Sand bed query

[Reaf]

Setting up a new tank; in everyone's experience is a 3 inch sandbed shallow enough to avoid issues linked to a very deep sand bed? Also will hermit crabs be sufficient in maintaining a sandbed of this depth?

 

[Dan_P]

Setting up a new tank; in everyone's experience is a 3 inch sandbed shallow enough to avoid issues linked to a very deep sand bed? Also will hermit crabs be sufficient in maintaining a sandbed of this depth?

Not sure what issues you are thinking of, but how did you come up with 3 inches? Are you planning on stocking fish that need to burrow into the sand?

As for maintaining a sand bed, that is up to you. Crabs, snails, starfish and fish can certainly assist.

 

[blaxsun]

For a 3" sand bed you'll need to look at a mix of hermit crabs, conches, nassarius and cerith snails and possibly other inverts like sea cucumbers, sand sifting starfish, etc.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

A deep sand bed is more along the line of 6"+ of sand. I have 3"-4" of sand in all my tanks. If you have gobies, or snails, or pistol shrimps, or conches, or stars, the first 2"-3" of sand will always be turned over.