Sand Bed: Deep vs Shallow

[brit0211]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a deep/shallow sand bed?

 

[duke13]

Deep sand bed would help you biologically. Shallow would help you cosmetically.
I'd say go for the median. 3-5 inches.

 

[guitarded]

is there a formula for the amount of sand one should get (like so many lbs per gal)?

 

[dedwards]

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/calculator.php
it's at the bottom

 

[guitarded]

thanks... i checked the calculator and it said i needed 200lbs for a 4 inch sand bed. holy smokes!

 

[dedwards]

That doesn't all have to be live sand. You can use Southdown playsand for 180lbs and then toss in a 20lb bag to seed it. Shouldn't cost more than $50 for all of it. ~$4/bag of Southdown 50lb bags and ~$35 for 20lb LS.

 

[guitarded]

that would be my pref, however, i can't seem to find the southdown playsand in hawaii. i may just take a boat out and pull some sand from the ocean floor. we can legally take 5 gals/day. that should allow me to get 50lbs/day.

 

[shawna]

home depot has it but wow u r in hi you have a huge aquarium all around you! awsome.