shallow sand bed - pros & cons

cmbspd · 01/20/2010, 09:26 AM

I'm setting up a 110gal tank with the ultimate goal of moving toward easier SPS corals, clams, lots of misc inverts and a few fish in the longterm. I'm generally going with the Berlin method - large sump & skimmer, refugium and lots of live rock. I intend a DSB in the refugium but not the display tank and I've read a lot about DSB vs BB displays and I don't want a DSB display but I also don't want bare bottom. I'd like your opinion on adding a very thin coarse sand bottom of ~ 1/2 inch to the DT, which mostly seems left out of the debate.

Pros:
more attractive than bare glass
habitat for sand dwellers that I like (is this enough for a pistol shrimp & goby if the live rock also provides good caves?)

Cons:
can I achieve enough flow to prevent detritus buildup? Presumably larger sand and crushed corals wouldn't blow around if I up circulation to a level necessary for the corals and clams (say 2000gph), but they still might provide stagnant areas for detritus. Would it still need frequent vacuuming?

Michael · 01/20/2010, 09:31 AM

pros=too many to list
cons= wont sustain certain creatures who need a deep bed and wont become active enough biologically to be useful for filtration.

thegrun · 01/20/2010, 09:55 AM

+1 on shallow, I have a few friends that swear by DSB, but I have heard to many horror stories to risk one (I don't like there look in the DT, so if I did ever have one I would keep it in my refugium). I don't have a nitrate problem, so I don't have a compelling reason to keep a DSB.

gdsmith56 · 01/20/2010, 10:03 AM

I have a bit more than 1/2 inch in all my tanks but it's basically for looks. I dont like barebottom tanks! The goby and shrimp do a LOT of rearranging of sand in their tank and some algae grows in the others, but blowing it with the turkey baster (small tanks :-) ) before water changes does an adequate job of keeping them all presentable.

I do have a DSB in the refugium -- along with a dozen mangrove plants that are growing very nicely.

kimber45 · 01/20/2010, 11:44 AM

i like 1-2" personally but i think the key is sand size.

the caribsea Seafloor Special Grade Reef Sand seems to work very well.

cmbspd · 01/21/2010, 03:33 PM

The key being the size range of 1-2mm, or simply avoiding sugarfine and crushed coral?

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimber45

i like 1-2" personally but i think the key is sand size.

the caribsea Seafloor Special Grade Reef Sand seems to work very well.

bertoni · 01/21/2010, 04:45 PM

I used the finest grade of sand available, and that worked well. If you want super high flow, a slightly larger grain size might be better.

01/20/2010, 09:26 AM	#1
cmbspd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 253	shallow sand bed - pros & cons I'm setting up a 110gal tank with the ultimate goal of moving toward easier SPS corals, clams, lots of misc inverts and a few fish in the longterm. I'm generally going with the Berlin method - large sump & skimmer, refugium and lots of live rock. I intend a DSB in the refugium but not the display tank and I've read a lot about DSB vs BB displays and I don't want a DSB display but I also don't want bare bottom. I'd like your opinion on adding a very thin coarse sand bottom of ~ 1/2 inch to the DT, which mostly seems left out of the debate. Pros: more attractive than bare glass habitat for sand dwellers that I like (is this enough for a pistol shrimp & goby if the live rock also provides good caves?) Cons: can I achieve enough flow to prevent detritus buildup? Presumably larger sand and crushed corals wouldn't blow around if I up circulation to a level necessary for the corals and clams (say 2000gph), but they still might provide stagnant areas for detritus. Would it still need frequent vacuuming?

01/20/2010, 09:31 AM	#2
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	pros=too many to list cons= wont sustain certain creatures who need a deep bed and wont become active enough biologically to be useful for filtration. __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

01/21/2010, 04:45 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I used the finest grade of sand available, and that worked well. If you want super high flow, a slightly larger grain size might be better. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/20/2010, 09:55 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	+1 on shallow, I have a few friends that swear by DSB, but I have heard to many horror stories to risk one (I don't like there look in the DT, so if I did ever have one I would keep it in my refugium). I don't have a nitrate problem, so I don't have a compelling reason to keep a DSB.

01/20/2010, 10:03 AM	#4
gdsmith56 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Harpers Ferry, WV Posts: 122	I have a bit more than 1/2 inch in all my tanks but it's basically for looks. I dont like barebottom tanks! The goby and shrimp do a LOT of rearranging of sand in their tank and some algae grows in the others, but blowing it with the turkey baster (small tanks :-) ) before water changes does an adequate job of keeping them all presentable. I do have a DSB in the refugium -- along with a dozen mangrove plants that are growing very nicely.

01/20/2010, 11:44 AM	#5
kimber45 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 455	i like 1-2" personally but i think the key is sand size. the caribsea Seafloor Special Grade Reef Sand seems to work very well.