The Sand Bed Debate is over !! the plenum is dead

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Mitch#3

Helllo

I set up my new tank after I had read the article, kept the deep fine sand bed in both the display tank and the sump, seems to make a marginal difference in buffering and critter survival

Does any one care

Did anyone even read the article

Will this change your next tanks set up


SH*T time for a beer

well considering that it is nothing new information wise and that it just confirms what a lot have people have been saying for the last two years I don't see the need to say much, of as for buffering, that is a non issue also, 4 years ago there was a study between a tank with Sugar sand, one with crushed coral and one with a bare bottom. they were left to deplete naturally to see which one had a Ca crash first, well after 3 months the BB crashed, then a week later the crushed coral crashed then a few days later the sugar sand.. so not really a concern as to which is better for buffering.

My views on using a sand bed for denitrifacation now have radically changed, if you read my beginning posts a few years ago I was a fanatic for sand beds, now I look at them as a fix for pour set up and husbandry. if you create your tank setup right (as in equipment) and clean crud out once a month (or so ) you won't need the detritus break down of a sand bed as it will all be taken care of. the rock in most tanks do more than enuf of a job for handling nitrates.

a situation where I would recommend a sand bed is in a under skimmed or skimmer less tank.

Steve