How much sand?

[pkremer]

I keep getting differing opinions about what a good sandbed should be. I have read some articles that say you just want a thin layer (1"), and some people who have said you need about 3"!!! At $35 per 20-lb bags, the price difference in between 1" and 3" gets huge! I would like to make sure I do things right, but not spend more than I need to.

Paul

 

[choupic]

Look for a local pet store mine sell live sand 1 dollar per pound.And cured live rock at 6.75 per lbs.

 

[ferretttt]

I bought mine at the lfs for around $24 a 20# bag. I liked the look of a deeper substrate and we went with very fine aggregate for the bottom feeders. Took 3 bags for my 44 gal tank, so not too bad.

 

[pkremer]

Hmmm...that still doesn't help me in how much sand I need!!! hehe! I was thinking about 60 pounds...that would give me almost 2" of sand depth. What do you think? 3" gets pricy, as I do not have anyone willing to sell me sand for less than $1.75/pd.

Paul

 

[Fluff]

How much sand is a matter of personal preference. I have tanks with both shallow and deep sandbeds as well as bare bottom tanks and it all works. Plenty of liverock/baserock will do the same thing for your tank as the sand.

Here is a calculator you can use to help figure out how much sand you'll need.

http://www.fantasyreef.com/flash/calculator.html

 

[ferretttt]

How much sand is a matter of personal preference. I have tanks with both shallow and deep sandbeds as well as bare bottom tanks and it all works. Plenty of liverock/baserock will do the same thing for your tank as the sand.

Here is a calculator you can use to help figure out how much sand you'll need.

http://www.fantasyreef.com/flash/calculator.html

Cool calculators on that page!

 

[SuperWade2]

For what's it's worth, I added just under 50 lbs in my 46 gal Bowfront and there is about a 2" depth... not exactly beucase the sands not 100% flat, but In the 2" range...

SW2

 

[seaham358]

Like fluff says its choice.. what size tank?
I run around 1 lb per gallon in moth my tanks and it has worked well for me. IMO a deep SB 5"+ does not look good... Again thats JMO.
What are you looking to have the SB do? looks, denitrification, home for fish?