Deep deep sand bed
- Thread starter Wolf89
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Tbh it would be easier to just go with the thick marine pure block. It will make less of a mess. Brightwell makes some too but just be sure not to cut it or it will deteriorate. Im sure that sandbed would help with denitrification but I think the space could be better used by macroalgae which would be much more efficient given the right lighting.
RocketEngineer
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I ran a deep sand bed in a 5g bucket for several years. Anthony Calfo described the method about 15 years ago as a way to reduce nitrates and only nitrates. Being remote made it easy to remove down the road. Just something to consider.
It depends on the actual size of the sand bed. IME, most "refugiums" are just too small to have much effect.
When I had a 4' eel in a 150DT/50 sump the nitrates were uncontrollable until I added a 6-8" DSB, but I used a old 120g tank to put it in. It did a great job for me, reducing nitrates from untestably high to <10ppm or so within a month or two.
I don't know that I'd bother with much over8" or so - the effect will be pretty much the same with either and you'll be buying (and carrying, cleaning) 1/2 the sand.
When I had a 4' eel in a 150DT/50 sump the nitrates were uncontrollable until I added a 6-8" DSB, but I used a old 120g tank to put it in. It did a great job for me, reducing nitrates from untestably high to <10ppm or so within a month or two.
I don't know that I'd bother with much over8" or so - the effect will be pretty much the same with either and you'll be buying (and carrying, cleaning) 1/2 the sand.
