Pros and Cons of deep bed sand and live rock

kettlecorn · 04/26/2010, 05:31 PM

Hi,

i always thought more live rock was better unless it was too cramped. I was going to put about 1-1.5 lbs per gallon (about 15 for my 12 gal) of live rock and an inch of sand bedding in my tank but I have been told my some that i should go deep bed sand of about 20 lbs and less than 10lbs of live rock.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

imblacksheep · 04/26/2010, 06:03 PM

i have a 15 gallon tank, 20-25lbs of LR and 20lbs of sand, i don't see anything wrong with it

unless someone has a say

celamb89 · 04/26/2010, 06:30 PM

Personally I would go with the LR, it does a great job with the nitrogen cycle and u can arrange it to your personal taste. I dont think there is a max limit on LR just a minimum to keep the nitrogen cycle going.
The DSP(deep sand bed) in my opinion is a nitrogen bomb, it works and gives results but if u ever sift the sand the ur params will blow up the sky hehe...

Both paths will work it just depends on which way u wanna go. I like LR because it will never create that "bomb" and u can arrange it of course that too much LR will cramp the space in ur tank

Good luck

Shotgunlew · 04/26/2010, 06:35 PM

The problem with a deep sand bed ( mines pretty deep aswell, 20lbs in a 12 gallon tank ) is that food and other things of that nature get stuck in the sand and when you sift, you spike, BUT if you have enough little critters to maintain your sand bed and if you have some type of invert to sift if you will be fine IMO.

Chris

polyppetey · 04/26/2010, 08:19 PM

You do NOT need a DSB in a nano, an inch or less is fine. Go for good quality liverock. The tank is too small for a DSB to work properly and it will take up way too much space.
I had about 12 lbs of LR in my nano, 2 large pieces and about 5 smaller ones, go for the rock with good porosity not the stuff that looks like concrete chunks.

Don't do the liverock rubble in the back middle chamber either, ditch the bio balls, keep one sponge in the first chamber and top it with filter floss. Change the floss weekly and rinse out the sponge when you do your water changes. Use a maxijet 900 for the return pump-ditch the stock one and you should be set.

That was my secret to a happy thriving nano for 5 years.

kettlecorn · 04/26/2010, 08:54 PM

Thanks for the informative information guys. I have thought it through and I think i don't really need a deep bed sand thing goin in a nano. Maybe if i upgrade to a larger tank.

When am i allowed to add the sand creatures like hermit crabs, shrimps and gobias? Can i do it during cycling to get rid of algae?

Quote:

Originally Posted by polyppetey

You do NOT need a DSB in a nano, an inch or less is fine. Go for good quality liverock. The tank is too small for a DSB to work properly and it will take up way too much space.
I had about 12 lbs of LR in my nano, 2 large pieces and about 5 smaller ones, go for the rock with good porosity not the stuff that looks like concrete chunks.

Don't do the liverock rubble in the back middle chamber either, ditch the bio balls, keep one sponge in the first chamber and top it with filter floss. Change the floss weekly and rinse out the sponge when you do your water changes. Use a maxijet 900 for the return pump-ditch the stock one and you should be set.

That was my secret to a happy thriving nano for 5 years.

Haha you read my mind. I was actually going to live rock rubble in the back chamber and the only reason for that was because the previous owner this nanocube ran that setup and his tank seemed to thrive. He also ran all 3 stock sponges and the bag of carbon but who knows what else he did.

When you say keep one sponge and top it with filter floss, how much filter floss are we talking? I thought maybe I can go.. chamber 1: (bottom to top) sponge, purigen and filterfloss. chamber 2: (bottom to top) live rock rubble, egg crate, chemi-pure elite, eggcrate, filter floss
chamber 3: pump and heater

Tuscaquatics · 04/26/2010, 11:52 PM

DSB is useless and just a detritus trap unless you have 3-5 inches.

