lisa foster
Non-member
I was wondering what people thought was a good depth for a sand bed. Mine is only two inches should I go up to 4 inches?
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Deep sand bed
- Thread starter lisa foster
- Start date
I was thinkin 5 inches, interested in what others have to say.
Joel A
Started over.
as far as many people are concerned, a DSB is a thing of the past.
as with most things in this hobby, there are pros, and cons. Do a bit of searching on reefcentral and you will find a number of debates on it.
Personally, i'm a fan of a shallow sandbed, and maybe a RDSB, or a DSB in the fuge.. but there is even a lot of debate on whether or not the RDSB is really beneficial or not. But the main reason i'm a fan of a Shallow sand bed in the display tank is looks... DSB's don't look good in my opinion, but neither does a bare bottom.
Do some reading , there is lots of information out there on this topic.
as with most things in this hobby, there are pros, and cons. Do a bit of searching on reefcentral and you will find a number of debates on it.
Personally, i'm a fan of a shallow sandbed, and maybe a RDSB, or a DSB in the fuge.. but there is even a lot of debate on whether or not the RDSB is really beneficial or not. But the main reason i'm a fan of a Shallow sand bed in the display tank is looks... DSB's don't look good in my opinion, but neither does a bare bottom.
Do some reading , there is lots of information out there on this topic.
What's your reason for wanting the sand bed?
If you want a DSB for denitirfication, they yes it is usually reccomended to have a bare minimum of 3" with 4 or 5 being better.
If it's for astetics, then it's just what look do you like.
For diversity/microfauna, then IIRC deep or shallow can be good.
If it's so you can keep burrowing fish, then it depends on the fish.
If you want a DSB for denitirfication, they yes it is usually reccomended to have a bare minimum of 3" with 4 or 5 being better.
If it's for astetics, then it's just what look do you like.
For diversity/microfauna, then IIRC deep or shallow can be good.
If it's so you can keep burrowing fish, then it depends on the fish.
I think the interest is in more denitrification
I have about 4-6" because I like the look of a DSB over a shallow one. When I get a big tank when we get a house in the future my liking the look might be overtaken by the save a ton of money on sand and get a shallow sandbed look 
me2003
Non-member
"If you want a DSB for denitirfication, they yes it is usually reccomended to have a bare minimum of 3" with 4 or 5 being better."
Studies presented at several meetings (Macna I believe) have shown that the anoxic environment needed can be created in less than a 2" substrate. Any increase in depth after that will not improve efficiency.
Studies presented at several meetings (Macna I believe) have shown that the anoxic environment needed can be created in less than a 2" substrate. Any increase in depth after that will not improve efficiency.
OP
OP
lisa foster
Non-member
I was just wondering because I was told that I need a deep sand bed and I personally like the look of a shallow bed. If denitification is the only reason Ii will stick with a shallower bed I have also heard strong arguments that having a deep bed down the road can lead to problems.
the only thing I will say about a DSB is that when I tied in the 40g breeder into my system with a 4" DSB in it as a RDSB, my nitrate issues disappeared. Maybe in 5 years, it will become a nutrient sink.....and if it does, I'll just dump the sand and start again.
mine is 6 yo and havent had a problem
me2003
Non-member
Here is a link to the study I mentioned and a quote from it.
The article also describes the issue of variability in tanks.
What works in one aquarium may not work in another.
Many of the threads on vodka and other dosing have the same issues.
My tank looks better because (fill in latest aquarium fad) does not prove anything.
Experimental versus anecdotal evidence is an issue of constant
debate on websites.
"Likewise sediment depth had little overall effect on the ultimate values for water parameters in any of the experimental treatments (Fig. 8)"
An Experimental Comparison of Sandbed and Plenum-Based Systems. Part 1: Controlled lab dosing experiments
Robert Toonen, Ph.D., Christopher Wee
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/6/aafeature
The article also describes the issue of variability in tanks.
What works in one aquarium may not work in another.
