How many inches of sand do you have in your reef tank? Does it matter?

[Brymac1]

What, may I ask, is that gorgeous purple mass in the sand almost centered, to the left of the also gorgeous trachy?

That’s a piece of live rock completely covered in anthelia. It grows so fast so I isolated it on that rock.

 

[mucky1957]

The very first picture in this discussion is the exact reason I have a small sand bed. It only just reaches the bottom of the glass sides. I hate the dirt line that you see in tanks with deep sand beds. It distracts from the tank completely in my view.

 

[MnFish1]

I have between 0 and 1/4 inch of sand in my tank - I think it looks good - as good as 3 inches lol - but I can python it periodically - and see no difference.

 

[KrisReef]

Ask your wrasse if you need sand in the tank.

 

[Protodad]

I used egg crate at the bottom. I used just enough to cover it and a bit more so it wouldn’t be exposed. I don’t trust dsb but like the look of sand.

 

[a.t.t.r]

Depends how the pistol shrimp wants to decorate that week…

 

[bsagea]

Originally started with about 3" in all my tanks. (2) now are down to about 1 1/2" thanks to pumps swishing it and sucking out some cyano I have in the past replaced some and need to do it again little by little. Takes me forever because I rinse it at least a half a dozen times or more before I put the cup in. No quick fix...

 

[pnchowdary]

1 to 2 inches sandbed

 

[i cant think]

I have 1 inch in the front and 2-3 inch in the back. If you own wrasses, you’ll understand. I also have a “Sand Chameleon” yes the flashing tilefish, never have I seen a fish use sand more than that guy. I now remember why he’s in the back half of the cave he’s settled into. Also, that “dirt line” is only natural bacteria taking its course, I like it because it shows a reef in its true form.

 

[Jerrym21]

I have about 1.5”-2” in my 180 gal. I also have a remote deep sand bed with about 8”. It’s a 40 gal with the bottom half painted black that sits under the stand on one side. Other side has a 50 gal sump.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

No sand, all the flow. Sand does have a really nice look though and I do miss that look. After 2 years bare bottom the bottom glass is all purple.