Nanz · 04/27/2010, 06:08 AM

When I had my 12 gallon nano cube setup I used all the sponges, carbon and purigen. I took out the bioballs, ceramic rings and changed the stock pump like above to a MJ900. I replaced the ceramic rings with live rock pieces. If you clean the sponges every week you should be fine.

kettlecorn · 04/27/2010, 12:59 PM

Other than the sponges, are there any other forms of mechanical filteration? I have the modular surface skimmer but not sure how it works. I am also thinking purigen and chemi-pure elite. THe bioballs and ceramic rings are out.

Shotgunlew · 04/27/2010, 05:11 PM

For the skimmer just hold it up to the inlet of the filter

Quote:

Originally Posted by kettlecorn

Other than the sponges, are there any other forms of mechanical filteration? I have the modular surface skimmer but not sure how it works. I am also thinking purigen and chemi-pure elite. THe bioballs and ceramic rings are out.

04/26/2010, 05:31 PM	#1
kettlecorn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 308	Pros and Cons of deep bed sand and live rock Hi, i always thought more live rock was better unless it was too cramped. I was going to put about 1-1.5 lbs per gallon (about 15 for my 12 gal) of live rock and an inch of sand bedding in my tank but I have been told my some that i should go deep bed sand of about 20 lbs and less than 10lbs of live rock. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

04/27/2010, 06:08 AM	#8
Nanz Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,389	When I had my 12 gallon nano cube setup I used all the sponges, carbon and purigen. I took out the bioballs, ceramic rings and changed the stock pump like above to a MJ900. I replaced the ceramic rings with live rock pieces. If you clean the sponges every week you should be fine. __________________ S.G. = 1.025, Temp = 78.5, pH = 8.00 Ca = 550 ppm, Alk = 176 ppm (9.85 dKH), Mg = 1300 ppm NO3 = 0.97 ppm, PO4 = 0.07 ppm Nuvo 30, Razor Nano LED, Tunze ATO, Tunze 9004 skimmer, Vortec mp10,

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04/26/2010, 06:03 PM	#2
imblacksheep Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: oc Posts: 104	i have a 15 gallon tank, 20-25lbs of LR and 20lbs of sand, i don't see anything wrong with it unless someone has a say

04/26/2010, 06:30 PM	#3
celamb89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Live in Mexico, from AustinTX Posts: 869	Personally I would go with the LR, it does a great job with the nitrogen cycle and u can arrange it to your personal taste. I dont think there is a max limit on LR just a minimum to keep the nitrogen cycle going. The DSP(deep sand bed) in my opinion is a nitrogen bomb, it works and gives results but if u ever sift the sand the ur params will blow up the sky hehe... Both paths will work it just depends on which way u wanna go. I like LR because it will never create that "bomb" and u can arrange it of course that too much LR will cramp the space in ur tank Good luck

04/26/2010, 06:35 PM	#4
Shotgunlew Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 128	The problem with a deep sand bed ( mines pretty deep aswell, 20lbs in a 12 gallon tank ) is that food and other things of that nature get stuck in the sand and when you sift, you spike, BUT if you have enough little critters to maintain your sand bed and if you have some type of invert to sift if you will be fine IMO. Chris

04/26/2010, 08:19 PM	#5
polyppetey Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: richboro Posts: 313	You do NOT need a DSB in a nano, an inch or less is fine. Go for good quality liverock. The tank is too small for a DSB to work properly and it will take up way too much space. I had about 12 lbs of LR in my nano, 2 large pieces and about 5 smaller ones, go for the rock with good porosity not the stuff that looks like concrete chunks. Don't do the liverock rubble in the back middle chamber either, ditch the bio balls, keep one sponge in the first chamber and top it with filter floss. Change the floss weekly and rinse out the sponge when you do your water changes. Use a maxijet 900 for the return pump-ditch the stock one and you should be set. That was my secret to a happy thriving nano for 5 years.

04/26/2010, 11:52 PM	#7
Tuscaquatics Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 1,324	DSB is useless and just a detritus trap unless you have 3-5 inches.

04/27/2010, 12:59 PM	#9
kettlecorn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 308	Other than the sponges, are there any other forms of mechanical filteration? I have the modular surface skimmer but not sure how it works. I am also thinking purigen and chemi-pure elite. THe bioballs and ceramic rings are out.