HOW DEEP SHOULD I GO???

[graphixx]

Well in the next few days I will be getting the new tank up and running. Right now I am debating on how deep I should go witht he sand bed. I really dont think I want to go DSB. for a couple of reasons. number 1 the weight. I am still skittish of the weight. but right now its a little more than half full and it still level. I have been doing a lot of research on larger volume tanks and very few of them are going DSB. I am thinking of doing maybe 2 inch sand bed. I will have a pretty good size fuge in the sump with a 5" sandbed with LR rubble so I think this will help. and the tank considering the size is gonna be very lightly stocked with fish. what are your guys suggestions????

[Iconz]

Well, a couple of questions... Do ya plan on keep a clam in it? The reason I ask is b/c lately, i've seen a TON of pix of clams creating a bare spot in a tank with a SSB (2" and less)... Granted they were bigger clams, but still...

Another thought, since you are going that deep in the fuge, especially if its that big, I'd keep my display a lil shallower. One for the reason you already mentioned (weight), and the other is going to be the fact that its going to take ALOT of sand sifters to keep that stuff sifted sufficently. So, I'd say 3" max.

I may be way wrong in my thinking there, but I hope not. :)

-JD

[lReef lKeeper]

i would go with the 2" sb in the display and 5" in the fuge, also because of the wieght. or maybe even deeper in the fuge if you have the sand.
why lightly stocked with fish ?? i would HAVE to make one of them a bluechin trigger, or a sargassum trigger. can you tell that i LOVE the "reef safe" triggers ??

[Reptoreef]

IMO, go three in the display and another inch in the fuge for a total of 6 inches.

[jojo22]

I was thinking 4 in the display just because it is so tall and you could pull it off without it looking like your whole tank is sand. But three would probably look just as good

[Fatman]

Depends what your going for, if you say its going to be lightly stocked (meaning a coral tank), but no sand and give it a crazy amount of flow.

[carpenterwrasse]

I am going down the middle here 2.5 inches it give you a good base and it will get moved around anywise.

[reefbound]

If you already have a dsb in your fuge then I would go with a ssb in the main.
I have a clam in my tank and he is on the sand bed, having it shallow lets him attach to the bottom witout much digging...

[hummer]

im not sure but a inch or two off sand cant add that much weight but usaly (sp)i would ask greg lol :)

[Reptoreef]

Greg, Honestly... the weight of water itself is amazing(approx 8.5 lbs per gl). I don't Imagine a very large difference in weight replacing 1 inch of water in that large of tank with 1 inch of sand... overall, that is.