Crushed Coral as sandbed?

[J_Vansen_S]

Hi guys,

I started my 12G nano tank with some fine crushed coral taken straight from the seabed by my diver mates

My question..is it ok to use crushed coral?

I've seen alot of threads asking to stay away from crushed coral as sandbed

Should i replace it? My tank is already cycled and now house a plate coral and firefish

Please advise

[yikai]

crushed coral will tend to trap alot of solid particles inside since it's so coarse. you need to siphon them out or it will build up plenty of detritus.

also note that crushed corals are incompatible with certain fishes like sand wrasses, sand sifting gobies etc. it's too rough for them and will hurt them.

[J_Vansen_S]

Any smart ways to siphon them all out and replace fine sand..without hurting my coral n fish?

Or should i transfer them out to a bucket while i do the nasty siphoning.

Will it kick start another cycle, if i use those argonite live black sand.

Ill snap a picture of my crushedcoral bed later in the day

..if you can help assess if its too coarse.~

Thanks

[yikai]

Any smart ways to siphon them all out and replace fine sand..without hurting my coral n fish?

Or should i transfer them out to a bucket while i do the nasty siphoning.

Will it kick start another cycle, if i use those argonite live black sand.

Ill snap a picture of my crushedcoral bed later in the day

..if you can help assess if its too coarse.~

Thanks

just use a gravel siphoner?

no don't remove your fishes. too stressful for them.

i don't suggest using this at all bah. you shoud just remove it all and replace with normal sand.

[Terryz_]

It will trap Detritus and be a nitrate source over time...

Dun think it is the new sand will cause the ammonia spike, it is the dead stuffs and etc in your existing sand that might spike the ammonia when you take it out and it pose a danger to the LS...

[cdckjn]

Anothe quicker way is this. Just pour washed sand on the crushed coral. Over time the sand will slowly fall down to the bottom and fill the gaps in between the crushed corals. This way you will not trap uneaten food and reduce the amount of gaps in between the crushed corals.