Crushed coral topping question

[aviator300]

I'm starting a new tank this weekend and will be using a very thin (1/2" + a little) sandbed with standard dry aragonite,

 

My question is would it be of any harm to add sprinkles of coarse crushed coral to top it with. I like a very coarse look on the very top but dont want to use too much crushed coral due to trapping detritis. What do you guys think.

[Chadf]

It'll be fine if you vacuum it.

[amphipod]

Cheaper alternative to aragonite is poultry grade crushed oyster shell, just wash it to remove dust

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/manna-proreg%3B-oyster-shell-50-lb

[Sailfish]

Everytime people talk about using crushed coral as a substrate the hairs on my arms raises.
I understand that you may like the looks of it, and maybe it can be done successfully with meticulous vacuuming, but I have seen to many tank crashes, much of the reason laying in detritus build up in the crushed coral, to ever want to take that chance.

My 2 cent

[seabass]

Cheaper alternative to aragonite is poultry grade crushed oyster shell, just wash it to remove dusthttp://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/manna-proreg%3B-oyster-shell-50-lb

Oyster shells are considered to be a source of phosphate. While cheaper, it's not a better alternative.

[amphipod]

Oyster shells are considered to be a source of phosphate. While cheaper, it's not a better alternative.

they shouldn't dissolve that quickly

[aviator300]

Everytime people talk about using crushed coral as a substrate the hairs on my arms raises.

I understand that you may like the looks of it, and maybe it can be done successfully with meticulous vacuuming, but I have seen to many tank crashes, much of the reason laying in detritus build up in the crushed coral, to ever want to take that chance.

 

My 2 cent

Oh no. I didn't mean to raise the hairs on your arms LOL.

 

• Seriously, According to my original post, I stated i would use Aragonite as the substrate (about 1/2") and then just add a "sprinkle" of coarse crushed coral to give it a rougher appearance. I dont see how this could create a bigger detritis trap.

I don't want to seem like i'm asking for opinions and then arguing about that opinion, I just want to make sure that folks fully understand my question. Thanks very much for your suggestions.

[Sailfish]

Oh no. I didn't mean to raise the hairs on your arms LOL.

 

• Seriously, According to my original post, I stated i would use Aragonite as the substrate (about 1/2") and then just add a "sprinkle" of coarse crushed coral to give it a rougher appearance. I dont see how this could create a bigger detritis trap.

I don't want to seem like i'm asking for opinions and then arguing about that opinion, I just want to make sure that folks fully understand my question. Thanks very much for your suggestions.

Haha, maybe not the correct use of the term

I'm not a native English speaker, if that is any excuse

 

Since you didn't mention any specific grain size on the Aragonite, I assumed that it was a coarse Aragonite (aka. crushed coral) and that you wanted to sprinkle some finer grained sand on top to decrease the amount of detritus traps. I see now that it is opposite

 

Still, in my opinion, detritus will settle much easier in a "sprinkle" of coarse crushed coral on top then without

[CJJon]

What you are talking about is basically like Tropic Eden Rubbly-reef. I'm not sure it is available anymore though. Probably because people think it is a detritus trap. Get a good clean up crew and you will be fine.

 

http://blog.premiumaquatics.com/2010/07/tropic-eden-aragonite-sand-2-new.html

[aviator300]

What you are talking about is basically like Tropic Eden Rubbly-reef. I'm not sure it is available anymore though. Probably because people think it is a detritus trap. Get a good clean up crew and you will be fine.

 

http://blog.premiumaquatics.com/2010/07/tropic-eden-aragonite-sand-2-new.html

Thats exactly what i'm thinking of and NO, it's not available now (if ever)