Is gravel an ok substrate for the beginning saltwater aquarist and one that has the fish only tank in mind for a few months to a year before reef build up. Emperor 400 filter with skimmer, heater, lighting, and dead rock and corals for the fish only tank is what im getting, and the substrate is gravel but is it ok for a fish only tank for now?
Sand/Gravel
- Thread starter Juthunter28
- Start date
Gravel will be a real bad choice unless its crushed coral, if its plain rock gravel it wont reduce nitrates very much or help buffer the water. What you could do is buy a 50lb bag of play sand (southdown is great if you can find it, so is old castle) for around $3.99, its also alot cheaper then gravel.
The tank currently has gravel in it and has 2 damsels a clownfish and a coral beauty angel in it. Live rock is dead. Purchising it next weekend but wondering if i could add sand and stuff to make eveyrthing live rock and live sand and still add fish in the same day.
Your blood pressure will be lower if you don't. It's likely the LR/LS will have some die off and cause peaks in ammonia and nitrite.
What kind of gravel is it? How coarse? You can try adding some real (not bagged) live sand to get some detritivores going in there.
What kind of gravel is it? How coarse? You can try adding some real (not bagged) live sand to get some detritivores going in there.