Deep sand or no sand?

phil_pl · 01-13-2012, 09:20 PM

I have been wondering for some time now about sand in a reef aquarium. Hoping to get some first hand experience from people who have run them both. I have seen everything from tanks with 10" sand beds to tanks with no sand.
What are the benefits to deep (4"+) and no sand beds? What are the downsides? Wat differences will they make in controlling water quality (balancing ph, kh, gh, maintaining calcium and alkalinity magnesium etc..? Thank you in advance for any help!

Reefing Madness · 01-14-2012, 09:36 AM

Deep Sand beds grow the bcateria that will eat out Nitrates and turn them into Nitrogen, a totally harmless gas in the tank. But, they also build up a gas in them called Hydrogen Sulphide, if you stir up the sand bed this gas will get released, and that is not good.
Ron Shimek's Website...Deep Sand Beds

Bar Bottom tanks do not collect detrius in them, all the waste gets picked up by the filters or skimmer. I just don't like the looks of a bare bottom tank, doesn't look natural, then again, if you have enough rock in there, you can't see the bottom.
Feature Article: An Experimental Comparison of Sandbed and Plenum-Based Systems. Part 1: Controlled lab dosing experiments — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

01-13-2012, 09:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
phil_pl Aquarium Lover phil_pl's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1,145 Name: Phil Location: Dalton, Georgia My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 563 Times Said "Thanks" 287 Times Was Thanked 308 Times in 246 Posts	Deep sand or no sand? I have been wondering for some time now about sand in a reef aquarium. Hoping to get some first hand experience from people who have run them both. I have seen everything from tanks with 10" sand beds to tanks with no sand. What are the benefits to deep (4"+) and no sand beds? What are the downsides? Wat differences will they make in controlling water quality (balancing ph, kh, gh, maintaining calcium and alkalinity magnesium etc..? Thank you in advance for any help! __________________ It has become more than a hobby! My 29gal Dream Reef DIY Build

01-14-2012, 09:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
Reefing Madness 240g Mixed Reef Reefing Madness's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,651 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1,385 Times Said "Thanks" 39 Times Was Thanked 940 Times in 917 Posts	Re: Deep sand or no sand? Deep Sand beds grow the bcateria that will eat out Nitrates and turn them into Nitrogen, a totally harmless gas in the tank. But, they also build up a gas in them called Hydrogen Sulphide, if you stir up the sand bed this gas will get released, and that is not good. Ron Shimek's Website...Deep Sand Beds Bar Bottom tanks do not collect detrius in them, all the waste gets picked up by the filters or skimmer. I just don't like the looks of a bare bottom tank, doesn't look natural, then again, if you have enough rock in there, you can't see the bottom. Feature Article: An Experimental Comparison of Sandbed and Plenum-Based Systems. Part 1: Controlled lab dosing experiments — Advanced Aquarist \| Aquarist Magazine and Blog __________________ http://s1050.photobucket.com/albums/...eefingMadness/

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