new tank substrate

[foobuddha]

This may be a long one, sorry in advance.

We, my brother Lee (uurt) and I, have a buddy who is setting up a tank. He has a 55 on stand that has been up and semi-filled for almost 3 weeks. There is currently 1" crushed coral as a substrate.

We are going to a local distributor type this weekend and I am torn as to what I should tell him he should/can get in regards to his substrate(he is looking to me for instruction). I am hesitant to recommend a dsb at this point.

What do you all think about 1" cc mixed with about an 1" (15# or so I'm guessing) live sand? I know the cc will migrate to the top, but I'm thinking that with vacuuming it will stay stirred.

I am hoping he will get the benefit of greater surface area for de-nitrifying bacteria, but with regular vacuumings will pull most of the nasty detritus that can't be processed.

I am recommending some substrate to facilitate 'pod growth, for aesthetics and for the additional surface area for beneficial bacteria.

General info:

The end result of this tank will be a low/medium light reef environment.

I haven't tested any of his water yet.

edit::grammar

[uurt]

This is really more of a bump. My bro said it all. The p/h's that he has in the tank need to be replaced. Same day as NY power out, his house had a brown out. All the p/h now noisy/chattery.
The skimmer has done a little bit, but it needs the water level up.

$$ is an issue here, that's why this is going to be a very, very, VERY slow set-up.

TIA Lee

[Alice]

What grade of crushed coral? The really big stuff with the small, whole shells can trap detritus faster than my carpeting does when my kids and all of their friends are in the living room eating all of my food.

[foobuddha]

I would estimate the cc to be about 1/8" diam.

[uurt]

Well, my brother is off to the distributors.
Since I have to work today, I couldn't go with them. I'll just have to wait till this evening to see what they got. Now I have to search for some lights for him.


Lee