LIVE SAND questions

[cwickham]

Hey everyone

im looking to buy my live sand for my new tank now. the tank is 16 by 30 inches. im wondering how much sand you would do.

i was thinking to do a thin layer about 1.5 to 2 inches... how many pounds do you think would be good?

thanks
craig

[tgoeujon]

i may be wrong but ive been told a few times that under 3" is just a storage facility for nitrates. so 1.5 to 2 pounds per gallon. if im wrong someone correct me. (hate giving bad advice)

Trevor

[Drock169]

i find its best to either go with 1/2 - 1 inch or 3+. At least from all of the reading I've done this is what was recommended. for a 1 inch sandbed, 1 pound per gallon works, for 3+ inch DSB minimum of 2 pounds per gallon. If you go with a shallow sandbed make sure you have good sandsifters

[chevyjaxon]

the deeper the better if i had known before setting up my tank i would have done this the deeper it is the more anerobic bacteria you will have, anerobic bacteria thrives on low light and NO oxygen and gobbles up nitrates