Are Deep Sand Beds really a thing of the past?

[Borat]

It’s comical when I see posts on this board like “my torch coral is dying and I have no idea why”. So I ask “when was the last time you cleaned your sandbed.” Many times the answer is “never”. So I just shake my head and move to the next post. If I try to tell them that they’re sandbed is killing their corals I get flamed. by all the “experts” here. So I stopped trying to help people with their sandbeds.

All sandbeds are different...

 

[Borat]

Great. Be proud.

I am proud to be lucky

 

[Borat]

Problem with sugar sand sandbed though - whilst

Great. Be proud.

Are you proud of me being proud?

 

[bruno3047]

All sandbeds are different...

But all detritus is the same. It’s organic matter that is rotting in your sand bed.

 

[Borat]

But all detritus is the same. It’s organic matter that is rotting in your sand bed.

I have no rotting organic matter in my tank... you just don't understand the benefits of skimmerless/filterless setup and very fine sand bed..

No water changes, I don't even need to clean glass (maybe once every 3 weeks)! and when I clean glass - it's mostly coraline algae..

 

[Borat]

Anyway - I am here to learn about deep sand beds, not to argue about sand maintenance..

 

[Borat]

..so shall I just put a jar with 5 inches of sand in my refugium - and that's it (subject to once every year/2 years maintenance)?

 

[Nonya]

Is DSB in a fuge basically a container filled with 4-6 inches of sand (for ease of removal/maintenance)?

Yes. I partitioned a zone about 12" x 15" in my sump for sand. The water flows slowly over the top so as not to disturb the sand. That's all it needs to be.

 

[Borat]

Yes. I partitioned a zone about 12" x 15" in my sump for sand. The water flows slowly over the top so as not to disturb the sand. That's all it needs to be.

Perfect.. I don't think this experiment will do any harm. I don't have issues with Nitrates (in fact I have to dose Nitrates periodically) but I like the idea of providing additional area for bio-diversity..

 

[Nonya]

..so shall I just put a jar with 5 inches of sand in my refugium - and that's it (subject to once every year/2 years maintenance)?

No. You need a certain amount of volume and surface area. Some people actually use a 5 gallon bucket with a supply and a return line and a low flow pump. All flow is above, not through, the sand. This is called a remote DSB.

 

[Nonya]

Perfect.. I don't think this experiment will do any harm. I don't have issues with Nitrates (in fact I have to dose Nitrates periodically) but I like the idea of providing additional area for bio-diversity..

I have red/blue waterproof LED panels over my DSB for algae growth to export nitrates and phosphates. When I remove 90% of the algae, the DSB keeps removing nitrates.

 

[damsels are not mean]

They were kind of popular when I started but I was starting a nano and didn't want to waste space. Never struggled with nitrates anyways and these days there are so many ways to deal with nitrates that I really don't see a reason to do a DSB. It's less efficient spacewise than other media and of course there is the risk of H2S (though I think this is not a real risk in most cases). It also takes a lot longer to get working.

 

[Borat]

I have red/blue waterproof LED panels over my DSB for algae growth to export nitrates and phosphates. When I remove 90% of the algae, the DSB keeps removing nitrates.

What kind of algae do you grow? I only have chaeto in my refugium ( and some random blue coloured fluffy algae)...

 

[Nonya]

They were kind of popular when I started but I was starting a nano and didn't want to waste space. Never struggled with nitrates anyways and these days there are so many ways to deal with nitrates that I really don't see a reason to do a DSB. It's less efficient spacewise than other media and of course there is the risk of H2S (though I think this is not a real risk in most cases). It also takes a lot longer to get working.

I can't see how you can use a DSB effectively in a nano tank, or any tank without room for a sump or remote DSB.

The other efficient methods require space, maintenance, and sometimes money for supplies. Two 100% natural and super low maintenance methods are a DSB and growing algae, whether free-floating or with an algae scrubber. Algae has the added benefit of helping to keep phosphates low, since nitrate and phosphate are plant fertilizers. As I said, all a DSB needs is a bit of aragonite sand added on top as the bottom sand is dissolved.

 

[Nonya]

What kind of algae do you grow? I only have chaeto in my refugium ( and some random blue coloured fluffy algae)...

Chaeto works great. So does your fluffy (probably green hair) algae. When you get a large quantity, remove half of it, squeeze it out, and rescue as many pods as possible for the fish to eat.

 

[PhilMStudy]

I still keep a 4-5” sand bed in my DT, but I also plan on keeping sand sifting fish and inverts

I enjoy the look more than doing it for specific purposes

 

[Mellotang]

Most stable tanks I’ve ever had, had deep sand beds

not saying it’s the only way but it sure is a stable way

 

[Mellotang]

Never experienced old tank syndrome or any of the “pitfalls” everyone talks about with DSB

actually have more problems with the “modern” techniques which promise nitrate reduction and stability

 

[Mellotang]

Gotta be that oolite though!

 

[Nonya]

Gotta be that oolite though!

Where does your oolitic come from? I'm just using plain old aragonite sand from coral.