substrate question

[trupel]

Is it best to use larger substrate or fine subrate.

 

what are the pros and cons...????

 

I have yet to place any substrate into my tank and wonder which is the best and the pros and cons of each I guess.

 

Also, I have access to sand from the beach, are they any good?

[Yves]

I use semi-fine aragonite in my tanks I like the look of sugarsand but its a pain to rinse, I just don't like the look of crushed coral. Beach sand should be fine as long as its very clean...Id head out to a reef and collect some sand out there, should be loaded with cool pods,worms and snails...fresh sand puts packaged live sand to shame HTH-Yves

[USFnano]

I wouldn't use beach sand, as clean as it may look, the beach is where all the pollutants from the ocean get washed up(dissolved nutrients, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.)

[koj11]

Ditto on not using the beach sand. I also prefer a very fine sand, but in my opinion, you don't want to rinse it. Those finer particles that would be rinsed away are good for your bed.