How true is this?

[Ansphire]

If you create a sand bed in your tank 3-6" deep Anaerobic bacteria will grow deep in it. This bacteria will decompose nitrate into nitrogen, and nitrogen escapes easily from our system.

How true is this?.. Anyone uses this technique?

 

[rustybucket145]

ummm... yeah, it's one of the more popular methods. Called DSB (Deep Sand Bed)

 

[Ansphire]

Many seem to think this will create problems.. I don't see why..

Anyone use this technique and can share their experience?

 

[rustybucket145]

Many use this without problems. There are arguments on both sides and the fact is that there is not a 'correct' answer. What works for one may not for another. I've been DSB for almost 10 years now and have had no problems at all. I wouldn't start a tank without it. But others have had long term success with BB (Bare Bottom) and wouldnt' do it any other way.

It's really all preference and what livestock you want and what maintance you want to have to perform.

 

[am94pm]

I also run a DSB (about 4") and have no problems at all. I am getting ready to set up another 75gal reef and will be doing a DSB again. I think a lot of it is just personal preference as well.

 

[Paintbug]

i too run a DSB. if done correctly its very efficient. is it the best way to go? maybe, maybe not. buy my thoughts are if theres sand in the ocean, then there will sand in my tank. but i love all the little creatures that live inside the sand bed.

 

[Ansphire]

Do all you have nitrate at 0?

 

[Sk8r]

Yes. 0 nitrate, nitrite and ammonia. THe trick is not to mess with the sandbed: if you want cleaning done, pick a nassarius snail, a conch, or other creature that spends time below ground, and they clean it bit at a time.

 

[reefnetworth]

dito Sk8r!
the problem Ansphire, is if LR is allowed to sit deep in a sand bed it can create sulfuric gasses as it decays. when disturbed, can kill corals and fish if to much is released at one time without sufficiant surface breakage to help release the gas. it takes out oxygen with it, leaving an abundance of Co2, which drops you pH very quickly and can do the mentioned "damage". the best way to prevent this is to keep as little rock in the sand as possible, via some research. some people use PVC to keep the rock high in the sandbed. others drill the rock and putty acrylic rods or PVC through it to create the same effect. whew! :lol: did you get all that? have a great night!
JDM..

 

[drummereef]

Yep, my DSB has worked flawlessly for years and I'm sure years to come. The never ending debate goes on....

0 Nitrates
0 Nitrites
0 Ammonia

My DSB is the only thing I can attribute my lack of nitrates. I don't run a fuge and don't purposely try to grow macro.

 

[kenny77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9762334#post9762334 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefnetworth
dito Sk8r!
the problem Ansphire, is if LR is allowed to sit deep in a sand bed it can create sulfuric gasses as it decays. when disturbed, can kill corals and fish if to much is released at one time without sufficiant surface breakage to help release the gas. it takes out oxygen with it, leaving an abundance of Co2, which drops you pH very quickly and can do the mentioned "damage". the best way to prevent this is to keep as little rock in the sand as possible, via some research. some people use PVC to keep the rock high in the sandbed. others drill the rock and putty acrylic rods or PVC through it to create the same effect. whew! :lol: did you get all that? have a great night!
JDM..

word. A good way to prevent this. if your DSB will be 4", get a plate of egg crate and PVC. cut the PV to half and inch less of what the sand bed will be. in this case cut it 3 1/2". place the egg crate in top of it. (PVC pipes by it self will work too)

** place the egg crate only in the area were the LR will be. most of the time from the back of the tank to the middle. Why? if you later add a cucumber, sand sifting starfish, or a wrasse(some wrasser like to burrow in the sand when sleeping) and you have the whole sand bed covered with egg crate non off this creating will have full access to there food.

 

[Ansphire]

Yeah.. I understood everything!

Let me ask you something. What happens if the creature digs itself inside the sand, moves towards the exit and then can't find the exit?

 

[ReefDreamz]

Hey just a quick ?. I have a not so deep sand bed maybe 1 to 2". I already put in all my 80 lbs of live rock and I put it right on the sand bed. Do you think it would be worth the hassle to try and move or pick up all the rock to put pvc under it? Right now the rock is directly on top of the sand buried a little bit into it. Thanks. Sorry to jump in.

-Cody

 

[Ansphire]

Hey hijacker!!!... Just kidding.

I don't think 1-2" is considered a DSB

 

[ReefDreamz]

Hahaha I was worried about hijacking but it was just too tempting not to ask. Thanks for the advice I guess I thought that even if my rock is sitting on 1" 2" or even 4" of sand it will still create sulfuric gases. I suppose I wont worry about moving it then.

 

[EdKruzel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9762636#post9762636 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kenny77
if you later add a cucumber, sand sifting starfish, or a wrasse(some wrasser like to burrow in the sand when sleeping)

Kenny a cucumber is great, but a sand sifting star, crabs, gobies (Valenciennea sp.) and most wrasse species are sand bed predators. You'll still have deep sand, but it won't be active, healthy and probably turn into a nutrient sink. The former is where most hobbyists fail with a DSB and then rant about how worthless they are. It is merely their improper care for that environment. Many other hobbyists want or desire creatures that fall under the guise of being a sand bed predator and for them a shallow bed or BB is best.

A DSB is a great addition to a reef tank as long as you are aware of the limitation of livestock kept (none of the sand bed predators) and the fauna needed to keep it active and healthy.

 

[Ansphire]

A DSB is a great addition to a reef tank as long as you are aware of the limitation of livestock kept (none of the sand bed predators) and the fauna needed to keep it active and healthy. [/B]

What fauna do you need to keep it active and healthy?

 

[jball]

Is lace rock ok for sand and then LR on top?

 

[loves saltwater]

Sand Sifting Star are bad for the sand bed ?

 

[sunfish11]

Sand Sifting Star are bad for the sand bed ?

yes...there are like a hundred thousand posts about this on this site. They eat all the microfauna and sterilize the bed then starve to death over the course of a year or so. That about wraps it up.

I was going to say a million posts but I thought that would be exagerating.