Bare bottomtank

[Danielson531]

I am doing a bare bottom tank and have decided to put some sand down in the sump to get some bacterial benefits.... So my question is can I put a skimmer on top of a sand bed?

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Ehhhh may cause issues with intake and with the outflow stirring up the sand. Don't put sand in your sump put it in a container in your sump but I wouldn't do either just get enough rock+time is all you need..

 

[blaxsun]

Forget the sand and just go with rock or ceramic media instead. And yes, you can put a skimmer on a sand bed. Should you? Definitely not.

 

[tnw50cal]

All my tanks are bare bottom and all have media in the sump. None is sand or gravel.

 

[kittenbritches]

Are you adding a fuge? You could put sand in there...

 

[Danielson531]

Thank you guys for your responses... Very helpful. Though I have already added the sand to the sump, I may end up taking it back out. I have just begun to cycle my tank so I have lots of time to get things working properly...

From what I was reading "though possibly false" is that I couldn't support such a big bio load without sand..?

 

[Danielson531]

Are you adding a fuge? You could put sand in there...

Yes a kato fuge... But isn't that in the sump?

 

[kittenbritches]

Yes a kato fuge... But isn't that in the sump?

Yes, but separated with a divider or separate receptacle. Since the media in the refugium is contained, you wouldn't have to worry about it interfering with other equipment in the sump.

 

[mdb_talon]

Thank you guys for your responses... Very helpful. Though I have already added the sand to the sump, I may end up taking it back out. I have just begun to cycle my tank so I have lots of time to get things working properly...

From what I was reading "though possibly false" is that I couldn't support such a big bio load without sand..?

Most definetely false. Sand can certainly help, but far from essential. I dont have sand in my frag system(other than small tupperware full for wrasse). My biggest issue lately is getting nitrates and phosphates above 0.0.....and i feed a huge amount.

 

[Danielson531]

Yes, but separated with a divider or separate receptacle. Since the media in the refugium is contained, you wouldn't have to worry about it interfering with other equipment in the sump.

Hey I'm from Rocky mountains too!!! Lol San Luis valley. Bout you?

 

[kittenbritches]

Hey I'm from Rocky mountains too!!! Lol San Luis valley. Bout you?

I'm in Utah along the Wasatch Front. Hi neighbor!

 

[Staghorn]

Hey bud I currently have a sump with an eight year old sand bed that’s about 6 inches deep. I have a skimmer on a (OG DIY PVC) skimmer stand right above the sand bed. Been working like that for years nitrate .2 Phosphate undetectable

 

[Danielson531]

Hey bud I currently have a sump with an eight year old sand bed that’s about 6 inches deep. I have a skimmer on a (OG DIY PVC) skimmer stand right above the sand bed. Been working like that for years nitrate .2 Phosphate undetectable

Cool man cause I'm keeping it..... Looks cool and working fine. No problems with sump pump or anything else so far.

 

[Danielson531]

Hey bud I currently have a sump with an eight year old sand bed that’s about 6 inches deep. I have a skimmer on a (OG DIY PVC) skimmer stand right above the sand bed. Been working like that for years nitrate .2 Phosphate undetectable

Mines about 4 inches deep

 

[scabbedwings616]

You could use the Refugium Mud and add it in with sand but to put a skimmer in with sand wouldn’t be good for the pump on the skimmer. I have barebottom tanks and only have live rock and ceramic biomedia in there. Way better than adding sand to a refugium