Deep sand beds- are they bad?

[iansilv]

I keep reading about people that dont want deep sand beds, or even have bare bottomed tanks- why? It seems to me that the deeper the sand bed, the more likely a host of beneficial organisms will develop there, and you can have sand sifting creatures to clean it. Am I wrong? Who here runs a deep sand bed? I have also heard about rocks topling from creatures burrowing in it- wouldn't you just set the rocks on the bottom, then add the sand around it?

[Marinemom]

From what I understand about deep sand beds is that over time it may become a problem. As far as the rocks, put the rocks in first and then the sand around them. This should prevent the rocks from having a rockslide. However, do make sure that the rocks are set securely in place.

Marinemom

[ACBlinky]

The DSB vs. BB debate never ends. IMO if the approprate critters are present to take care of it (worms, nassarius etc.) a DSB is a great idea. If it's not stirred/cleaned properly by sandbed animals, it can end up being a nasty nutrient sink and crash a tank. BB tanks are very clean, but only work with lots of circulation and a big skimmer - the aim is to keep detritus suspended and then skimmed out, so it can't become a problem. I tried BB with insufficient skimming and circulation and developed a nitrate problem. I'm back to sand, which provides denitrification, and all is well. It's a very personal thing, whether to go with some sand, a lot of sand, or no sand. Try running a search and you'll see that this is a hotly debated topic with no clear-cut answer.

[Travis L. Stevens]

My opinion is they both have their benefits and drawbacks. It's what ever disadvantages you want to deal with. And in both cases, improper maintenance and upkeep schedule will both lead to a tank's demise.

[Trigeek]

I ran a DSB in a 55g I had for 6 years. It worked well at keeping Nitrates down for the time I had it. However, I was diligent about making sure the sand was "charged" with the right critters. I would occasionally (about 2x's per year) scrounge a cup of sand from an LFS (different stores) and add it to the bed. I avoided sand sifters who would prey on the benthic populations. Also, I didn't overstock. Your success with a substrate is not predicated on the selection of the substrate alone, but on all factors of husbandry. One isn't better than the other (BB or DSB), but they require different forms of maintainance which, if done correctly, will result in your desired outcome.

[Ryanqk]

I run a DSB in my fuge, i like having that setup alot. Although if i could do it over i'd add one the the main tank as well, I only have a 2 inch sand bed in display, which is well sifted. The fuge DSB is static for denitrification purposes.
ryan

[cbeitel]

DSB vs BB is almost akin to the abortion debate in some circles. As far as I'm concerned, I went with a DSB for 2 reasons.

1) I love critters. The more the better. The DSB gives me the opportunity to experience more of the oceans life. ;)

2) I like the look a little better.

I have seen some BB systems with starboard and lots of coraline and I thought that looked great. I almost went that route.

Has anybody out there done a BB with an uneven foam base and then grown coraline on it? I would think that would look very natural.

[iansilv]

I have heard taht some sand forms clumps and solidifies- is this true? If so, what kinds of sand do this?

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8312075#post8312075 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iansilv
I have heard taht some sand forms clumps and solidifies- is this true? If so, what kinds of sand do this?

Any sand can do that, especially aragonite based sand. But it isn't the sand's fault. This happens when your tank chemistry is off. Clumping happens when the Calcium percipitates out of the water and into the sand. If this happens, then there is something wrong with the water in the tank that needs to be corrected.

[trippyl]

I have a 3 year old system with a DSB. I really enjoy it but I must say that my next tank (which will be much much larger) will follow the BB practice of no substrate (other than starboard), fully cooked rocks, and intense flow around the rocks in the display.

Why do I want to go this route on my next tank? I just feel that one point the BB guys have is that it's easier to pull out the sludge that develops. I would expect to be able to siphon out crap from the sump directly off the sump floor. I may add a second sump after the BB sump with a small DSB fuge in it to still gain the benefits of the micro life.

[iansilv]

Would a calcium level of 400-450 with a calcium reactor cause clumping?

[badpacket]

If you have the proper proportion Ca to Alk, you should be fine either way. I just ripped out a DSB that had been running for 6+ years, and had no clumping whatsoever. And this was a DSB that had been moved (sand in tank) twice across the Bay Area. Also had a fair number of chemistry experiments years ago with higher than recommended Alk levels (19 dKh), and 500+ Ca several times, before I started using Salifert.

I would just consider a DSB as a semi-disposable item. At some point in 4-5 years, if you have a problem, then just remove/replace it a third at a time.
Or go with a SSB of 1" or so, and use a remote DSB in a bucket and replace as needed.
Or do the bareback path.
DSB's are a great nitrate reduction tool, but like everything in the universe, it breaks or dies sooner or later, just plan for it.
Average care and tank maintenance should be good for you for 4-5 years at least I would think.

[revenge53142]

i had a BB tank
Now I went Sand and i'm never going back

[drummereef]

I've had my dsb running for probably 5 or 6 year now. Just added an inch or so and it's been running flawlessly since the beginning.

[Farrmanchu]

I've bought frags from BB Reefers, and I almost always get better color in my tank due to sand. Different nutrient combo.

[Tang Salad]

Are DSBs bad?

I think, like guns, it all depends on how they are used. :)

I don't have one in my display, but just for aesthetic reasons. It's in my refugium instead.

[badpacket]

American By Birth, DSB Owner By Choice!



Well, not right now... :)