3 inch sand bed enough?

[pumpdogs]

Is a 3 inch sand bed in a 50 gal refugium enough for nitrate reduction in a 180 gal?I have only a swallow sand bed in the main display.

 

[Lion_Babe]

do you skim? what is in your tank?

 

[Lion_Babe]

"swallow" do you mean shallow? What else do you have in your fuge?

 

[jmick]

If it were me, I'd either go 1/2" or less or 5 to 7" for a proper dsb. I think over time a 3" sand bed will become a nutrient sink.

 

[frederickk]

What kind of movement do you have in your main tank?

 

[LNell]

Dr. Shimek says that four inches is the minimum depth needed for a proper DSB so I would say that you need another inch. If you already have a sandbed set up, you should add no more sand than half an inch at a time.

 

[pumpdogs]

Yes I meant shallow.I have chaeo and a few pieces of rock rubble in the fuge.How much sand will I need for another inch.