new mini reef tank how much live sand

[climbtime68]

starting a new 75 gallon mini reef planning on using live sand but some say 2-3 inches and some say none. please help before i screw up. also looking for something less expenceive than live rock to make a base. have heard of foam glass blocks but where to get and other good materials please

 

[reefergeorge]

Welcome to RC!!!
The sand depth is up to you. There is no right or wrong. If you are going for a dsb you will need at least four inches. If you just like the look of the sand. You can do two inches. Anything less, and it will blow around and you will see the bottom. You could even make a foe sand bed by gluing some sand to starboard so you can have great flow, and the look of sand without it blowing around.
As far as rock I like the idea of marco dry rock, and seed it with some quality live rock from an established healthy tank.
http://www.marcorocks.com/

 

[Sk8r]

Deep Sand Bed is about 1 lb per gallon. Amount of rock for a reef: 1-2 lbs per gallon---the more 'open' the better, ie, a lot of texture increases exposure area.
First, lay down eggcrate lighting grid: stabilizes your rocks.
Second, you don't need live sand: use CaribSea aragonite. Does real well, will be live before your cycle finishes.
Third, use base rock [approved base rock] for all rock that's under the sand: [you lay down the rock before the sand.] Takes a little longer in the cycle, but will be live in fairly short order.
Get good live rock for the top level.
If you can get live rock directly from an established tank and are willing to accept any hitchhikers [I love 'em] then you can just put it straight across uncured. My lfs will actually sell rock out of their display/sale tanks.
Don't let anybody sell you a fish to 'cycle your tank.' Just feed it a micropinch [5 flakes] of fish food a day until the ammonia rises and you'll be just as good.