Deep Sand Bed

[Marcom12]

OK.... I am going to get most people saying not to do it..... and i understand why. Buttttttt..... There are alot of reasons i find it desirable....

For one... I'd like the "complete ecosystem".... I'd find it fascinating to have all the little critters in my sand bed and think it seems more natural.

I have read that it accomplishes alot of the things we try to do with "unnatural" things like skimmers and the like.

I find this hobby as exactly that.... a hobby. Which to me means interacting with my tank... alot.

I find bare bottom tanks to be un-appealing and un-natural... I completely understand the reasoning behind it. Butttttt... i dont want a coral tank.... or a fish tank..... I want a Saltwater tank.... a piece of the ocean.... a Complete Ecosystem in my glass box.... or at least as close as i can get to it...

With this said...... I find it very difficult to find easily accessible information on creating a DSB and Maintaining it properly....

I'd love to find out more information on it. or interact with people who use one. Even if i ultimately decide not to go with it for reasons unknown to me at this time.. I'd like to learn.

 

[marvelousone]

I had one in a 75gal I had about 5 years ago. It was 5" deep. I went with a shallow bed on the tank I have now. I am wanting to add sand to make it deeper.

 

[Marcom12]

I had one in a 75gal I had about 5 years ago. It was 5" deep. I went with a shallow bed on the tank I have now. I am wanting to add sand to make it deeper.

you find it beneficial? easy? hard?

 

[marvelousone]

I found it beneficial. Only thing you don't want to stir it up. Get a couple sand shifting gobies to clean it. If you go with a deep bed. I would not put sand under your rocks.

 

[Dimmy007]

I have a DSB. I find it easy. I dont disturb it to much. Definitely wish i had rinsed my sand better since when an anemone or goby move around it kicks some dust up but settles very quickly. I I have an LT anemone. They need a DSB to be happy. I find there to be more positives then negatives so far.

 

[Marcom12]

I have a DSB. I find it easy. I dont disturb it to much. Definitely wish i had rinsed my sand better since when an anemone or goby move around it kicks some dust up but settles very quickly. I I have an LT anemone. They need a DSB to be happy. I find there to be more positives then negatives so far.

Wonderful... I'm looking forward to trying it... Just want to learn about it

 

[marvelousone]

Look up How sand beds really work on reefkeeping.com

 

[marvelousone]

Look up How sand beds really work on reefkeeping.com

 

[kashman100]

Look up Ron Shimek Deep Sand Beds on google. Tons of info

 

[Marcom12]

i have seen ron shimek... but seems its like 15 years old info.... not that that matters much.... but just wondered if there was any updated info?

 

[Marcom12]

I have also considered using a remote DSB... like in the basement.... in conjunction with a refugium... i have a 75 gallon Display tank.... and thinking of using a 55 gal tank for a DSB with a refugium.....

 

[Matt Carden]

I have a DSB in my sump which is essentially just a 40g fuge with 10 g for return. My system is new so I don't have experience to share. My plan is to have worms, snails, stars, or whatever hitchhikers find their way into my system do the stirring ok my sand bed. In my display I have an inch of special grade. I don't like the dust storms from the fine stuff.

 

[Marcom12]

from what i have read i thought you dont want much "stirring" besides the subtle stirring for critters... like sand sifting starfish are discouraged?

 

[Matt Carden]

If you don't have something stirring your dsb you could have H2S build up and release. You don't want that. The creatures know what they're doing. They evolved to do their job.

 

[Coralreefer1]

I always employ a deep sand bed approach. Because of the benefits it provides. A place for both anaerobic and anaerobic bacteria to populate, area for a plethora of living organisms to live as well as a safe haven for some fish like certain wrasses and natural way for other fish to forage for food like sand gobies. Moreover, it is a natural approach to recreating a natural reef biotope. THERE ARE NO BARE BOTTOM REEFS IN THE WORLD!

 

[Marcom12]

Where can I get a critter pack for a sand bed?

 

[Matt Carden]

http://ipsf.com

Their Mix 'N Match Special will give you some good biodiversity for your DT fuge and DSB.

 

[Marcom12]

http://ipsf.com

Their Mix 'N Match Special will give you some good biodiversity for your DT fuge and DSB.

Any suggestions on which 9? Lol

 

[Matt Carden]

I am probably not the right person to talk to about this. Check out my last post in my build thread:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/matts-natural-reef.488794/page-4#post-5611826

 

[Matt Carden]

@Scurvy bought from them among others. He can help you choose. I have been told that your tank should be cycled before adding these kind of living things but maybe they were wrong.