how much sand would you use if you had to do it again?

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I am getting ready to put an order in with TBS. I am trying to figure out how much I want to use. I normally do about 1-1.5 inches.

What depth would you go with? Next - I don't don't TBS at all, but any calculator I see online is not 1 pound per gallon. I have 100 pounds of special grade brand new in bags I never used. I could mix that in with the TBS, but I would guess I would lose the high flow benefit of the TBS rock. My display will be 96x36, peninsula and 3/4 of the tank will be SPS dominate with high flow. BTW 0.6 inches of sand in my size tank equals 100 pounds. But the more I think about this, the TBS sand must be so dense, which causes it not to move much, which is why you need more for the same when compared to others. I guess I could get 270 - 300 pounds, but put special grade down on the glass and TBS on top. Anyway, curious if anyone can help with your experience and or ideas. Thanks!

 

[Tamberav]

I am getting ready to put an order in with TBS. I am trying to figure out how much I want to use. I normally do about 1-1.5 inches.

What depth would you go with? Next - I don't don't TBS at all, but any calculator I see online is not 1 pound per gallon. I have 100 pounds of special grade brand new in bags I never used. I could mix that in with the TBS, but I would guess I would lose the high flow benefit of the TBS rock. My display will be 96x36, peninsula and 3/4 of the tank will be SPS dominate with high flow. BTW 0.6 inches of sand in my size tank equals 100 pounds. But the more I think about this, the TBS sand must be so dense, which causes it not to move much, which is why you need more for the same when compared to others. I guess I could get 270 - 300 pounds, but put special grade down on the glass and TBS on top. Anyway, curious if anyone can help with your experience and or ideas. Thanks!

Can’t answer as I have never used their sand but over time the larger grains on top will sift down and it will mix.

 

[MoshJosh]

None. . . sand is bad. . . bare bottom tanks is good.

If I have said it once I have said it a thousand times, if we could take all the sand out of the ocean we could save all the CORALS!!!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I stopped using sand years ago, I don't think I'll ever go back, it's just so much easier without sand imo.

I could never keep sand looking good, and in a few years nitrates and phosphates always creep up for me. I like the look of a sandless tank now but it's strange at first. I like to put abs on the bottom it quickly gets covered in coraline algae.

 

[Solo McReefer]

I am getting ready to put an order in with TBS. I am trying to figure out how much I want to use. I normally do about 1-1.5 inches.

What depth would you go with? Next - I don't don't TBS at all, but any calculator I see online is not 1 pound per gallon. I have 100 pounds of special grade brand new in bags I never used. I could mix that in with the TBS, but I would guess I would lose the high flow benefit of the TBS rock. My display will be 96x36, peninsula and 3/4 of the tank will be SPS dominate with high flow. BTW 0.6 inches of sand in my size tank equals 100 pounds. But the more I think about this, the TBS sand must be so dense, which causes it not to move much, which is why you need more for the same when compared to others. I guess I could get 270 - 300 pounds, but put special grade down on the glass and TBS on top. Anyway, curious if anyone can help with your experience and or ideas. Thanks!

Zero sand

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I am getting ready to put an order in with TBS. I am trying to figure out how much I want to use. I normally do about 1-1.5 inches.

What depth would you go with? Next - I don't don't TBS at all, but any calculator I see online is not 1 pound per gallon. I have 100 pounds of special grade brand new in bags I never used. I could mix that in with the TBS, but I would guess I would lose the high flow benefit of the TBS rock. My display will be 96x36, peninsula and 3/4 of the tank will be SPS dominate with high flow. BTW 0.6 inches of sand in my size tank equals 100 pounds. But the more I think about this, the TBS sand must be so dense, which causes it not to move much, which is why you need more for the same when compared to others. I guess I could get 270 - 300 pounds, but put special grade down on the glass and TBS on top. Anyway, curious if anyone can help with your experience and or ideas. Thanks!

I added egg crate to the bottom on my 4ft 75, I put in 30 pounds of crushed coral. Then added just 20 pounds of TBS. Very happy. The small grains of TBS sunk and the larger chunks stays in top

 

[Solo McReefer]

I added egg crate to the bottom on my 4ft 75, I put in 30 pounds of crushed coral. Then added just 20 pounds of TBS. Very happy. The small grains of TBS sunk and the larger chunks stays in top

My first reef had that. Not the eggcrate

I liked it. Wouldn't use it today

I would use the calcium reactor reef bones(the large two little fishies stuff), though maybe

'Reborn'

 

[Cichlid Dad]

My first reef had that. Not the eggcrate

I liked it. Wouldn't use it today

I would use the calcium reactor reef bones(the large two little fishies stuff), though maybe

'Reborn'

I'm putting together a 120, I will look into it. Thanks

 

[KrisReef]

I collected a handful of sand last time I went to a reef and dropped it in my tank, still in the bag. Now the bag has coral growing on it and I'm going to take it and the sand out when I rescape the tank. If I ever get around to it.

Every time I have put sand in my tank I have ended up removing it, eventually.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

1/2” to 1” Carib Sea live sand. It’s always clean and white. Because I vacuum it monthly when I water change. Hobbyists have reasons why they have a bare bottom tank. Okay, But good reasons?

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

1.5" of TBS. I always use sand because I always get a burrowing shrimp of some sort.

Admittedly I am currently breaking in about 2" of Fernandina Premium crushed shell. This is for a wheelers goby and Alpheus ochrostriatus on the way.

 

[Seansea]

Always sand. Fighting conchs will stir it and keep it white. I have pistol shrimps gobys wrasses that all use it. 1.5" is about right.

 

[Solo McReefer]

But good reasons

It scratches the glass, and this is the deal breaker for me

It's a nitrate and sulphur dioxide factory and warehouse

It stinks when I clean it, it is literally a huge stinking reef diaper filled with fish and snail poop

That said, those are not the deal breakers, because it does look nice

 

[VintageReefer]

1.5-2”

In my 75g my sand is always bright. I have not vacuumed it once in 8+ years. I have 10-15 nassarius but I found that a single fighting conch does more work than all of them and keeps my sand stirred and bright white. I believe sand plays an important part in the filtration processes of the tank. I also have only done 3-4 small water changes in 8+ years. Bought a single bucket of reef crystals 6 years ago and it’s still over 50% full.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I used around 1/2 an inch. I would use the same amount again, just a different sand.

 

[stephanjupillat]

I seeded AF white sand with 10lbs of TBS sand when I started my 240. Tested the dna 6 months later and it’s considered a mature reef tank.

AF sand is very white which is what I wanted. I have 3 or 4 conchs and a lot of snails, plus 2 dragon gobies. They all keep it turned over and clean, and it’s still white. I have it around 1.5” deep.

 

[MrGisonni]

I hate sand I run a bare bottom in my mixed reef tank at home I have a piece of beige acrylic on the bottom.... looks beautiful. The reef tank that I take care of in my classroom at school was set up with sand because other people wanted it and it's been covered in Dino's for a year and a half now ughhhh

 

[danreef55]

My new build will be bare bottom
Has anyone used starboard as a bottom?

 

[Derrick0580]

If I got to start all over again, not a single grain of sand would be in my tank!

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

My new build will be bare bottom
Has anyone used starboard as a bottom?

My tank builder recommended against this.