The Puffer Forum

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.

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.

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

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?

Pufferpunk wrote: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?

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.