how low of a sand bed can i use?

[peckhead]

i am setting up a 90g aggresive...how small of a sand bed can i use? 1/4" - 1" is what it looks like i will have once the water is clear and i can tell. i dont really like the look of deep sand beds. what are the pros and cons of a sand bed this size?

 

[sharkboy13]

pros, u will not have bacterial build up under it, it will be fairly easy to clean. cons, lr will go straight thru and hit the glass, eels and other burrowing animals will also go straight thru to the glass. btw is that u in ur avatar or some random person, just a lil curious

 

[peckhead]

anyone else? is it true that i wont get the benficial bacteria? how deep of a bed do eels like?

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by peckhead
anyone else? is it true that i wont get the benficial bacteria? how deep of a bed do eels like?
You will get loads of aerobic bacteria but no anaerobic bacteria. anaerobic bacteria process Nitrate. There's nothing wrong with a 1/2" sand bed but you will have to find a way to remove Nitrate.

 

[peckhead]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
You will get loads of aerobic bacteria but no anaerobic bacteria. anaerobic bacteria process Nitrate. There's nothing wrong with a 1/2" sand bed but you will have to find a way to remove Nitrate.

what is the smallest sand bed i can have that will still benifit my tank?

 

[peckhead]

what is the lowest i can go and have anaerobic bacteria to help remove trates? right now in my 44 they are really high and its not something i wanna deal with again...

 

[renogaw]

i want to say 4 or 6" for true anaerobic activity, but any sand should help.

 

[peckhead]

ahhhhhhhhh..........i hate dsb's......... i might jsut leave it at one inch or maybe make it 2"...
do most people on here have a dsb? or does anyone keep it low like i would like to...?

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by peckhead
ahhhhhhhhh..........i hate dsb's......... i might jsut leave it at one inch or maybe make it 2"...
do most people on here have a dsb? or does anyone keep it low like i would like to...?
In my opionion leave it at 1/2" if you don't want a DSB. You'll get most of the benefit of a sand bed just not Nitrate reduction.

 

[peckhead]

well its around 1-2" cause i went out and got more sand before i read that. i have a refugium so that should help with the trates.... thanks bang guy