Substrate Question (Newbie)

[gregredic]

I have been doing a lot of reading on various forums and I believe I have a good beginners grasp on a lot of things, excluding substrate. I am currently going through the cycling process. I have a 110 gallon display aquarium that I bought used that has crushed coral and an undergravel filter, along with a canister filter and 2 powerheads (I also purchased a protein skimmer and a UV sterilizer). There is currently about 50 pounds of live rock in place already. I started the cycling process with some raw shrimp a bit over a month ago and I have recently added 3 chromis to continue the cycling process. Now to my question....I have read about the advantages and disadvantages of having an undergravel filter, so I am wondering if I should remove the undergravel filter, along with the crush coral and go with sand? If so, what type of sand would be best for a beginner? Also, I have thought about getting a hang on the back refugium in order to have anaerobic bacteria present as a way of preventing from having to go to sand. If I were to keep crush coral, what types of CUC would be best?

Thank you in advance for you time!

[Reefing Madness]

I have been doing a lot of reading on various forums and I believe I have a good beginners grasp on a lot of things, excluding substrate. I am currently going through the cycling process. I have a 110 gallon display aquarium that I bought used that has crushed coral and an undergravel filter, along with a canister filter and 2 powerheads (I also purchased a protein skimmer and a UV sterilizer). There is currently about 50 pounds of live rock in place already. I started the cycling process with some raw shrimp a bit over a month ago and I have recently added 3 chromis to continue the cycling process. Now to my question....I have read about the advantages and disadvantages of having an undergravel filter, so I am wondering if I should remove the undergravel filter, along with the crush coral and go with sand? If so, what type of sand would be best for a beginner? Also, I have thought about getting a hang on the back refugium in order to have anaerobic bacteria present as a way of preventing from having to go to sand. If I were to keep crush coral, what types of CUC would be best?

Thank you in advance for you time!

OH, you have to ditch that undergravel filter, big time issues with those. You don't have to ditch the Crushed Coral, I use it. And your CUC would be the same for CC as for Sand. And might I add, your going to need another 60lbs+ of Live Rock for filtration purposes. Its bes to get it in now and get it cycled with the rest.

[gregredic]

Okay, I will remove the undergravel filter and leave the crush coral. I thought about stopping at 50 pounds of live rock and adding in 60 pounds of base rock. Do you think this is a bad idea (trying to save money)?

Also, will any of the little critters (worms and the such) in the live rock have any problem with the crush coral? Since all I have in there is the live rock and 3 chromis, I'm just putting in some flake food. Should I start putting in shrimp pellets in order to give the creatures in the live rock something to snack on?

[Reefing Madness]

Okay, I will remove the undergravel filter and leave the crush coral. I thought about stopping at 50 pounds of live rock and adding in 60 pounds of base rock. Do you think this is a bad idea (trying to save money)?

Also, will any of the little critters (worms and the such) in the live rock have any problem with the crush coral? Since all I have in there is the live rock and 3 chromis, I'm just putting in some flake food. Should I start putting in shrimp pellets in order to give the creatures in the live rock something to snack on?

Your ok using 50lbs LR and 60 BR, no problem there, you could drop the ratio more if you wanted to, 30-40lbs LR and the rest BR, still won't hurt. I only have like 60lbs LR and 160lbs BR in my 240g. It will all seed and grow.
All the critters will not have any problems with the CC at all. You don't want to feed them, this keeps them in check, you start feeding them and BOOM, they divide and concur.