Sandbed depth question

[rafini]

Hello all, I’m in the final planning stages of setting up my 63g 4ft tank. (90g total system plus sump).

I want to focus on inverts more than fish.
Specifically CUC inverts and softies to begin with. I’m happy to go slowly, the fish species will all be small/nano type species to ensure they get plenty of space to thrive. (No butterflies, triggers or tangs here)

My plan is to put egg crate down on the glass bottom where the rocks are going to go, and then build my hard scape from there. Obviously this will eat into the sand bed level a little. But I believe the rock will also house the same type of BB.

Because I’m planning to keep a lot of inverts and sand sifting critters would a 3.5” sand bed be a good choice for my tank vs the typical 1.5”?

Thanks!

 

[griss]

Hello all, I’m in the final planning stages of setting up my 63g 4ft tank. (90g total system plus sump).

I want to focus on inverts more than fish.
Specifically CUC inverts and softies to begin with. I’m happy to go slowly, the fish species will all be small/nano type species to ensure they get plenty of space to thrive. (No butterflies, triggers or tangs here)

My plan is to put egg crate down on the glass bottom where the rocks are going to go, and then build my hard scape from there. Obviously this will eat into the sand bed level a little. But I believe the rock will also house the same type of BB.

Because I’m planning to keep a lot of inverts and sand sifting critters would a 3.5” sand bed be a good choice for my tank vs the typical 1.5”?

Thanks!

IMO, it's personal preference. Trends in this hobby ebb and flow. I think, where sand beds are concerned, we've reached an equilibrium where some still prefer bare bottom and others have moderate sand beds and everything in between. I'm in process of a new build and, since I want a jawfish, I'm going for a 4-6" sand bed.

 

[rafini]

IMO, it's personal preference. Trends in this hobby ebb and flow. I think, where sand beds are concerned, we've reached an equilibrium where some still prefer bare bottom and others have moderate sand beds and everything in between. I'm in process of a new build and, since I want a jawfish, I'm going for a 4-6" sand bed.

Thank you for the quick response. Yeah I haven’t had a saltwater aquarium in 20 years and things are very different but in many respects a little more relaxed. I think the hobby at this point is very welcoming and accessible, plenty of options for all kinds of tank sizes and budgets.
Bare bottom is not something I am considering. I prefer a more natural set up.

Very cool idea to keep jawfish, i can see why you would need a deeper sand bed.

I specifically want to keep snails, urchins, conchs, hermits, brittle stars etc then a deeper sand bed would be preferred.

I remember reading that 0.5”-1.5” was good for shallow and 3.5-6” was good for deep. And that anything inbetween 1.6”-3.4” invites issues with anaerobic gas build up etc.
Is that still a thing or are the rules more relaxed now?

This is my reason for picking 3.5” vs something lower.

Thanks

 

[griss]

Thank you for the quick response. Yeah I haven’t had a saltwater aquarium in 20 years and things are very different but in many respects a little more relaxed. I think the hobby at this point is very welcoming and accessible, plenty of options for all kinds of tank sizes and budgets.
Bare bottom is not something I am considering. I prefer a more natural set up.

Very cool idea to keep jawfish, i can see why you would need a deeper sand bed.

I specifically want to keep snails, urchins, conchs, hermits, brittle stars etc then a deeper sand bed would be preferred.

I remember reading that 0.5”-1.5” was good for shallow and 3.5-6” was good for deep. And that anything inbetween 1.6”-3.4” invites issues with anaerobic gas build up etc.
Is that still a thing or are the rules more relaxed now?

This is my reason for picking 3.5” vs something lower.

Thanks

Yes, things have changed but, some has stayed the same.

I stepped away from the message boards for a couple years and one thing that surprised me when I came back was, we no longer shoot for zero nitrates and phosphates.

My plan is to vacuum 1/4 the sand bed with each weekly or bi-weekly water change to keep anaerobic gas build up low. My current tank has 3/4-1" sand and no issues with that. Sand is definitely a detritus trap but, like you, I prefer a natural look (I've been a diver since 1985ish).

 

[rafini]

Yes, things have changed but, some has stayed the same.

I stepped away from the message boards for a couple years and one thing that surprised me when I came back was, we no longer shoot for zero nitrates and phosphates.

My plan is to vacuum 1/4 the sand bed with each weekly or bi-weekly water change to keep anaerobic gas build up low. My current tank has 3/4-1" sand and no issues with that. Sand is definitely a detritus trap but, like you, I prefer a natural look (I've been a diver since 1985ish).

I’ve been keeping freshwater for 20 years and recently planted tanks and the idea is generally that nitrates are normal and can be removed with water changes. I’ve always found the salty side to be more stringent with following the basics.

Can you not use chaeto or other macro algae as a nutrient export for nitrate removal?

1” still seems very thin to me, my tank is planted right now and the substrate is about 2.5”.
I was just snorkelling in Hawaii and observed some beautiful marine life, it was what finally pushed me to convert my tank. After seeing how far butterflies and tangs range I don’t think I could keep something like that happy in a 4ft box lol.

 

[griss]

I’ve been keeping freshwater for 20 years and recently planted tanks and the idea is generally that nitrates are normal and can be removed with water changes. I’ve always found the salty side to be more stringent with following the basics.

Can you not use chaeto or other macro algae as a nutrient export for nitrate removal?

1” still seems very thin to me, my tank is planted right now and the substrate is about 2.5”.
I was just snorkelling in Hawaii and observed some beautiful marine life, it was what finally pushed me to convert my tank. After seeing how far butterflies and tangs range I don’t think I could keep something like that happy in a 4ft box lol.

Congrats on the planted tanks, I never had the knack for that.

Yes, many people still use macros for nutrient export. I currently have a 15 gallon fuge with Caulerpa for a fuge…I never had luck with chaeto.

Yes, a 4’ tank is probably too small for a tang. Some butterfly’s would do well.

 

[rafini]

Congrats on the planted tanks, I never had the knack for that.

Yes, many people still use macros for nutrient export. I currently have a 15 gallon fuge with Caulerpa for a fuge…I never had luck with chaeto.

Yes, a 4’ tank is probably too small for a tang. Some butterfly’s would do well.

Thank you. honestly I started a planted tank to mix things up from cichlids and I find it to be as much if not slightly more work than a low tech simple reef aquarium. The planted tank scene these days is less low tech and natural set ups and more constantly screwing with Params and fixing the resulting issues. I found the tanks never looked how I envisioned and plants grow a lot slower than expected. It’s also quite difficult to fill out a tank that is 23” in height to the water line.

have you ever had an issue with the caulerpa going sexual and releasing the nitrate? I understand they have to be added later when there is sufficient food for them