Larger TLF Reborn Coming Back?

[trevorhiller]

Has anyone else heard this is coming back?

I heard this on a Melev's reef live stream that the [old] larger material is coming back soon. Apparently there was some at MACNA at the TLF booth. I was looking for this months ago when setting up my new tank and wanted it for substrate.

Straight from the horse's mouth here:

 

[Montiman]

The reborn source material switched and nobody liked it but now TLF is selling both a reborn and little reborn. The regular reborn looks like the old stuff to me.

 

[trevorhiller]

From what I gather. “Little Reborn” has actually been discontinued due to consumer outrage a while back, however, many retailers likely still have a supply due to its unpopularity and sell it as such. However, I specifically remember one of them listed little reborn apart from Reborn and the little version was marked discontinued. I believe this occurred after they were able to increase the particle size slightly (but still not compatible to the original).

I myself wanted to get the old (large particle) Reborn to use as substrate when I setup my tank and couldn’t find anyone with some remaining. So I used the newer updated [Standard] Reborn and while it was better than the Little Reborn, it still wasn’t the size of the old stuff. Mine is comparable to a bag of crushed coral substrate. In fact, I ended up manually sifting through mine to remove pieces of glass and plastic. Less than ideal.

I imagine if this rumor is true, it’s going to add more confusion to the mix as it’s going to be hard to ensure you’re getting new stock rather than a old bag of “substitute” reborn or even Little eborn.

Two Little Fishies really screwed this one up selling a different media under the same name. I’m glad they finally changed it to Little Reborn, but Reborn shouldn’t have been re-marketed unless it is the same size as the original stuff.

Do you happen to have any pictures of your media you believe to be similar size? I’ll see if I can find a picture of the original stuff.

 

[trevorhiller]

This was a picture someone posted of original next to newer stuff. The original stuff was quite chunky and several centimeters long from what I understand.

Mine is more approximately like the one on the left.

 

[trevorhiller]

I’m surprised there wasn’t more interest in this as it seems it made quite a stir originally when it became no longer available.

I see saltwateraquarium.com has updated there page stating it is now the original size media.

Has anyone ordered lately that can confirm it’s back to the OG Reborn particle size as Melevs reef stated was happening?

 

[trevorhiller]

Well I used a coupon for saltwater aquarium.com and took a gamble to see if it is truly the larger particle size coral rubble as it states. Sure is!

You can see by the pictures of the media in the bag that the new media is larger in size as compared to the media in the tank photograph which is the replacement Reborn media from last year.

It looks like the “good stuff” is back.

 

[Williamson’s Reef]

Well I used a coupon for saltwater aquarium.com and took a gamble to see if it is truly the larger particle size coral rubble as it states. Sure is!

You can see by the pictures of the media in the bag that the new media is larger in size as compared to the media in the tank photograph which is the replacement Reborn media from last year.

It looks like the “good stuff” is back.

Awesome thanks for sharing. I’m going to order some. My calcium reactor was a mess with the little stuff mixed in with the original.

 

[a.ocellaris]

Received this today! Happy to say it’s as good as before.

 

[trevorhiller]

Received this today! Happy to say it’s as good as before.

Nice! I was tempted to order that size so I have some extra for a future tank in case it becomes unavailable again, but opted to just get the smaller bag. Hopefully the new supply chain is sustainable.

I’ve got enough aquarium junk sitting around in rubber made bins.

I spent the day swapping out the old reborn substrate (well most of it) for the new. Looks really good in place of a sandbed. Kind of gives that sandbed look with the bare bottom benefit of not blowing around with high flow and being easy to blow detritus out of it. I’m surprised it’s not a more popular approach for substrate.

1 bag of it gave me a nice thin layer on the bottom of my 24”x24” tank.

 

[JMetaxas]

Where is the best place to order the new larger Reborn?

FWIW, I'm using the smaller stuff with good results in my Ca+ Reactor (MTC), however, this product is VERY dirty. Cleaning up a 1/2 gallons quantity takes forever. I must spend 50 gallons flushing in a 5 gallon bucket and a garden hose.

 

[trevorhiller]

Where is the best place to order the new larger Reborn?

FWIW, I'm using the smaller stuff with good results in my Ca+ Reactor (MTC), however, this product is VERY dirty. Cleaning up a 1/2 gallons quantity takes forever. I must spend 50 gallons flushing in a 5 gallon bucket and a garden hose.

I got it from saltwateraquarium.com. I’m sure others will have it too, but they are the only ones that specifically state on the product page it is the new (old style) reborn. I was worried about getting old stock, but they confirmed to me they just updated the product page in the last two weeks to reflect the updated particle size.

I wasn’t very impressed with the substitute Reborn or the “Little Reborn”. Mine had all kinds of sticks and even glass in it. I really wanted the coral rubble substrate though so I cleaned it up and used it like you do, but this new stuff is great. Much much cleaner, hardly any shells and very little debris. I soaked it overnight in RODI water just to see what would come out and the water was quite clear.