[reddhaus]

Just looking for opinions about optimal sand bed depth. This could be your current depth or just your opinion on what is the best.

[dagnir]

Im currently running 3.5 in. in my tank, but optimal depth is very subjective. For me it all depends on personal preferance. I dont believe there is a true optimal depth because many successful tanks have been run with no sand or sand beds that are 12 in. deep or more. I have taken Tullock's "Less Technology, More Biology" to heart and that is how I want to run my systems. I like a thick sand bed with the appropriate creatures to maintain it. But many people have different methods for success. I personally would run anywhere from 3 to 10 inch sand beds, depending on the look I want and what kind of system I am trying to mimic.

[kevinpo]

My sand bed runs 3-5" so I checked 4-5". It's only been in operation 18 months. So far so good but I will have to wait until 5 years or so to pass before I can say whether or not it's optimal

Regards,
Kevin

[mgk65]

I have 4-6 inches in my display tank and around 8" or so in my frag tank.

mgk

[organicreefer]

i ran a 4" dsb on m old 93 for almost three years,i moved that sand(yes the whole bed) to my new 120 and added a bit more.ive had 4-6 inches in my display an 8 inches in my refugium for a little over a year now -and ive been slowly removing it-not because of any problems -the bed is thriving with hundreds of speghetti worms/and large feather dusters popping up everyhwere, plus the mini brittles other worms and pods etcetc.

i just feel that it is really overkill and id like to reclaim a little real estate. at least in the display-ill probly try to get it to average of 2-4 inches-some deep and some shallower parts.

[ChrisPrusha]

I have anywhere from 5-7" of sand in my tank. I can't tell you, however, if this is an optimal depth...I can only say that in the 10 months my 180 has been set up it appears to be working fairly well for me.

Chris

[reefeze]

How about as deep as possible?

RE

[MEC]

Just redid my 55 last weekend. The stand almost broke was one of those particle board peice of sh!!t. Had 4-5 inches in the tank orrigionally of arragonite. had lots of worms and stuff in it. Didnt really like the looks of the sand though. Ended up replacing all of the sand with some white silica sand. Saved some of the worms and other things though so in a few mounth I should have a nice live bed again. Think the deapth of the sand really helps get rid of the nitrates. Along with a good skimmer its all we really need to keeps things clean IMO.....Mike

[SPasse]

Hi All,

Some increase in the Nitrate reduction capability can be seen in a 6” deep bed over say a 4” deep bed.

The practical benefits of a bed deeper than 6” are TBD.

Regards,

Scott