Shallow Sand Bed Life

Uncle Dmerr · 10/30/2013, 08:40 AM

Throughout this forum, I see many people detail the importance of cultivating life in their deep sand beds. Putting aside your views of DSB’s or substrates in general, what benefits (if any) are there in encouraging life in our shallow (< 2.5”) sand beds? Examples being: using live sand, seeding “dead” sand, avoiding syphoning, bacteria boosters, etc.

oscarinw · 10/30/2013, 09:41 AM

Sand can trap detritus and one of the functions of life in it is to consume this detritus. This I would say is the biggest one. Unconsumed detritus will decompose and foul your water. Other is to avoid clumping of sand via sifting. One final one I can think of is to deter algae growth although I think it's not 100% effective. Sand is finally home for a lot of your biological filter but bacteria will end up in the sand no matter what so I'm not sure that applies to your question.

Wrench · 10/30/2013, 10:45 AM

You can vac your substrate a little bit at a time to preserve the microfauna. I do a third of mine with each weekly water change. You want to get the detritus out. Especially in an SPS tank.

10/30/2013, 08:40 AM	#1
Uncle Dmerr Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Nebraska Posts: 36	Shallow Sand Bed Life Throughout this forum, I see many people detail the importance of cultivating life in their deep sand beds. Putting aside your views of DSB’s or substrates in general, what benefits (if any) are there in encouraging life in our shallow (< 2.5”) sand beds? Examples being: using live sand, seeding “dead” sand, avoiding syphoning, bacteria boosters, etc.

10/30/2013, 09:41 AM	#2
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	Sand can trap detritus and one of the functions of life in it is to consume this detritus. This I would say is the biggest one. Unconsumed detritus will decompose and foul your water. Other is to avoid clumping of sand via sifting. One final one I can think of is to deter algae growth although I think it's not 100% effective. Sand is finally home for a lot of your biological filter but bacteria will end up in the sand no matter what so I'm not sure that applies to your question.

10/30/2013, 10:45 AM	#3
Wrench Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,004	You can vac your substrate a little bit at a time to preserve the microfauna. I do a third of mine with each weekly water change. You want to get the detritus out. Especially in an SPS tank.