deep sand bed?

[maryc137]

What is the reason for the "deep" sand bed? I have seen reef tanks with very thin sand on the bottom. Is it really better for the sand to be deep?

 

[fshhub]

yes, deep is much bette, the sand bed is actually part of your filter and denitrifier, and the more the better, plus for denitrification, you need anaerobic areas in the sand, this requires a deeper bed to achieve these areas
4 to 6 inches is the norm, and more than 6 is believed to have no additional benefits, and under 4 is believed to have not as much of a benefit
as for techs and specs, i am not sure how to explain it exactly, but it works well, my tank convinced me