How thick of a sand bed

Osama · 10/07/2013, 08:55 AM

I have been away for 4 years. Setting up new tank and wonder if it is still best to have a deep sand bed or no sand bed ? How deep? prefered grain size for sand bed that will not bow all over & cover corals? Your thoughts are gretly appreciated

thegrun · 10/07/2013, 09:07 AM

It depends upon your tank size and if you want to sacrifice the vertical room for a deep sand bed. If you go with a deep sand bed it needs to be at least 4" deep to get an anaerobic zone required for denitrifying bacteria to colonize, but most reefers go with a 5"-6" deep bed. For a shallow sand bed 1" to 2" works well. Any deeper just tends to trap detritus.

Sugar Magnolia · 10/07/2013, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

It depends upon your tank size and if you want to sacrifice the vertical room for a deep sand bed. If you go with a deep sand bed it needs to be at least 4" deep to get an anaerobic zone required for denitrifying bacteria to colonize, but most reefers go with a 5"-6" deep bed. For a shallow sand bed 1" to 2" works well. Any deeper just tends to trap detritus.

Agree with this advice.

As far as grain size, it really depends on what you want the look to be. Most use an aragonite 0.1-0.2 mm grain size since it doesn't get blown around by higher flow. Avoid crushed coral...it will trap detritus and cause elevated nitrates and phosphates over time.

Osama · 10/07/2013, 12:37 PM

Thanks. I am going for a 500g tank 30WX30D (10+ feet long as a room divider) .. but do not wish to give up more than the 4inch.... and will stick with aragonite .1-.2 mm grain size. One more question if I may, what are the advantages of deep vs shallow sand bed???

billdogg · 10/07/2013, 03:01 PM

I really like the benefits of have a DSB, but don't care for the look in my DT. Have you considered a refugium with a DSB? That way you would have the advantage of being able to take it off line in the event that there was an issue with it. That's what i did for my 150DT/120refugium/50sump setup anhd it is working quite well for me.

hth

cloak · 10/07/2013, 03:18 PM

It kind of depends on U. (husbandry) A BB tank, a SSB, & a DSB can all be mucked up in no time in the wrong hands. JMO. GL.

rottloverr · 10/07/2013, 06:50 PM

How deep does the sand bed need to be if you want to have the goby/pistol shrimp combo?

camblonie · 10/07/2013, 08:07 PM

I think you guys mean 1-2mm size. I think that's what I've got and I really like it.

coral102 · 10/07/2013, 08:55 PM

0.5~1.7mm sugar fine grain size.

K Daddy · 10/08/2013, 02:05 AM

I personally like a 4-6" sand bed of aragonite pebbles... looks good, performs good, never had any issues...

GhostCon1 · 10/08/2013, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rottloverr

How deep does the sand bed need to be if you want to have the goby/pistol shrimp combo?

They'll be good in at least 2" inches. The shrimp will move sand to get it the way he wants it though.

Reefin' Dude · 10/08/2013, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

It kind of depends on U. (husbandry) A BB tank, a SSB, & a DSB can all be mucked up in no time in the wrong hands. JMO. GL.

agree.

the best thing to do is design the system around the environment of your must have organism. the more substrate the more poo also kept as a pet. if this is a good or bad thing depends on the trophic level of the emulated environment.

G~

ca1ore · 10/08/2013, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

I really like the benefits of have a DSB, but don't care for the look in my DT. Have you considered a refugium with a DSB? That way you would have the advantage of being able to take it off line in the event that there was an issue with it. That's what i did for my 150DT/120refugium/50sump setup anhd it is working quite well for me.

This is the approach I have taken also.

I prefer about 2 inches of the special grade reef floor sand in my DT. Deep enough for gobies, wrasses, etc; not too deep to get al anaerobic and 'potentially' problematic. If you are going to go DSB, go 6 inches at least. Sand bed of 2-4 inches is sort of like being half-pregnant

coralsnaked · 10/08/2013, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

It kind of depends on U. (husbandry) A BB tank, a SSB, & a DSB can all be mucked up in no time in the wrong hands. JMO. GL.

+1 it does depend on your husbandry. And this does not simply mean your housekeeping skills but rather what you keep in your tank to keep that sandbed turning over. If you do not plan the required livestock for a DSB, then you are better off without one. They were extremely popular and significant some years back in helping deal with water quality, as were the refugiums and rock, mud, sand laden sumps. But really it is more than sufficient to utilize better skimming and reactors now. The quality of improved equipment has made these techniques less appealing to many. You can now build ULN systems with Zeovite RX, Bio Pellet RX and the likes. I currently run LN not ULN systems for my SPS coral utilizing only strong skimming, GAC, GFO RX and sponge / floss mechanical filtration w/ lighter than normal bio loads and good rock in the display.

Oh yea, I do not like sand in my SPS tanks. I run bare bottom or where there is a need for a little somp'n sump'n for looks I run just a little crushed coral (Atlantic) Yes I said crushed coral Sugar Magnolia, only about a 1/2 inch and I vaccumn it all the way to the bottom once a month with water changes. Keeps it nice and clean no detritus. And it is way easier than dealing with reef sand. IMHO

10/07/2013, 08:55 AM	#1
Osama Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Palatine NW suburb of Chicago Posts: 1,026	How thick of a sand bed I have been away for 4 years. Setting up new tank and wonder if it is still best to have a deep sand bed or no sand bed ? How deep? prefered grain size for sand bed that will not bow all over & cover corals? Your thoughts are gretly appreciated

10/07/2013, 03:01 PM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I really like the benefits of have a DSB, but don't care for the look in my DT. Have you considered a refugium with a DSB? That way you would have the advantage of being able to take it off line in the event that there was an issue with it. That's what i did for my 150DT/120refugium/50sump setup anhd it is working quite well for me. hth __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

10/07/2013, 08:07 PM	#8
camblonie Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 148	I think you guys mean 1-2mm size. I think that's what I've got and I really like it. __________________ 75g - 20g sump. LED's, Skimmer, RODI.

10/07/2013, 08:55 PM	#9
coral102 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 368	0.5~1.7mm sugar fine grain size. __________________ Cary Horng

10/07/2013, 09:07 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	It depends upon your tank size and if you want to sacrifice the vertical room for a deep sand bed. If you go with a deep sand bed it needs to be at least 4" deep to get an anaerobic zone required for denitrifying bacteria to colonize, but most reefers go with a 5"-6" deep bed. For a shallow sand bed 1" to 2" works well. Any deeper just tends to trap detritus.

10/07/2013, 12:37 PM	#4
Osama Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Palatine NW suburb of Chicago Posts: 1,026	Thanks. I am going for a 500g tank 30WX30D (10+ feet long as a room divider) .. but do not wish to give up more than the 4inch.... and will stick with aragonite .1-.2 mm grain size. One more question if I may, what are the advantages of deep vs shallow sand bed???

10/07/2013, 03:18 PM	#6
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	It kind of depends on U. (husbandry) A BB tank, a SSB, & a DSB can all be mucked up in no time in the wrong hands. JMO. GL.

10/07/2013, 06:50 PM	#7
rottloverr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Woodbridge, Va Posts: 67	How deep does the sand bed need to be if you want to have the goby/pistol shrimp combo?

10/08/2013, 02:05 AM	#10
K Daddy Moved On Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Watervliet, NY Posts: 111	I personally like a 4-6" sand bed of aragonite pebbles... looks good, performs good, never had any issues...