Setting up a successful long-term sandbed in a small tank: possible?

[Newreeflady]

Trying to decide if I'm doing a sandbed, or BB in my 20H. If I am doing a sandbed, I need to decide on how many inches, and need to figure out how to keep it circulating well, seed it well, etc. So, please share your experience so that I can do this right the first time!

Thanks
Angela

 

[daveverdo]

I think a deep sand bed in a tank that size would not help and would possibly hurt. A shallow sand bed (1" or so) with a couple of things that keep it clean and stirred should work if you like the look of a sand bed. Bare bottom is clean but reduces some of the diversity you can have in terms of critters.

So based on that, you may want to decide if you like sand dwellers or not. I don't think that size tank, even with a one inch sand bed would support a Fighting or Queen Conch anyway so things like that are out. You probably can't go deep enough for anything that really burrows.

My opinion only.

Dave

 

[Piazzon12]

I'd go shallow sand bed 1" or less

 

[Newreeflady]

Hey Dave,

No, this size tank is not enough for a Fighting conch or even a cuke- Pretty much super tongan nassarius and regular nassarius & a brittle star would be the only possible sand stirrers. I'm not set on a sand bed by any means- but lots of debris accumulates on a bare bottom and it's kinda grungy. :/

I could go for 1", but is that at all beneficial to the system, or is it a detriment/ crud storage system?

-A

 

[reefscape15]

1-2"would be beneficial to you. I had about 2" in the back, tapering down to 1" in the front of my old 20. (I posted some pics on another thread that you started on here) I had a Yellow Watchmen Goby, Fancy Serpent Star, and many types of snails and crabs. There were all sorts of little "tube like" worms that would build a small 1/2" tall tube from the sand, and there would be 2 clear very thin, long arms sticking out of the tube and blowing in the breeze. I had no idea what they were, but definately some type of filter feeder, which helps keep things clean in a tank. Personally, I can't stand the look of bare bottom, but thats entirely up to the tank owner. Yes it's easier to suck out detritus with a bare bottom, but if your system is set up properly in regards to flow, skimming, and CUC, there is really no need to ever suck out detritus. Also, with a sandbed, it gives you an extra buffer zone, where if the power goes out, or you become lax on tank maintenance, a sandbed will allow these things to have somewhat less of an impact on your water quality. Hope that helps some!