crushed coral?

[BIGBIRD123]

Can crushed coral be used for a sand bed? I want to have something less intrusive and less likely to be blown everywhere. I plan on increasing my flow to Hurricane strength and don't want sand everywhere and NO Josh, I don't like the look of a BB. :lol :P

Steve

[BIGBIRD123]

No comments from anyone?

[hoho19]

give at least 24 hours for responses...we have lives ya know...:P Anywhoo I have no clue as i'm a newbie :D

[ou812pezz]

your bed will turn purple and it traps a lot of garbage. Snails have a hard time burrowing. stuff like that.

[brewercm]

Don't use crushed coral. Instead if you don't want to use the fine sugar sand go up one size. I use the next size up arragonite based sand but only about an inch or so, I like the look of the sand bed but don't want a DSB myself.

[GaryP]

Brewercm is referring to the special grade sand that is 1-2 mm in grain size. Sand sifting critters like nassarius are going to have a hard time with crushed coral. In addition, you can never get a good DSB going with it. Its to porous to get an anoxic layer. I use sugar fine sand with a 1" layer of special grade over the top of it.

[cbianco]

Can crushed coral be used for a sand bed?

I have seen crushed coral used as a substrate and let me tell you it gets nasty. Algea seems to grow really fast on it. In order to keep it clean, you have to constantly stir it up.


...and NO Josh, I don't like the look of a BB.

What about a Starboard bottom? You could imbed sand in the board using an epoxy (or something).

:)

Christopher