How deep should your sand bed be?

[fernandokng]

What are your opinions on that? I'm about 2 inches, I'd add another inch to make it three, but since I don't have that big of a tank, it looks overwhelming with so much sand.

What do you guys do? I read somewhere that you need atleast 3 inches of sand bed to have denitrification qualities.

 

[jackson6745]

It doesn't matter

 

[marki24]

2 inches is fine

 

[tommy818]

it does matter 4 ins or better just make sure u have critters to turn it over sand star hermits better denitrification adds to zero nitrates

 

[jackson6745]

Tommy do you think you can tell the difference between a reef with 0 nitrates and 20ppm nitrates if they both have low phosphates?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Your sand bed can be as deep as YOU want it to be

 

[wxl14]

I have three inch sand bed. And tons of sand turning snails. It works great. Its your tank if it looks to overwhelming to put more sand in then dont do it. Your the one who is going to have to look at it everyday.

 

[tommy818]

no but if u have nirate in your system then that means the bed is not working efficently.

 

[fernandokng]

Yes, it's about 2.5 inches, and it's cutting it close

Tommy, can you explain why it wouldn't work efficiently?

 

[tommy818]

denitrification takes place in the lower level of the sand bed.im not saying 2 1/2 wont work i personnelly prefer a deeper bed.if your getting zero nitrate reading then your bed is working effeciently.

 

[jackson6745]

It is common to read in reef websites and books that shallow sandbeds don't have the denitrification abilities of a deeper sandbed with more of an anaerobic zone.....at least I think that is the explination

IMO if you are depending on your sandbed to kep your water clean........you're in trouble.
This is why I say it doesn't matter.

You'll still need to do your water changes, run medias, skimming and such with any or no sandbed. (Nutrient Export)

 

[tommy818]

just giving input on what works for me in my 180 i only change 7 gallons per week i reley on powerful skimmihg main tain a stable temp and keep my cal 450 ph 8-2 8-4 alk stable only other additives i use is lugols and mag , i try to keep things simple.adding all this extra equipment most advanced hobbyest use to me is useless.that why i tell new people in the hobby to keep it simple.

 

[tosiek]

And here i thought trates/po4 and other levels all affect color/growth of corals in general. Pretty sure there's a difference trates make in growth of coral. And im sure its linked with some other nutrient/parameter, or trates affect something else that affects something else. Its late and i don't remember them right now or where i read it. Unless im wrong and read the wrong thing then someone slap me and throw me some reading i missed.

2" is enough for some denitrification to occur. 3"+ is where people see the difference between the effects of the nitrate removal. But you have to have proper maintenance of the sand, ie. sand sifters, snails, ect to stir it up and poop all inside it. Its all about the snail poo. You will have to do maintenance like blowing waste gathering at the rock bases/rocks themselves/low current area's every once in a while to help with the po4 and more trates beeing produced.

If it doesn't look good to you then don't do it. Water changes and good husbandry are the bulk of whats removing excess stuff, like Jackson said. A bigger sandbed is only going to give you some help in nitrate removal. So i wouldn't worry about adding 1" more if its gonna look like too much just for some extra nitrate removal to an already low nitrate number.

 

[tosiek]

I just reread his first question again, it does sound like one of those "black or blue background" topics. Your gonna get sooooooo many different answers and then fights between the DSB, BB, and just enough sand to cover and look sexxy poeple. Its all opinion, and all have pro's and cons. And no way is better than the other. Its just another way to skin a cat.

Fernando, read up on RC about deep sand beds. i can't pull a search because i never made an account there. There should be 3 really long and really good threads on deep sand beds and dentrification in the sandbed. And also one on miracle mud/refugiums. It gives all the info needed and is a good read for info on alot of things like why stuff happens when snails poo in 3" of sand. And yes im serious, snail poo is important.

 

[fernandokng]

Thanks for the explanations gang. I was trying to balance the most between aesthetics and a efficiency using a bed, and you put it in a good way: there are pros and cons.

The RC search forum is probably the worst search engine out there, so doesn't work for me 90% the time. However, I will do some search of the snail poo... sounds interesting...

 

[ZBT3091]

i dont think it would matter unless you were planning to put in livestock that need special sand bed specifics - like a garden eel

 

[House of Laughter]

Let's all keep in mind that 0 nitrates does not mean absolute zero - i.e. 0 on phosphate on salifert usually means somewhere between .08 and .03 on a hanna meter.

Useng Rich's model/preference then it won't matter - all corals need a certain amount of what exists naturally in our reefs to flourish (Tosiek's example). Without it, you're colors will be affected.

IMO same goes for phosphates. I have found that .02-.04 phosphates and some nitrates (.10 on salifert) yields the best colors for my corals. HOWEVER, those number will be different in you're reef as your system (skimmer, rocks, sand bed) will absorb and export at different rates in direct proportion to your bio-load, tank size and frequency of water changes - just to name a few things.

Finding the sweet spot is a science, BUT "my science isn't your science" if you know what I mean.

Good luck finding the sweet spot.

House

 

[tommy818]

good advice

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Finding the sweet spot is a science, BUT "my science isn't your science" if you know what I mean.

Good luck finding the sweet spot.

It's art and my art is better than your art :tongue1: :givebeer:

I wonder how the reefs export their nutrients? Do the corals PP distritutors and buy thousands of Bubble Kings?

Even though practice seems to tell us constant temperature yields faster growth, but I think this is not natural. I would be surprised the water temperature stays the same in the reef (especially the shallow ones that are within 10 feet water at mid night versus mid noon. I never went into the ocean in mid night because it's chilling when I was in the tropical area.

 

[BZOFIQ]

NO less than 6 inches for denitrification. For aesthetics keep it under 2" so you don't have significant detritus build-up. Sorry to burst your bubble but couple of articles by Anthony Calfo would surely get you up to speed about DSB and denitrification. If you don't like a lot of sand in your display, look into RDSB.