Deep Sand Bed

[Luke Schnabel]

I'm going to be setting up my 125gallon display 75gallon sump. I'm thinking about doing a deep sand bed so I'll be able to support burrowing critters. My fuge will be 24" long and 16" tall, I want to have a 6" sand bed in that.

I have never had a deep sand bed so is there anything I must know before adding all this sand?

[downbeach]

You'll find a lot of pro's and con's on this subject. I've had my current system almost 9 years, and the last was over 8 both with a DSB, so I'm an advocate of using DSB's. If you follow the principals set forth in Ron Shimek's article, you should be successful.

Here's some reading:

http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html
http://www.reef-eden.net/DSBs.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/deepsandbeds.htm
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-02/eb/index.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/nftt/index.php

[shermanator]

You'll find a lot of pro's and con's on this subject. I've had my current system almost 9 years, and the last was over 8 both with a DSB, so I'm an advocate of using DSB's. If you follow the principals set forth in Ron Shimek's article, you should be successful.


Most articles focus on DSBs in the DT, are the rules different when the DSB is remote (like in a fuge)?

I'd think you could get many of the benefits (anaerobic bacteria that process NO3) without many of the cons. For example, if you do wind up with a buildup of H2S, you could much more easily pull the fuge offline (compared to a DSB with H2S in your DT). Or is this oversimplifying?

[Crooked Reef]

My dsb is in my fuge for those reasons exactly. Plus I don't have 6 inches of sand in my display tank. I think that it looks like overkill unless the stand is built up to cover the sand. The benefit of having it in the display tank though is that it is larger.

[Luke Schnabel]

I was reading all your links, thank you for the knowledge. It seems like it's highly beneficial to your tank having a deep sand bed. My display tank will be built into the wall so I can frame it out to whatever I like. I will probably have 4-5" of sand in the display and frame it to only show an inch or so.

I just hope the pistol shrimp and yellow watchmen don't go diggin up my rocks and messing up my setup :)

[jellyfish4me]

Make sure you put your rockwork in before your sand so it will be less likely that your critters digging will cause a rockslide. I used to have pearly jawfish in a 125 gal and this was how I did it with no problems.

[Luke Schnabel]

Make sure you put your rockwork in before your sand so it will be less likely that your critters digging will cause a rockslide. I used to have pearly jawfish in a 125 gal and this was how I did it with no problems.

+1

Ahh thank you for the advice! I will for sure do that!

[guric1van]

You'll find a lot of pro's and con's on this subject. I've had my current system almost 9 years, and the last was over 8 both with a DSB, so I'm an advocate of using DSB's. If you follow the principals set forth in Ron Shimek's article, you should be successful.

Thats great to hear...

I had a successful one for a few years, around 2006 (which was the last time i had a tank, and back when DSBs were popular). I always said that i was going to have one again, and am now making it a central feature of the new tank i am designing at the moment. The whole frame, tank height and cabinetry is geared around housing and hiding a DSB in the display.

However, everywhere i turn, everyone is trying to talk me out of it. I am glad there are still poeple around flying the flag, espeicialyl with such old tanks. I keep hearing that they were good for the first few years, then 'crashed' after about 4 years.

[gpdno]

I have a DSB in both the refugium and my DT. I'm very happy with the results and my jawfish are loving it.

[faithenfire]

i have a msb in my DT having only a 26gal. i like it. we even moved it and so far so good.
the links given were a good place to start