deep sand bed

[nemo1991]

i am setting up a 135, 6 ft long, 18 inches wide,
i am planning on having a 3-4 inch deep sand bed, what kind of clean up crew do i need to clean the sand deep down in there? i dont want anything to disrump the live rock on top though since it will be a reef.

[R34dawn]

some lawn more blenny's, sand sifter star, coral banded, sea serpent and some wrasser fish,
like Bogie's

[reeferjo]

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU ADD "SAND-SIFTING" ANIMALS SUCH AS BURROWING SEA STARS OR SOME GOBIES. These animals are "sifting" the sediment to eat the sand critters that you need to have thrive.

[nemo1991]

then what should i add?

[missionsix]

Originally Posted by reeferjo

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU ADD "SAND-SIFTING" ANIMALS SUCH AS BURROWING SEA STARS OR SOME GOBIES. These animals are "sifting" the sediment to eat the sand critters that you need to have thrive.

I'd worry about that if you didn't have a DSB.

[reeferjo]

snails Astrae Snail, Nerite Snails
small sea cucumbers, copepods, amphipods, brittle stars, bristle worms etc
here are some good links on sand beds
Deep Sand Beds
How Sandbeds REALLY Work by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com
The Deep Sand Bed - One Of The Most Effective Filtration Methods. | Aquarists Online | Saltwater Aquarium Resources And Information

[amcarrig]

3-4" does not a deep sand bed make. For a "true" deep sand bed, you need at least 6" of sand. That being said, for my own reasons, I would never use a deep sand bed in my systems. Been there, done that, still have the post card. Also, I don't like to have rock sit on top of the sand in any aquarium. All it takes is one burrowing animal to send your rockwork crashing down.

[nunch]

Originally Posted by amcarrig

3-4" does not a deep sand bed make. For a "true" deep sand bed, you need at least 6" of sand. That being said, for my own reasons, I would never use a deep sand bed in my systems. Been there, done that, still have the post card. Also, I don't like to have rock sit on top of the sand in any aquarium. All it takes is one burrowing animal to send your rockwork crashing down.

I agree, my tanks only about 6 months old but my sand is super clean. I have about 3-4" sand bed. I use about 15 hermits to do my dirty work. My clown also fans the sand w/ his tail all day long. In addition to that, I give it a very slight stir, more like a fanning, every time I do a water change, just to get some of the bigger particles suspended so they can be sucked out.

[Iraf]

i use snails, but when i sit in my rocks i put them on the glass then poor the sand around them, alot more stable, i usually never go more than 3" deep either though

[nunch]

Originally Posted by Iraf

i use snails, but when i sit in my rocks i put them on the glass then poor the sand around them, alot more stable, i usually never go more than 3" deep either though

Yeah I use snails too, but i rarely see them on the sand. Either on glass or rock.