Sand bed question

[Reinboordt]

Hello all, I’m in the final planning stages of setting up my 63g 4ft tank. (90g total system plus sump).

I want to focus on inverts more than fish.
Specifically CUC inverts and softies to begin with. I’m happy to go slowly, the fish species will all be small/nano type species to ensure they get plenty of space to thrive. (No butterflies, triggers or tangs here)

My plan is to put egg crate down on the glass bottom where the rocks are going to go, and then build my hard scape from there. Obviously this will eat into the sand bed level a little. But I believe the rock will also house the same type of BB.

Because I’m planning to keep a lot of inverts and sand sifting critters would a 3.5” sand bed be a good choice for my tank vs the typical 1.5”?

Thanks!

 

[rayadog]

If you get sand stirrers like Nassarius sp., Conch and slugs I think it would be fine.

Side note is egg crate base a thing?

 

[Reinboordt]

If you get sand stirrers like Nassarius sp., Conch and slugs I think it would be fine.

Side note is egg crate base a thing?

The tank is currently a freshwater planted system with a 2” substrate. In the sticky threads here when I was doing my research and making notes it states to keep it either thin or over 3.5”.
It appears the 2” that I like is in the In between zone.

I probably should have stated that The tank is 24” tall and around 22.5” to the water level mark.

A lot of videos online show people putting egg crate under the rocks to support them and so critters don’t dig under them and cause them to shift. Is that not necessary?

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I would skip the egg crate and just make sure you put your rocks in first, then your sand. That way the rocks are secure on the bottom with sand around them. And yes, 3.5 is fine as long as you get critters that will dig into and stir that sand.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

A lot of videos online show people putting egg crate under the rocks to support them and so critters don’t dig under them and cause them to shift. Is that not necessary?

Some folks do it for extra safety and precaution, some don't.

Some add rocks first then sand, some add sand first then twist the rock down into the sand so its stable.

Each way is the best way so pick one that's best for you.

I add sand first then twist the rocks down into the sand, I've never used eggcrate in any of my tanks.

 

[mfinn]

I remember seeing posts about adding eggcrate back a few years ago. I never have.
I would probably skip it.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I also did sand then rock first, never had issues with it!

 

[rayadog]

Sorry I never heard of egg crate under rocks. Sounds okay. I was wondering if it would trap certain things or animals from getting in/out of each square. Either way, sounds fine if you want to go that route, I could see it locking the rocks in more.

I did rock then sand but I started with man made base rock for those bits where the rock is flush anyways.

Good luck!

 

[prairies]

I placed egg crate under the rock, then added sand. I didn't line the entire tank with egg crate, only certain spots (touch points where the rock met the glass). There's still a lot of space to dig under the rocks, and my engineer Goby has made a lot of fun tunnels, but there's piece of mind knowing he can't tip over anything and have the rocks scrape the glass bottom.

I started with 2" sandbed. This quickly changed due to the engineer and the diamond Goby. They got to work making their tunnel system which resulted in some areas being 4" and some practically bare. I added more sand awhile back and now I have a variance between 2" and 4" throughout as the diamond Goby is constantly remodelling his home.

 

[Reinboordt]

Wow thanks for all of the responses everyone! Maybe the egg crate is a freshwater thing. I’ll try to make a general reply here that encompasses all of what has been mentioned (thanks again).

I was having trouble posting a new thread (eternally loads). Is there an iPhone app that people use?

I’ve done a lot of research and pricing out and right now I’m just thinking through the initial set up process.
Please excuse all the questions, I’ll maybe make a tank progress thread when I start by breaking down the current planted tank into a 29g.

The plan was to cut small pieces of egg crate under the parts of the rock that touch the glass directly. If this is not necessary I can happily put the rocks directly on the glass and fill the sand. I think this will result in a deeper bed due to the sand not being able to get under the rocks. In my freshwater tanks I just put the hard scape directly on the gravel and twist it down as mentioned.

I’ll probably aim for around 2-3.5”, technically this would be a deep sand bed. are you supposed to not vacuum a “deep” sand bed?

Right now the plan is just to use base rock plus maybe a few pieces with coral on them or whatever. The guy at the store said most people who get 1lb/gallon end up with too much rock. I plan on chiseling it smaller and worse case scenario I’ll add it the the sump in smaller pieces. I can always add more rock.

I have a friend with a FOWLR set up that has offered to give me some of his filter media or sand to seed the tank with BB.

the tank is from Asia and is 260l (69ish) gallons when filled to the sump overflow. The dimensions are somewhat odd (47”x15”x22.5”).including the sump the total system volume is roughly 90g depending on sump water level.
I grew up in Europe and our tanks were also slightly weird non standard US sizes.

 

[Isak]

I’ll probably aim for around 2-3.5”, technically this would be a deep sand bed. are you supposed to not vacuum a “deep” sand bed?

That's not really deep yet, by a deep sand bed people mostly mean that it's deep enough to go from aerobic (oxygen present) to anarobic (no oxygen). It matters because there are different bacteria that colonize the anarobic part and they have a different role in recycling nutrients.

I would not vacuum a sand bed. If you have some snails that go through the sand (strombus or the likes) then they will keep it clean for you. In a tank that size you could also add a sea cucumber, but some people don't like how they look.

If you wanted to do an actual deep sand bed you would have to go to about 6" and use a very fine grain size with the sand.

You can always add more sand or rocks later, so just start with what you can and add stuff as you go.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

Because I’m planning to keep a lot of inverts and sand sifting critters would a 3.5” sand bed be a good choice for my tank vs the typical 1.5”?

Thanks!

I'd also skip the egg crate. Sounds like a good idea but it can just serve to trap gunk under the rock where your CUC can't get to it.

There are some concerns about 3.5" and long term issues but it's case by case and matters less of you have a ton of critters turning it over. 1.5-2" is probably enough for what you are trying to do.

The reason most reefers avoid deeper sand in a display tank is it can be unsightly but that's also just an opinion.