How deep is your Sand Bed? Poll

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

I seeded the tank with there's lots of LR & different macroalgae for the "bugs" to hide in.

exactly, the live rock is what the bugs are in. as far as sand is concerned you can't see the "microscopic" bugs in it that the gobys, or other "sand stars, ect." eat. doesent matter much anyways as a captive DSB has a very very small amount of life in terms of both density and verity when compared to a natural sand bed. but it is the microscopic stuff that the sand sifting fish/invertabrae are going after when they are eating. Of course they are going to eat mysis as thats a treat. mine used to gorge them selves on mysis and then in a couple hours they were right back to sifting sand.

Steve

[Fish]

Originally Posted by bulletsworld

IMO, I think we forget where most of these creatures come from....the ocean! They are wild caught and held captive as we play gods. The least we could do is put our selfish feelings (esthetics) a side and simulate (ocean) their known environment the best we can.

I couldn't agree with you more... and that is why I went barebottom. I don't want to start a debate as to which is better because it is obviously a personal choice; however, I do want to clarify my reasons for doing what I do. I personally like the look of sand better - everyone does. However, I realized that the sand in my 20gal tank does not really function like a "mini ocean floor".
When people say that BB is cleaner they don't mean Cleaner: Astetically less cluttered.
They mean Cleaner: Less place for phosphates, nitrates, and crapates to build up.
I think you raised a really good point too. If someone goes BB they need to select inhaditants that do not depend on the sandbed for food, or shelter etc. I've had awsome success with rbta (lives in rock crevice), scotts damsel (lives in water column) and brittle star (didn't sift sand even when I had aragonite).

- Chad

[Quinn]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

I had two for a while and they dug in one area and filtered for food in the rest of the tank. nedless to say the sand bed was clean

My goby avoided one side of my tank nearly entirely. Hence, I expect there was more sandbed diversity in that area.