1" sandbed or 4-6" sandbed

[AZDesertRat]

I would never get rid of my DSB in my display. its 330 lbs of Southdown that averages 5" deep in a 100G tank. My nitrates are undetectable and overall water quality is great. No sandstorms and I have 2 Sicce Voyager 3 powerheads (just replaced 2 K4 Koralias) on a wavemaker, a OR3500 closed loop pump thru a OM Squirt two way and a OR3500 return pump so lots and lots of random flow.
I have had both ways and even bare bottom and much prefer the DSB.

 

[_Alex_]

i prefer the dsb and never had a problem with mine but only 4" in a 55gal, but i have a dragon goby, 2 sand sifting stars, and 6 dove snails who do a amazing job of sifting and keeping sand clean.

im currently running rena xp3 filter with a cpr HOB skimmer, and nitrates rarely go above 0 for me, soon plan to add on a 30-38 gal sump just gotta see wat fits under my new stand best

 

[benny z]

i have run ssb, bb, and dsb.

dsb works the best for me, personally. i run a relatively dsb in my display and a remote really dsb.

there's more than one way to skin a cat!

 

[LegoZ81]

Cool, I'll check that out. I love basement set-ups. Wish I had had the foresight to set mine up that way.

Mine is also basement sump, I only have BennyZ to thank for that also. it is by far the best way I have ever run a tank and will never do it any other way with a tank w/sump.

 

[Dr. Phil]

Just my opinion but i like the way a sandbed of about 2-3 inches looks and when I set my tank back up that is what I will be doing. When I set it up the first time I was advised to do 6 inches and I didn't really care for the way it looked.

 

[Sle3py408]

DSB, less work.

 

[Paul_N]

I have had the same DSB (5-6")for over 5 1/2 years. I love the look and the benefits. When somebody says the DSB crashed a system IMHO it is user error that did it and not the DSB directly. If they are maintained properly they pose no threat long term. I will always have a DSB.

 

[dtpollard]

I have had my reef for 15 years. I have moved it several times. I went from a DSB to a near BB with only 1/4 inch of sand. Both ways have worked well for me. My new system that is almost cycled has a bed of about 2 inches. I choose that depth to hide the plumbing under the sand, otherwise I would have went with the almost BB again. Why spend $ on sand if you don't need to.

 

[swissgaurd]

ive used undergravel filtration, BB,SSB,plenum,
i have now had a 4" sandbed for 9 years ,
i find the 4" sandbed to be alot less work,pleasing to look at,
actually i do nothing to it.0 nitrates,0 phosphates,no refugium
i use nassurious snails,sand sifting star,sea cucumber,a brittle and a serpent star.
i wouldnt go another way