Sand Depth in My New Tank

Ron Reefman · 08/28/2016, 04:57 PM

I'm about ready to add sand and water to my new 125g tank (5'x2'x20"). I intend to elevate most of the LR an inch above the sand by making egg crate platforms (2) and setting them on pvc pipe legs. Rubble and small rocks along the edge will hide the egg crate. This makes for more open sand for stars, cucumbers and other sand dwellers as well as good hiding places (under the egg crate platforms). I'm currently planning a long sloping island that is split down the middle from front to back creating a channel or chasm with near vertical sides and that runs front left of center in the front to right of center in the back and probably will include a cave in the channel wall on one side. The tank is only 20" tall and one side of the island may reach the water surface (maybe).

So the question I have in how deep should I make the sand base?
And if you want, I'd like opinions and ideas for altering the rockscape.

I had between 1 1/2" and 2" in my old 180g tank and that worked pretty well but I'm curious to know what others are using and why.

I've seriously washed the old sand to get as much 'stuff' out as I could. That includes detritus, sediment, coral frags, shells, crab molts, ect. The water cleared pretty quickly when I stopped stirring it with the hose deep in the bucket.

Thanks,
Ron

gone fishin · 08/28/2016, 05:11 PM

Sounds like a pretty sweet scape you got planned Ron. I personally have always liked around 2" for the sand bed. I figure it is deep enough for most critters but not so deep I could not do some maintenance on the sand bed if it needed any. Also, the 2" mark is the most visually appealing for me.

Good luck I look forward to some pics of the final setup.

thegrun · 08/28/2016, 05:17 PM

1-1/2" to2" for me also, not so deep as to catch a lot of detritus but deep enough for nearly all sand dwelling creatures.

Ron Reefman · 08/28/2016, 05:36 PM

I should have said something in the first post. If anybody is interested in my build, I've got a build thread going here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2593017

Tony, I'm so looking forward to doing the rockscape. I've had a wall in my old 180g for 6 years and I want something different. The cool thing is, I have about 250 to 300 pounds of rock to work with! Two Brutes full and a lot in a 125g sump under my 65g shallow reef.

Misled · 08/28/2016, 08:39 PM

Ron, take a look in my blog at how I did mine.

08/28/2016, 04:57 PM	#1
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Sand Depth in My New Tank I'm about ready to add sand and water to my new 125g tank (5'x2'x20"). I intend to elevate most of the LR an inch above the sand by making egg crate platforms (2) and setting them on pvc pipe legs. Rubble and small rocks along the edge will hide the egg crate. This makes for more open sand for stars, cucumbers and other sand dwellers as well as good hiding places (under the egg crate platforms). I'm currently planning a long sloping island that is split down the middle from front to back creating a channel or chasm with near vertical sides and that runs front left of center in the front to right of center in the back and probably will include a cave in the channel wall on one side. The tank is only 20" tall and one side of the island may reach the water surface (maybe). So the question I have in how deep should I make the sand base? And if you want, I'd like opinions and ideas for altering the rockscape. I had between 1 1/2" and 2" in my old 180g tank and that worked pretty well but I'm curious to know what others are using and why. I've seriously washed the old sand to get as much 'stuff' out as I could. That includes detritus, sediment, coral frags, shells, crab molts, ect. The water cleared pretty quickly when I stopped stirring it with the hose deep in the bucket. Thanks, Ron __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

08/28/2016, 05:11 PM	#2
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Sounds like a pretty sweet scape you got planned Ron. I personally have always liked around 2" for the sand bed. I figure it is deep enough for most critters but not so deep I could not do some maintenance on the sand bed if it needed any. Also, the 2" mark is the most visually appealing for me. Good luck I look forward to some pics of the final setup. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

08/28/2016, 05:36 PM	#4
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	I should have said something in the first post. If anybody is interested in my build, I've got a build thread going here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2593017 Tony, I'm so looking forward to doing the rockscape. I've had a wall in my old 180g for 6 years and I want something different. The cool thing is, I have about 250 to 300 pounds of rock to work with! Two Brutes full and a lot in a 125g sump under my 65g shallow reef. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

08/28/2016, 08:39 PM	#5
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Ron, take a look in my blog at how I did mine. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

08/28/2016, 05:17 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	1-1/2" to2" for me also, not so deep as to catch a lot of detritus but deep enough for nearly all sand dwelling creatures.