[Daddyoh1]

I seem to be getting a differece of opinions as to what size substrate to use in my 120. Some say fine others say coarse, I feel a mix of both (live agragate) would be appropriate Any other thoughts will be appreciated.

[e_baer]

The smaller the grains are, the more surface area there is for bacteria to thrive on, thus helping to break down ammonia, nitrate and nitrite. IMO, go with fine. Here is a great article that will make you decide what to do, I know it helped me decide.

The Deep Sand Bed - One Of The Most Effective Filtration Methods. | Aquarists Online | Marine Aquarium Resources And Information

[unclejed]

Hey daddy, your assertion of the mix is cool. I have an "in between" grain I found but in reality, it doesn't matter. People use anything and everything with great success, concentrate on water quality to have a healthy tank.

[ljv]

I agree that just about any grain size will work if you follow proper maintenance and keep your water quality up to par. I personally like the finer grains because the detritus tends to settle on top where you can see it and remove it. Larger grains let the crud get down into the substrate where it is not visible.

[Daddyoh1]

Can I not or should I not attempt to use one of those siphon type cleaners to clean the substrate periodically? Thanks for all the advice, keep it comin.

[ljv]

I know there are a lot of differing opinions on this topic. Personally, I use the siphon cleaners to help keep my substrate clean. That being said, I try to disturb only the upper surface of the sand and vacuum a limited area during water changes, mostly where I see detritus building up.