best sand for SPS tank

[IPT]

Finally upgrading to the bigger tank. It'll be SPS mostly so the flow will be on the high side. Any recommendations on sands? I currently have the very white fine grianed sand and I see it shifting around as I've increased the flow. I like the white look, but will go otherwise if it'll tolerate high flow better. I see that Aragamax "live" stuff but it looks more brown (and I know the "live" part is a joke). What are you guys doing? Is it as simple as creatively designing your flow/ rock placement?

[ITR]

I am curious to hear what others are using as well. I am using a regular silica white play sand from Home Depot, but I liked the natural look of aragonite sand better when I had Southdown. The silica sand seems to stay down better than the aragonite, but the aesthics aren't as nice in my opinion.

Since Southdown is no longer available, I was wondering if anybody has any less expensive alternatives to purchasing aragonite sand than paying the $30+ per bag at the LFS.

[curthendrix]

Ron Shimek on his website recommends a combination of various grain sizes for a dsb. Here's the makeup he recommends.

http://www.ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm

[IPT]

DSB, that may be an idea. I will have a RDSB. What about in the display about 1-3"s deep?

[Jefe12234]

I use about an inch of Carib-Sea special grade sand in my tanks. It looks nice and it's coarse enough that I can vacuum it during water changes to prevent detritus from building up in it. I pay about $1/lb at the LFS, but it's not that bad when you're just doing a thin layer.

[SunnyX]

CaribSea Reeflor Special Grade.

[IPT]

Still curious to hear if others with high flow are using the CaribSea. While we are on the topic, I am going from a 20L with about 2" maybe 2 1/2" of sand to a 50 breeder (it's really fine sand, Natures Ocean Premium Marine substrate). Do you think it's safe to transfer all of it or should I just transfer a few cups.

[cutegecko3]

i use fine grade caribsea around 1 1/2 inches deep with a 1/2 inch of crushed coral gravel on top.ive found that different sizes helps to keep the sandbed from compacting and allows for better flow through it.

[wentreefgirl]

Regular pink arag. Its so thin now, It may not even be considered a thin sand bed. It has blown all the way to the back of the tank under the rock. Just thicker stuff left in the front.

[IPT]

I was using a very fine grain size and since I've upped my flow I have drifts in the tank, near bare spots, and I am forever blowing grains/piles of sand off my corals. Especially plating types. Like the white look, and need bobies in the tank! I just think I need something a tad heavier and need to pay a little more attention to my flow setup.

[IPT]

The LFS has Caribsea "Select". Anyone know much about this? I think it is the sane as the "Live" sand, but not live (which is fine because I have pleanty of live sand anyway).