anyone have a shallow sand bed and how to keep it from crashing

[deansreef]

Can a shalllow sand bed be placed on top of starboard? How can it be kept clean?

Dean

 

[elephen]

Sand can be kept clean by continually removing old sand and replacing with new sand.

Regardless of the sand depth, shallow or deep it'll have the "sink" effect on detritius.

You could put sand ontop of starboard but there is really no point at all.

 

[drock59]

Except asthetics! I am considering doing this as my tank is too sterile.

If you get enough critters to stir up the sand, you should be fine especially if you keep it shallow....1-3"

 

[landragon]

Stir it every week or more. Really, I have no problems with 1.25" over starboard, stirred twice a week. I can't see that with this level of turning over it could become a sink. I have a 90 w/ a Dart on CL and a Eheim 1260 on a s.c.w.d. . Stuff doesn't settle much. Incredibly, even with these stirrings, there are trails all over the glass, and a lot of signs of life in there at each turnover. I will get a larger shallower tank next time to make this even easier. Most of my rocks sit on their own or man made "feet" and are off the sand mostly. What goes under the two big caves goes to the goby and pistol shrimp. I will add a serpent star to the other side for scavenging. Some wrasse do amazing jobs turning over SSB's as well.

 

[Nabob89]

what does "starboard" mean? I was thinking of having a 3-4" sandbed....does this require any special stirring/other attention?

 

[elephen]

high density polyethelyne plastic, e.g. cutting board

 

[needyreefer]

Whats the point of putting starboard down in the 1st place if your going to cover it up with sand?

 

[deansreef]

I WAS just asking because i am tired of bb and want some clams and gobies

 

[skylsdale]

Starboard is considered BB. Sand is not. It's one or the other...otherwise one will nullify purpose of the other.

 

[landragon]

If you want to rely on critters to stir the sand , prepare to replenish often if their are any sandbed fauna predators present.

Needyreefer, Skylsdale, For me the starboard is about protecting my glass . Since I only use 1.25" of sand and most of my rocks sit on three points, much weight is transfered down. That amount of sand won't protect the bottom pane from pressure related issues. Plus, if anyhting sustantial should happen to fall, I feel I have done an effort to protect my tank and surronding space, not to mention my son. I have 120 lbs of rock and there are only six pieces that make up 110 of that. And I used HDPE from a plastic supplier in 1/2" thickness. Cost me 30 dollars. Not having sand, crushed coral, rubble or the like is considered BB. Starboard or any other form of HDPE is just a method employed by those using BB to give bite for their rocks to grab and protect the bottom. It also affords the added benefit of ease of cleaning and rapid coralline coverage. In my opinion, if one is not using 3 or more inches of substrate, HDPE on the glass is a good idea.