starting over with a dsb - help

[Mscott203]

previous system crashed completly, everything died. So, we're starting over and doing things a bit differently now.

main difference will be the addition of a deep sand bed. There is so much debate on this topic but little "how to get it started" info.

1) dsb sand bed calculator told me I'll need 270 pounds of sand for a 6 inch depth on our 125gl tank. how much should be "live sand" and how much plain sand.
2) whats the best kind of plain sand to lay down and whats the best way to get it cheaply in such bulk.
3) ive read laying a layer of eggcrate down is a good idea before adding the sand. yes? no?
4) there is no hurry at all right now and we've learned patience.

so I thought the process would be....
1) lay down egg crate along bottom of tank
2) lay down pvc piping for closed loop
3) add all "dead" sand (hopefully purchased from home depot to
6 inches deep covering egg crate, and pvc piping.
4) add 150 pounds of "dead" rock (rock from crashed tank thats been baked in the sun for a month) fixed to closed loop pvc piping to create nice permanent rockscape.
5) fill tank with ro/di water
6) run skimmer until all cloudiness and powder from sand is gone - say a week or so
7) add salt / heat
5) add live rock x 50 pounds
6) turn on closed loop for circulation
6) let tank cycle
7) add 20 pounds of "live" sand
8) wait a couple of months to let the 50#live rock and 20# live
sand seed the rest of the tank.
does this sound like how things should go?
if not - any suggestions? or links?
thanks

[virginiadiver69]

I got a lot of good info from these.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=803688

http://ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm

http://safesand.stores.yahoo.net/

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=239848

And anything else you can find by waterkeeper