What are sandbeds and are they important?

[clownfishmama]

I have a fluval flex 15 gal, with CaribSea sand. The clownfish love to dig in the sand to mark their territory so I sometimes move the sand around, especially when I try to organize the decorations. I don't remember ever disturbing the deep parts of the sand which I assume is the sand bed, but I do mess around with the little ones.

 

[Lemons]

Sand bed just reffers to having a layer of sand in the tank!

What you're probably thinking of is a DSB (deep sand bed) of 3-5inches

Which acts as annoxic zone for nitrate eating bacteria to do their stuff. Normally you dont wanna disturb those as it can release a lot of nasty organics if they happen to be a few years old.

 

[clownfishmama]

Sand bed just reffers to having a layer of sand in the tank!

What you're probably thinking of is a DSB (deep sand bed) of 3-5inches

Which acts as annoxic zone for nitrate eating bacteria to do their stuff. Normally you dont wanna disturb those as it can release a lot of nasty organics if they happen to be a few years old.

Oh, that's good news! My tank isn't even a year old yet.