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I think sand in a sump would be fine with the filters before it. I've had sand in a sump, never cleaned it in 2 years and never had an issue with detritus. Wouldn't a fluidized sand bed break up into tiny particles over time? Not sure if that would be an issue if it did anyway.Collects more detritus too though, but the fluidized sandbed would counter that issue.
I was considering a mesh container of sand also, as this is a bare bottom system for high flow.
Yes that is my question too about the fluidized sandbed. Only reason I'm considering adding any sand to the sump is to add live sand, to up my bacterial strain diversity since this system is bare bottom.I think sand in a sump would be fine with the filters before it. I've had sand in a sump, never cleaned it in 2 years and never had an issue with detritus. Wouldn't a fluidized sand bed break up into tiny particles over time? Not sure if that would be an issue if it did anyway.
My current idea is to use a couple of the black baskets from hm depot we use for nems. Place the sand in them, possibly line them with the mesh used in algae scrubbers if the sand is to fine, then elevate the baskets off the sump floor with pvc this will allow flow all around the sand. Having the baskets after the filter floss pads and skimmer should minimize detritus buildup in it so no need to vacuum it. If anything throw some of the sand snails in each basket to keep it from compacting over time.Putting sand in small bucket and no light would allow for some denitrifying bacteria to get going as long as water in sump is not “ through the sand “ and just flows over the top of bucket . Not sure where I read this but seems plausible to me .
Have you already or do you plan to use dry rock for your DT?So I mainly have large pieces in my sump. I keep some rubble around for frag plugs, and to seed quarantine tank/hospital tank as well. I keep it for bacterial surface areaand copepod habitat in combination with a refugium. I do need to get some more rock!