Substrates & salts

Substrates & Salts

The Substrates & Salts category includes all base materials (live sands, inert sands, technical mixes) and marine salts intended to recreate or maintain the optimal composition of seawater in a reef tank.

Operating Principles

• Live sand: a mix of shell grains and limestone rocks colonized by bacteria and microfauna, contributing to biological filtration and pH stabilization.
• Inert sand: pure quartz or aragonite, serves as a decorative support and refuge for microfauna, without initial biological intervention.
• Professional marine salts: formulas enriched with trace elements and macro-elements (Fauna Marin Professional, Instant Ocean Reef), allow for one-step water mixing and ensure a chemical composition in line with natural seawater.

Advantages

• Biological balance: live sand promotes the nitrogen cycle and waste purification.
• Chemical stability: professional marine salts directly provide calcium, magnesium, carbonate, and halogens at optimal concentrations.
• Flexibility: possibility to mix live and inert sands for an aesthetic and functional compromise.
• Ease of use: modern salt mixes already include most of the necessary trace elements, reducing the number of supplements needed.

Usage Recommendations

• When setting up the tank, place 5–10 cm of live sand on the bottom, then complement with inert sand to adjust aesthetics.
• For water changes (10–20% weekly), prepare the new water with a professional marine salt at 35 g/L (density 1.025) and stir until completely dissolved before adding.
• Do not rinse live sand before use to preserve the microfauna; rinse inert sand lightly with demineralized fresh water.
• Monitor turbidity after installation: add sand gradually to avoid a cloud of particles.
• Store salt bags in a cool, dry place, away from direct light, and always use osmosis water to prepare saline solutions.