sand depth

[kirkreynolds]

how dep should the sand be in a 55 gallon tank?

 

[reefkprz]

depends on if you want a shallow sand bed or a deep sand bed. 1-2inches for a shallow sand bed, 5-6inches for a deep sand bed.

 

[kevin34]

Ya it really depends on what you want it to look like, but I wouldnt go any shallower than 1.5 inches. If you want burrowing fish in the future such as a jawfish you will need at least 3 inches of sand.

 

[1journeyman]

Below 2 inches or greater then 4 inches. 2-4 inches appears to be the range where folks have issues.

 

[kevin34]

What kind of issues? I have been told by many people that 3-4 inches is perfect for things like jawfish.

 

[gbfan41649]

read somwhere in the message board use no sand just tank bottom, what is the correct way?

 

[reefkprz]

there is no right or wrong way, it all depends on the application or the desired result of the tank.

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by Kevin34
What kind of issues? I have been told by many people that 3-4 inches is perfect for things like jawfish.
3-4 inches leads to problems in water quality because its too deep to be completly aerobic, and to shallow to be effectvly aanaerobic, so your sand critters dont maintain deep enough, and your anaerobic layer isnt effective so it turns into a time bomb of nutrients just building to overload.

 

[kevin34]

So what depth would you reccomend? I do plan on getting a jawfish but really dont want that giant sand bed look.