keeping a sand bed healthy?

[MikeP471612]

For my 190g I think I want to go with a sand bottom. How do I make sure it stays healthy?

[Randall_James]

sort of depends on the type of substrate and the depth of it. Take a peek at the pinned thread at the top of this forum about substrate and make some choices about the sand bed itself.

I personally like about 3" of aragonite. The only thing I do to keep it healthy is my water changes and an occasional stir of the top 1" or so every 2 or 3 months to create something of an event. This seems to stimulate growth, breaks loose detritus and gives me a bit of a storm in the tank.

The live rock introduces a number of creatures (mini brittlestars, assorted pods, worms, other micro fauna) that keep the bed stirred and alive. No sand sifters (star fish, or fish)

[jpitts101]

here's a good link
http://ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm

[drummereef]

A good cleanup crew of some nassarius and cerith snails do a good job stirring and cleaning the sandbed.

[bertoni]

An inch or so of sand should be comparatively easy to manage. That's probably a good choice. Some cerith snails and perhaps a cucumber (non-toxic sand-mopping) should do the job. A fighting conch might be fine, as well.