simulating a deep (live) sand bed?

I'm in the process of planning out my 29 gal. reef tank. My question
relates to the deep sand bed. I know that the deep bed denitrifies
better because there are anaerobic areas where bacteria can break
nitrates down. I'm wondering if one could "simulate" the effect of a
deep sand bed with a shallow(er) bed by putting a semi-permiable
barrier over the lower bed, and then putting more live sand on top of
that.

I was thinking of putting down an inch of live sand, then my
undergravel filter plate, and then another inch or two of sand. I'm
trying to avoid having 5-6 inches of live sand in my tank.

Thanks,
Juan

Why don't you just do a refugium with a small DSB and let the main tank
either be barebottom or put starboard on the bottom. I'm running a
starboard reef as of the moment which is basically barebottome with a
guard on the bottom to hold the light in and keep the rocks from
breaking the glass. In my opinion your better off without the DSB in
the main tank. It becomes a nitrate phosphate bed and will release
everthing back into the water over time causing algae breakouts. Are
you a member of www.reefcentral.com. If so do a search on starboard and
it will tell you all about it. If you're not a member go to the site
and sign inand then do the search.


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reefman MC

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Why don't you just do a refugium with a small DSB and let the main tank
either be barebottom or put starboard on the bottom.

I'm trying to do a reef tank with a hang-on skimmer and no sump.

Thanks, I will check out that site.

Juan

If you don't want the deep live sand bed setup a plenum system instead,
you only need about 2 inchs of sand on top of the plenum for it to
function. Now I would not suggest this myself, I like a live sand bed
more for the creatures in it then the dinitrafication.

Kim


Juan Valdez wrote:

I'm in the process of planning out my 29 gal. reef tank. My question
relates to the deep sand bed. I know that the deep bed denitrifies
better because there are anaerobic areas where bacteria can break
nitrates down. I'm wondering if one could "simulate" the effect of a
deep sand bed with a shallow(er) bed by putting a semi-permiable
barrier over the lower bed, and then putting more live sand on top of
that.

I was thinking of putting down an inch of live sand, then my
undergravel filter plate, and then another inch or two of sand. I'm
trying to avoid having 5-6 inches of live sand in my tank.

Thanks,
Juan

I once rigged up a piece of acrylic to make a 6 inch tall wall from
one end to the other of my coral grow-out tank.

The back half of the tank had a 5 inch deep sand bed and the front
half had just a dusting of sand.

I bet that if I'd had a bunch of live rock in there it would have
looked fine.

Erik


On Fri, 13 Aug 2004 17:12:35 -0700, Juan Valdez
wrote:

I'm in the process of planning out my 29 gal. reef tank. My question
relates to the deep sand bed. I know that the deep bed denitrifies
better because there are anaerobic areas where bacteria can break
nitrates down. I'm wondering if one could "simulate" the effect of a
deep sand bed with a shallow(er) bed by putting a semi-permiable
barrier over the lower bed, and then putting more live sand on top of
that.

I was thinking of putting down an inch of live sand, then my
undergravel filter plate, and then another inch or two of sand. I'm
trying to avoid having 5-6 inches of live sand in my tank.

Thanks,
Juan