Sand beds

[Freddy Twotimes]

About three months ago, my reef crashed due to a faulty heater.

I am making some changes now that I am in a position to do that, and along with a better protien skimmer and more circulation I wanted to add a deeper sandbed. I am going to redo the tank next week. I have ordered all new live rock and will be doing a 100% water change so what better time to put in more sand?

I currently have about 3" of sand in my trank now [60 lbs in a 55 gallon] and I want to add another 30 lbs which should get me up to about 4" of sand or so. I am currently using sugar fine sand so the diamond goby can sift through it and stir it up...I would like to put 1 grade corarser sand in with my existing sand now in hopes it will stay settled better than before when Mr goby goes to town!

Does anyone have experience with shallow and deep sandbeds? Has it made a difference in keeping the nitrates lower in the tank with live rock and a good protien skimmer?

[Steven Pro]

I like my DSB. It keeps the nitrates a zero and houses a wide assortment of creatures.

I used all sugar fine sand (the infamous Southdown) at 5-6" deep.

[Freddy Twotimes]

Good, I like anything that makes it easier for me to keep the water quality where it should be. I have decided to just do 30 lbs more of the sugar fine sand. Man, 40-50 gallons of water, 30 lbs of sand and washing the sand, and 60 lbs of live rock...

My back is really going to hurt and the end of the day!

[Steven Pro]

I would not wash the sand. It is more trouble than it is worth in my opinion/experience.

[jsheffel]

I like my DSB. It keeps the nitrates a zero and houses a wide assortment of creatures.

I used all sugar fine sand (the infamous Southdown) at 5-6" deep.

Do you also keep a refugium on your system with the DSB? If so, what do you put in it?

[Steven Pro]

Do you also keep a refugium on your system with the DSB? If so, what do you put in it?

Yes. Chaetomorpha.

[Papa Doug]

Back when I had dsb,s and used the finer mixes, I also just put it in the aquarium. As long as their is no livestock. Its easily cleaned with power filters or floss in the sump, plus a skimmer will remove a major portion of the silt & crap.

If the rock is in the tank at the same time, it will require to be blown clean with a powerhead during the process.

[sopranogirl]

I would have gone with live aragonite, with a measly inch or so. It helps buffer tjhe ph and maintain it in the 8.0's The was the selling point for me, and live bacteria means less cycliyng time! Hooray!