Sand Bed ?!

[AussieCrazy]

Hey everyone have a question. Im setting up a 265 now and was wondering how many inches would you consider a deep sand bed?? I've always had about 2/3 inches and never problems, also would you guys put sand in first? Or rock? I always did sand but always hear different options a out it , thanks everyone

 

[al0ha]

same question....i always put sand first but people seem to do rock work first then sand....

 

[AussieCrazy]

same question....i always put sand first but people seem to do rock work first then sand....

Yea I do sand as well , cause would be a pain to shove the sand evenly with all the rock work. So I agree sand first

 

[masterswimmer]

Sand first works best for avoiding sandstorms. However, if you put rock first, the sand will saturate and fill in all the empty 'nooks and crannies' between the rocks. No worry about having to fill in the gaps manually. The sand becomes somewhat 'fluidized' and seeks its own level.

Normally a deep sandbed is considered 6". I try to plumb deep sandbeds remotely. I don't like doing them in the DT. Running them remote allows you to take them off line if something goes wrong.

Russ

 

[NYC Joe]

Also if you do rocks first and then sand. Your rocks will be more stable.

Now If you get a pistol shrimp and he digs under your rocks. And the rocks are above. Uhhh ohh they may topple over.

Makes me feel safer.



Thanx
-Joe

 

[AussieCrazy]

Sand first works best for avoiding sandstorms. However, if you put rock first, the sand will saturate and fill in all the empty 'nooks and crannies' between the rocks. No worry about having to fill in the gaps manually. The sand becomes somewhat 'fluidized' and seeks its own level.

Normally a deep sandbed is considered 6". I try to plumb deep sandbeds remotely. I don't like doing them in the DT. Running them remote allows you to take them off line if something goes wrong.

Russ

This was something I was considering doing a remote sand bed, in the Refugium so if I do a 4-6 in the Refugium what would you keep your display at?

 

[fishman1069]

I alway kept my dt sandbed around an inch or 2. It also depends on what fish you plan on keeping, Most wrasse need a decent depth to sleep in and jawfish need to burrow. Thats just 2 examples

 

[peteyboyny]

Also if you do rocks first and then sand. Your rocks will be more stable.

Now If you get a pistol shrimp and he digs under your rocks. And the rocks are above. Uhhh ohh they may topple over.

Makes me feel safer.



Thanx
-Joe

+1, I'm doing my rock work first. I'll worry about the sand bed later. Gotta get everything stable first. Plus easier to rearrange rocks that you're not happy with and not have a sandstorm. But like Fishman said, also depends what you're keeping.

 

[thirty5]

Rock first then sand IMO. As said above if you get any type of animal that digs heavily and you put rock on top of sand. When the animal moves the sand it can make your rock unstable and cause an avalanche! If you look in the back of my tank (behind rock) there is almost no sand back there, but it really does not matter, actual the bare in the back needs less flow to keep the bottom clean.

 

[AussieCrazy]

So if I did a 2 inch sand bed after the rock work, in my dt, and did like a 6 inch sand bed in my Refugium would that be a perfect combo?

 

[peteyboyny]

I'm bare bottom right now. LOL, oops. At least until I make up my mind.

 

[thirty5]

So if I did a 2 inch sand bed after the rock work, in my dt, and did like a 6 inch sand bed in my Refugium would that be a perfect combo?

I think that would be fine. I have 2 in my DT 75 gallon... I only have 4 inches of sand in my fuge. 6 is really deep!! IMO

 

[AussieCrazy]

I think that would be fine. I have 2 in my DT 75 gallon... I only have 4 inches of sand in my fuge. 6 is really deep!! IMO

Great thank you.

 

[albano]

So if I did a 2 inch sand bed after the rock work, in my dt, and did like a 6 inch sand bed in my Refugium would that be a perfect combo?

+1 ... always rocks first, even better if you can raise base rocks (on acrylic legs) above the sand

 

[masterswimmer]

So if I did a 2 inch sand bed after the rock work, in my dt, and did like a 6 inch sand bed in my Refugium would that be a perfect combo?

Perfect......IMO

I would definitely go rock first.

Russ

 

[NYC Joe]

You know what I always wanted to do.
Cut out some egg crate and put it in the bottom.
Then put rocks on top.
Them put sand in.
That way you'd always have some beneficial life in there.





Thanx
-Joe

 

[AussieCrazy]

You know what I always wanted to do.
Cut out some egg crate and put it in the bottom.
Then put rocks on top.
Them put sand in.
That way you'd always have some beneficial life in there.





Thanx
-Joe

Joe ,

Funny you say that that's how I use to do all my previous tanks, just didn't really think it made a difference In my opinion but def agree great idea.

 

[albano]

Cut out some egg crate and put it in the bottom.
Then put rocks on top.
Them put sand in.
That way you'd always have some beneficial life in there.

IMO, this is may not a good idea... the egg crate may actually create dead spots, where 'sand sifters/cleaners' can not reach...
instead of "always having beneficial life in there", you might end up with 'dirt' that will always be in there.