Getting back into reefs...... Questions

[Bill-e]

Hi All,
I ran a softie tank for about a dozen years until a fire took it out. Now I'm ready to get back into it and between my old age and new technology in the decade I was away I thought I'd start with the Sandbed

I don't want a glass bottom reef. I had a deep sand bed for a dozen years and it worked well for the softies.. Which is what I want again.

So What is the current thinking... I'd actually like to do a deep bed again but wanted to ask the question.

I intend to do a 65 gal tank again but my fortune is better now and I'm not so young so I'm looking at a Red Sea 300 G2+ Max and my only real question about it is the LED lighting and whether or not LED is good enough for the softies and clams.

All comments are welcome.
Thanks
Bill

 

[Geraud]

You should read the horror stories about Red Sea tanks before settling for one. Personally that kept me away from these and I got a Planet Aquariums instead.

Pretty much any light will grow softies. Clams do require way more light, akin to SPS.

These days deep sand beds are not really common. But a little bit of sand is fine (I have from 1 to 3 inches -front to back- that I keep clean)

 

[Josh]

DSB seems to be great for a softie tank, but they eventually accumulate too much detritus. You should be sure to vacuum or replace portions of the sand every few months to get the mud out.

 

[PalmTree]

Welcome back, Bill! I had a deep sand bed as well back in 1998 when I started out in saltwater in my 180. Like you, I also don't like the look of a bare bottom. I now have a 65 gal reef ready with about an inch on sand on the bottom. A diamond back goby keeps my sand bed pretty clean.

As for lights I am using a Kessil APX9 which I love. Radions are a very popular choice as well.

Good luck with the build! Alot has changed but the fundamentals are the same.

 

[akma]

Hi All,
I ran a softie tank for about a dozen years until a fire took it out. Now I'm ready to get back into it and between my old age and new technology in the decade I was away I thought I'd start with the Sandbed

I don't want a glass bottom reef. I had a deep sand bed for a dozen years and it worked well for the softies.. Which is what I want again.

So What is the current thinking... I'd actually like to do a deep bed again but wanted to ask the question.

I intend to do a 65 gal tank again but my fortune is better now and I'm not so young so I'm looking at a Red Sea 300 G2+ Max and my only real question about it is the LED lighting and whether or not LED is good enough for the softies and clams.

All comments are welcome.
Thanks
Bill

Welcome back!,

I'd look more into red sea before jumping on it. I know 4 people personally where their tanks failed at the seams.

LED's are more than enough for softies and clams. Have to be careful not to burn softies.

 

[Bill-e]

DSB seems to be great for a softie tank, but they eventually accumulate too much detritus. You should be sure to vacuum or replace portions of the sand every few months to get the mud out.

I'm going to go wit an inch of sand but as far as DSB, I had that tank running for over a dozen years before a hood fire took it out and I never messed with the sand. Had tons of life in the sand and never had an issue but I'm going to bow to current thinking.