Sbd?

[miniwhinny]

I'm wondering about sand bed depth in nano tank. In a nano tank where large %'s of water can be changed weekly (compared to large tanks) does the depth of a sand bed really matter in a nano? Can we remove more waste with a 25% water change a week that we can by having a deep sand bed. I'm setting up my bed now and have it varying from 1-1 1/2 inches. Will I get any benefits from it at this depth and if so..what? Thanks.

 

[kathainbowen]

If you have a covered tank and plan to possibly keep any for of jawfish, then, yes, the depth of the sand bed is important. If it is too thin, the jawfish cannot dig tunnels. If it it too thick, or, if you do not place either pvc piping or reef rubble in the sand, the tunnels will be more prone to collapse.

However, even bare bottom tanks are popping up in the nano field, especially in tanks just jam-packed with liverock and with good skimmers or refugiums, whether in a sump or in a hang over. So, it is entirely possible to keep a nano tank without a sand bed.

Just think about what you plan to keep in the tank and the setup you plan to run.

 

[StunnaShadez]

just for the record, im keeping a 3" SB in my 12G nano

 

[oldreefer76]

sand beds are useless except for sand dwelling fish in nano's they are to small volume wise to add to any filtration, I have and always run BB in either a Nano or Larger Reef tank, Heck I always ran BB in all my FW tanks also

 

[miniwhinny]

Thanks. I had a feeling the filtration value was not going to be much. I had thought (a lot) about going BB, but, no disrespect to those doing it I just didn't like the look after setting my tank up that way. I just added a thin inch or so layer and I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

 

[kathainbowen]

My issue with bare bottomed tanks is that I actually LOVE Fiji Gold for a calcium supplement. However, it is incredibly dusty and makes bare bottomed tanks look like butt in a matter of seconds. =/

 

[StunnaShadez]

i've read that aragonite dsb can lower nitrate levels because of the nitrifying bacteria that develops in it or sumthing like that.

 

[miniwhinny]

I read that too but I thought that the sand bed depth had ot be around 4 inches or so for it to have any effect on nitrate. ANyone??? So apart from personal preference on "looks" does a SSB do anything? Maybe it's a nursey for pods?