how much sand ?

[chemicaledge]

setting up a new 65 gal. tank. I've added 3 ( 20 lb ) bags of the live sand. looks to be about an inch deep. is this considered to be enough ?

Thanks -

 

[Crepe]

That will be enough. Just don't exceed 3 inches and you will be fine. However, if you have burrowing fish like some gobies or blennies you are going to need 4 inches. Any higher than 4 inches without regular sand agitation will cause gas buildups[H2S] and a release of this gas would kill your livestock.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/filtersfiltrationsetup/a/aadsbdiscussion.htm

 

[melosu58]

I know several folks that have deep sand beds and they do OK. Just in case you are interested here is a good article on it. Saying that all I have is a 1-2 inch sandbed . I just dont like look of the DSB. Merely just preference.

 

[cmor1701d]

1 - 2 inches is a SSB (shallow sand bed) and is fine. I have a DSB (4"+) and like the nitrate reduction it gives (though it is limited).
I also have a pistol shrimp (hitchhiker) who has a very nice burrow.

Here's another article for you.
How Sandbeds REALLY Work by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D (2003)

I've had my DSB for 6+ years with no toxic build up of gasses. That article is a bit dated.

However, the bare bottom tank look is also making a comeback.

 

[chemicaledge]

thank you for the input . . . .

 

[pat8you]

I've had my DSB for 6+ years with no toxic build up of gasses. That article is a bit dated.

I did some reading a while back on DSB. I forgot where i found it but i read that a lot of the people who have problems with toxic gas build up is because they put rocks (or other heavy objects) on top of their sand bed which causes dead spots and compacted areas where the micro life cannot move the sand. How much truth there is in that i have no idea but i thought i would mention it.

 

[cmor1701d]

That is true. You want your rock base to be on the bottom glass. Use base rock for that. Then there are no dead spots.

Good catch! We've missed you and your brother here.