Forde_11;
WELCOME TO CANREEF.................
A fine sugar type aragonite is the best substrate for a shallow or deep sandbed, although I liked some course aragonite mixed in with it. The sand I used was sold by Saltwater Connection in Manioba. Many there in Calgary use it as a substrate.
One could also run different ype of bottoms on their tanks. Many of us now run bare, with a sheet of starboard or acrylic to protect the bottom. This is usually reserved for higher flow sps type systems but other run it in all varietys of tanks.
The there is a plenum type system, which uses a substrate closer to 5mm in size. I prefer the old style crushed coral for something like that.
If you check around on the buy/sell forum or even the Calgary forum, someone local may have some unused SWC fine sand for sale.