[corallivore]

I'm going old school.

I always had "shallow" DSB's like you're describing.

This time around, I dropped around $300.00 for sand, around 160lbs.

It's probably 8-10 inches in my 36" tank.

I used 1/2 live sand and 1/2 of some dry sand I soaked in substrate sauce.

There was almost no cycle. (I used bleach cured live rock I've been cooking for months as well).

I don't run a sump (RSM 250) but agree, with the option, it's a cleaner way to achieve the benefits.