the lower half of the tank without creating a sandstorm.

1.5-2 inch depth is pretty typical. Using the GARF sand bed calc shows about 15-20 lbs should do it for you.

Once settled you don't want to disturb your sand bed. You'll want a cleanup crew to lightly provide some turnover of the bed. Snails that bury themselves (such as nassarius snails) are good for this purpose.

Hopefully that helps!

 

A bag of Fiji pink would work good.
Fiji Pink Arag-Alive! Live Reef Sand - CaribSea
If you don't have alot of sand sisters. Stir your sand every week to suspend detritus so your sand bed doesn't foul with poop.

 

Wow, I really have come to the right place. 1 bag of special grade sands it is. Thanks for all the advice.

 

keep us updated and post pics of tank

 

Good luck! I would go bare bottom with out a doubt if planning to keep corals in that small area, but just keep that bed really clean and don't get things too cluttered so you can't get to some areas!

I seriously doubt I will ever have a sand bed with corals again.

 

Hmmm, never considered a bare bottom tank. Given that I will likely keep the Bioballs and probably add a media basket, do you think a bare bottom tank will be easier to maintain? I ask because I must admit some anxiety on keeping such a small (14 gal) tank stable. On a related matter, do you think I need a power head? and if so, is there an advantage in being able to use a larger one because of the absence of sand? Thanks again for all the advice.

 

Oh I feel there is a great advantage running BB for stability. And I would still run a power head - and part of that BB advantage is being able to point the power head so the current passes the bottom and doesn't let waste settle. There are options for the bottom as well like slate or starboard.

 

I'm bare bottom. Love it, but you need to clean it just like if you had sand. It's just easier to pile the detritus up in a corner and really maximize siphon efficiency. Or like Hart said, keep it suspended so that it settles in the sump or is removed with a sock.

Sand beds act as nutrient sinks, especially when used as a deep sand bed, which used to be popular, but they have a point at which they are full and need dealt with. Shallow sand beds should definitely be cleaned. Detritus is our enemy and the source of nutrients algae loves, and it's exceptionally good at hiding in sand.

Good luck with your tank, and welcome!

 

If you're thinking of a goby you probably want to do some research and settle on a type, or let your decision of bare bottom vs sand make it for you, because some it's recommended/needs to have sand (i.e. yellow watchman goby). I knew I wanted a melanarus wrasse in my tank, and they sleep in the sand, so I knew I couldn't go bare bottom. I used the same sand @jeremy linked above and am very happy with it; no sandstorms or other problems so far (about 7 months in).

 

Have to agree with @StormyMoe. Pick your livestock first as they can determine the direction to go. A good cuc helps with sand bottoms. Even there you have to be careful what you pick for cleanup. I have a red pistol shrimp and he acts like he has a degree in construction engineering. Every piece of live rock in the aquarium has been excavated. Fortunately I put egg-crate down first, then the rock on the egg-crate and added the sand after that. Takes a little longer but I'm not worried about a rock toppling over and cracking the bottom.
Welcome to the club.

 

I have a couple inches of sand, to me a bare bottom looks too unfinished(my opinion). Have an orange spot goby that is one of our favorite fish to watch. My phosphates, nitrates and nitrites are undetectable(and I like to feed my tank and watch the critters eat too much!)