sand question

[drewdog82]

Approximately how much sand would you need for a 55 gallon tank???

 

[sly]

If you want a deep sand bed (a method of filtering nitrates), then it needs to be about 4 inches deep. If not then make it about 1-2 inches deep.

 

[drewdog82]

If I could afford it, would 4 inches of sand be a better choice???

 

[slappy]

depend how many inches of sand you want. do you want a dsb(deep sand bed) or just a couple of inches. there is a way to figure it out i cant remember how but im sure someone that remembers will let you know

 

[zeroc]

I used 60lb of sand in my 55g. it's bottom measurement is 48"x13". This gave me about a 3" bed if it were flat.
ZC

 

[saltfan]

3-4" sand bed is good.

 

[saltwater8]

For a 60 gallon (which is the same size as a 55 gallon, just 3 inches taller) to get 3 inches, I had to use 80 pounds..
:happyfish

 

[mikeyjer]

I didn't even use that much to get 3-4" in my 90g bowfront. I used about 65-70 lbs of aragonite, that's with rocks forming the bottom to take up some space. :happyfish

 

[sly]

I used 2 bags of living crushed coral in my 72 bowfront, forming a 1 inch bottom. I would never use sand but that's a whole other argument that I'm not in the mood to get in this time around.

 

[fiji_blue]

I have a 55 gallon tank and it has a 4 inch sandbed. My tank has zero nitrates. I would highly recommend.

 

[fiji_blue]

Originally Posted by Sly
I used 2 bags of living crushed coral in my 72 bowfront, forming a 1 inch bottom. I would never use sand but that's a whole other argument that I'm not in the mood to get in this time around.
Why not? Crushed coral is not the best. Sand is by far the best. Crushed coral is a nitrate factory. It collects large pieces of detritus and then it gets broken down into nitrites then nitrates.
Not to mention, sand allows organisms to proliferate at a much greater rate than crushed coral. Sand also cultivates a higher level of bacteria than cc.

 

[sly]

I won't get into it here... CC presents none of the problems you mentioned (contrary to the MUCH misinformation in this forum that never seems to end...) I've run it since 2002 and always maintain 0 nitrates (which you claim CC causes). i have 0 ditrius buildup and the sand dwelling critters are doing just fine...
I'll give you a hint... Coral Reefs are CC.... not DSB's. Go to Hawaii... the beaches are crushed coral, not sand. So for the people who claim that CC is not natural... look around nature. Reefs are filled with rough, course rocky coral bottoms and the animals seem to love it.
I'll be back with the link if you want to discuss it there (rather than hijacking this thread)

 

[fiji_blue]

I love biased people. They are funny.

 

[sly]

I love when people believe only what they are told rather than seeing with their own eyes... they are funny
You live in Florida... you should know this. I've been to the keys... all coral, very little sand. One of the prettiest reefs in the world.
[edit] link https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=194646

 

[fiji_blue]

Wow. So you are saying that if your were to dig 1 foot down you would still be finding crushed coral? No. Crushed coral is only in the upper layer. Thats not the important part. Its the sand beneath it that does all the work. In a reef tank we are trying to emulate the reef as much as possible so you must have sand.

 

[fiji_blue]

Originally Posted by Sly
I love when people believe only what they are told rather than seeing with their own eyes... they are funny
You live in Florida... you should know this. I've been to the keys... all coral, very little sand. One of the prettiest reefs in the world.
Once again, Crush coral is only in the upper layer. Of course crushed coral is going to be present around reefs. ITs dead, crushed coral!!!
But after that little surface its all sand. Your not going to have 5 feet of crushed coral. Do me a favor and go to Hawaii or the Keys and take a shovel and dig until you find sand. Let me know how it works.
Here is a saying... " A mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open"
You could benefit from that MR. CC

 

[sly]

Just read the freaking link. So if reefs have "only" 1 foot of CC on the bottom then that's just a small amount?

Let's see you put a foot of coral in your tank and call it little. Based upon percentages, the cc in a reef is small when you dig down and get to the sand, but as for the surface area, they're all most exclusively CC and not sand. I've used sand and CC and for the sand police who constantly come around and say "it's impossible to use CC" you are simply wrong. CC, if done properly, is one of the most maintance free substrates you can have but you must do it properly. Speaking of parachutes...

 

[fiji_blue]

Originally Posted by Sly
Just read the freaking link. So if reefs have "only" 1 foot of CC on the bottom then that's just a small amount?

Let's see you put a foot of coral in your tank and call it little. Based upon percentages, the cc in a reef is small when you dig down and get to the sand, but as for the surface area, they're all most exclusively CC and not sand. I've used sand and CC and for the sand police who constantly come around and say "it's impossible to use CC" you are simply wrong. CC, if done properly, is the most maintance free substrates you can have but you must do it properly. Speaking of parachutes...
I love the satire and humor in your passage. Ok, I have a 55 gallon tank and your comparing it with the ocean? LOL. WOW. A foot of cc in my tank would be a lot but in a freaking ocean its nothing. Its all in the sand buddy.

 

[sly]

Originally Posted by fiji_blue
In a reef tank we are trying to emulate the reef as much as possible ...
I didn't compare your tank to the ocean, you did. If you want to fight then take it to the other thread. I can go as long as you want...

 

[fiji_blue]

Give me the link to the other thread so we dont hijack this one.