Deep sand bed question.

In my new (1 month old) FOWLR set up, I put 30 lbs of LR and for a
substrate, I put 40lbs of aragonite sand and 20 lbs of live sand. I can
now see two distinct layers in the sand. A layer of white about one inch
deep with a gray layer below it. I've seen pictures of tanks where the
two layers represent the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria at work. Have I
unwittingly created a "sand bed"? (not complaining if I did)

And a second question: With this much LR and LS, and running a skimmer,
do I need additional filtration, assuming I maintain a reasonable
bioload? Let's say 6 3-4" fish and 5 or 6 assorted shrimp/crabs/snails.

I currently have an Aquaclear 300 running just to provide mechanical
filtration.


Thanks,
Mark

Mark Cooper wrote:
In my new (1 month old) FOWLR set up, I put 30 lbs of LR and for a
substrate, I put 40lbs of aragonite sand and 20 lbs of live sand. I can
now see two distinct layers in the sand. A layer of white about one inch
deep with a gray layer below it. I've seen pictures of tanks where the
two layers represent the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria at work. Have I
unwittingly created a "sand bed"? (not complaining if I did)

And a second question: With this much LR and LS, and running a skimmer,
do I need additional filtration, assuming I maintain a reasonable
bioload? Let's say 6 3-4" fish and 5 or 6 assorted shrimp/crabs/snails.

I currently have an Aquaclear 300 running just to provide mechanical
filtration.


Thanks,
Mark


How big is your tank?

--
Donnie Vazquez
Sunderland, MD

Donnie Vazquez wrote in
:

Mark Cooper wrote:
In my new (1 month old) FOWLR set up, I put 30 lbs of LR and for a
substrate, I put 40lbs of aragonite sand and 20 lbs of live sand. I
can now see two distinct layers in the sand. A layer of white about
one inch deep with a gray layer below it. I've seen pictures of tanks
where the two layers represent the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria at
work. Have I unwittingly created a "sand bed"? (not complaining if I
did)

And a second question: With this much LR and LS, and running a
skimmer, do I need additional filtration, assuming I maintain a
reasonable bioload? Let's say 6 3-4" fish and 5 or 6 assorted
shrimp/crabs/snails.

I currently have an Aquaclear 300 running just to provide mechanical
filtration.


Thanks,
Mark


How big is your tank?


Oops, 55 gallon.


Mark

Mark Cooper wrote:
Donnie Vazquez wrote in
:


Mark Cooper wrote:

In my new (1 month old) FOWLR set up, I put 30 lbs of LR and for a
substrate, I put 40lbs of aragonite sand and 20 lbs of live sand. I
can now see two distinct layers in the sand. A layer of white about
one inch deep with a gray layer below it. I've seen pictures of tanks
where the two layers represent the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria at
work. Have I unwittingly created a "sand bed"? (not complaining if I
did)

And a second question: With this much LR and LS, and running a
skimmer, do I need additional filtration, assuming I maintain a
reasonable bioload? Let's say 6 3-4" fish and 5 or 6 assorted
shrimp/crabs/snails.

I currently have an Aquaclear 300 running just to provide mechanical
filtration.


Thanks,
Mark


How big is your tank?



Oops, 55 gallon.


Mark

If I had to guess I'd say you're probably fine but I'd keep an eye on
the nitrates. If they become a problem, you could add more rock and/or
lose the Aquaclear.

--
Donnie Vazquez
Sunderland, MD