Flow vs Sand

[Jaws]

I plan on having a large amount of flow in my 180G I'm about to set up. Right now I've got two Mag 36's. One for a return pump and one for a closed loop. Is there any chance I can get sand or any kind of finer substrate other than crushed coral chunks in the tank with this amount of flow? I really want an inch or two or sand just for the natural look really.

[Skimmerking]

Jason why not do the acrylic sheet with silicone and CC on that to give it the naturla look ...Doug FLATLANDER did the same thing pm him to get the details


mike

[LostMind]

I think you'd be fine with sand. I had 2 tunze's going full blast in my 120g plus a 1200gph closed loop and a 800gph return with 4" of sand.

[Jaws]

Jason why not do the acrylic sheet with silicone and CC on that to give it the naturla look ...Doug FLATLANDER did the same thing pm him to get the details


mike

Does he have to scrub the sand in order to keep it clean? Does it lose it's bright white colour?

[Skimmerking]

NO the snails are the cleaners in the tank

[Jaws]

How natural does it actually look? And what about the white look? This is all very interesting.

[Skimmerking]

i looks really cool and wicked


mike

[Ruth]

Tagging along as I am also in the process of setting up a 190 SPS tank. I am going for more flow with the closed loop (Sequence Barracuda) and less flow for the return because I want to do a fuge. I am going to go BB with black cutting board on the bottom but am really unsure that I am going to like the look. I also considered glueing the sand to the cutting board but like you wondered about "stuff" getting caught up in the sand thereby ruining the faux sand bed look.

[Skimmerking]

doug hopfuly you can jump into this post any time probably tommorrow.


mike

[Jaws]

Ya, I'd love to see some pics of how it looks like once in water.

[LostMind]

I think the failing of all faix sand beds is they get covered in coraline aglae and lose that realism look you were going for in the first place.

I'm with ruth on the cutting board/starboard bb tank.

But I think you can get pretty decent flow in a tank with sand still. Just spread the flow out, don't concentrate it... flow not velocity I spose.

[Ruth]

Jaws I am going to bump your thread 'cause I'm curious.

[Skimmerking]

well i forgot to tell doug about htis one... May be he will chime in today or tomorrow

sorry folks... :lol:

[Ruth]

That would be great. I would also like to see some pictures after it has been up and running for 6 months to a year. Not sure how long Doug has had his tank running but hopefully he joins in.
Jaws not meaning to jack your thread and I hope you don't mind??

[Jaws]

Not at all. The more interest, the better. I look forward to seeing more info on the whole thing.

[Skimmerking]

I will be doing this to my next 170 that is going in the dining room ...


thanks Tammy ( WIFE AKA BOSS)