Many of the threads on vodka and other dosing have the same issues.
My tank looks better because (fill in latest aquarium fad) does not prove anything.
Experimental versus anecdotal evidence is an issue of constant
debate on websites.
"Likewise sediment depth had little overall effect on the ultimate values for water parameters in any of the experimental treatments (Fig. 8)"
An Experimental Comparison of Sandbed and Plenum-Based Systems. Part 1: Controlled lab dosing experiments
Robert Toonen, Ph.D., Christopher Wee
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/6/aafeature
Like I said....it did demonstrably help me with a nitrate problem. 4-5" worked for me. YMMV
delta
Impatient Reefer
If you are having nutrient problems my questions would be what is your setup? How old is it? What are the parameter? What is the bioload? What is your regular maintenance?
Then go from there.
A DSB might help short term, but will only be a short term correction if the actual problem isn't corrected.
Then go from there.
A DSB might help short term, but will only be a short term correction if the actual problem isn't corrected.
me2003
Non-member
'Like I said....it did demonstrably help me with a nitrate problem. 4-5" worked for me. YMMV"
Like i said you have no idea what fixed your nitrate problem but if you want to believe
4-5" worked that's ok. If you tell others it works than that's misleading. No control, no
statistics, no data... It could have been the additional water, the change in plumbing,
better care of the aquarium while you were fixing the problem, Maybe you added an algae ......
"A DSB might help short term"
A DSB will have no affect short term or long term.
Like i said you have no idea what fixed your nitrate problem but if you want to believe
4-5" worked that's ok. If you tell others it works than that's misleading. No control, no
statistics, no data... It could have been the additional water, the change in plumbing,
better care of the aquarium while you were fixing the problem, Maybe you added an algae ......
"A DSB might help short term"
A DSB will have no affect short term or long term.
wow I am surprised....
what are other ways of denitrification ?
what are other ways of denitrification ?
me2003
Non-member
What are other ways of denitrification ?
The article suggests the best denitrification might be
bioload management and limiting die off in an aquarium.
I believe more study is needed in this area. Water changes
will work also. By default if you are removing organics you
are removing nitrogen so protein skimming helps.
The article suggests the best denitrification might be
bioload management and limiting die off in an aquarium.
I believe more study is needed in this area. Water changes
will work also. By default if you are removing organics you
are removing nitrogen so protein skimming helps.
OP
OP
lisa foster
Non-member
I do not have a nutrient problem I was just curious about people's opinions
me2003
Non-member
"I was just curious about people's opinions "
I thought there was a poll done once of people with DSB.
I could not find one and i don't know how to create one.
These are like ask the audience and are not scientific because
of many issues For example the file draw problem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_drawer_problem
People tend to report success and not negitive or non results.
It would be interesting to do one. Here is an example of poll questions.
Do you have a DSB and believe it reduces nitrates
Do you have a DSB because it looks good or supports additional animals
Do you believe DSB lower nitrates but don't use it cause its looks bad
Do you have a DSB and nitrate issues?
Do you have a substrate less than 3" and no nitrate issues.
Do you have a substrate less than 2" and no nitrate issues.
Do you have a substrate less than 1" and no nitrate issues.
Do you have no substrate?
I don't measure or care about nitrates?
I thought there was a poll done once of people with DSB.
I could not find one and i don't know how to create one.
These are like ask the audience and are not scientific because
of many issues For example the file draw problem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_drawer_problem
People tend to report success and not negitive or non results.
It would be interesting to do one. Here is an example of poll questions.
Do you have a DSB and believe it reduces nitrates
Do you have a DSB because it looks good or supports additional animals
Do you believe DSB lower nitrates but don't use it cause its looks bad
Do you have a DSB and nitrate issues?
Do you have a substrate less than 3" and no nitrate issues.
Do you have a substrate less than 2" and no nitrate issues.
Do you have a substrate less than 1" and no nitrate issues.
Do you have no substrate?
I don't measure or care about nitrates?
