Substrate for FOWLR Porky Tank

[Puffalicious]

Hey,

I'm current setting up a 120gal FOWLR. Going to get a porky My question is will sand be a good thing for a substrate?

I have around 200lbs of coarse sand right now because I got a good deal on it. But I was reading some posts and people are saying a bare bottom is better and easier to maintain. Kind of confused and just want input from the puffer pros. I would think sand would help a lot in maintaining low nitrates wouldn't it? If sand is good, then how much should I put on a 120gal?

The sand I got has a lot of snails in it and I don't know if that's a good thing, but I'm sure the porky will have a fun time.

[crazedpuffer]

I have barebottom on Shelby's quarantine and I find it annoying. IMO live sandwould help tremendously and will be easier to clean then bare bottom.

[yunachin]

I think the puffers prefer resting on soft sand rather than hard tank bottom too. IMO.

[Pufferpunk]

Agreed, after you add live rock, the sand will also become "live" (a handfull of sand from an established tank would help a lot too). Then you'll have all sorts of detrious-eaters in there to battle nitrates. I'd highly suggest getting a "reef ready" plumbed tank, so you can plumb in a sump & refugium, to help battle nitrates or you'll be doing a lot of water changes. What size tank are you considering?

[Puffalicious]

Agreed, after you add live rock, the sand will also become "live" (a handfull of sand from an established tank would help a lot too). Then you'll have all sorts of detrious-eaters in there to battle nitrates. I'd highly suggest getting a "reef ready" plumbed tank, so you can plumb in a sump & refugium, to help battle nitrates or you'll be doing a lot of water changes. What size tank are you considering?

Remember I bought the 120gal Starphire Glass tank? It's plumbed and ready to go with a 30gal sump filled with chaeto and grape caulerpa. I just need to make some water and fill the bad boy up (will do it this weekend when my salt arrives ).

The sand is Live sand which I bought from an established tank. The rocks are also LR from the same person. He had a 400Gal system and was getting rid of all his rocks and sand so he gave me a great deal on it. He sold me 200+lbs of rocks and 200+lbs of sand all together for $250.

PP, how much sand should I put in there? 120lbs or should I put more? Oh yeah and the rocks too, should I put in like 150+lbs of it?

[crazedpuffer]

General rule for FOWLR is about an inch of sand. For reefs and such I know people like 4 inches so you could really use however much you want.
LR you can basically use however much you want too, so long as theres room to swim too.