thickness of sand bed?

[segraves1]

I have about an 1" to and 1.5" thickness in my tank............some people say "NO MORE THAN AN 1 INCHOR NO LESS THAN 6 INCES,"their reasoning being "either go thin and have an entirely aerobic bed" or "go thick and have an entirely anaerobic bed"........where others seems to go 2" or 3".........now the way I see it, the top section will always be anaerobic (say 1/2" or so) and anything under than will be anaerobic (all provided you don't have an under grave filter)..........but why do people care if it is aerobic,anaerobic, or both........I would THINK, as long as the grave stays like it is (you don't turn it upside down), it wouldn't matter?

[Dirt4dinner]

This is a great question...I wish I had an answer. One of you experts needs to get on this one.

[jerryc]

Will to me 1'' or less and vacuum if it is just for looks

If you wont a true live sand bed no less thin 3'' preferable 4 to 6

i have 6'' of sand

[mutts]

Becareful of air pockects in the sand bed, I heard that can be a problem. I have about three to four inches in one tank and just enough to cover the bottom in the other. Both are working pretty good.

[graphixx]

you want to have it at least 4 inches that will give you an anaerobic zone which you need for proper denitrification

[iVgOnMaD]

Or you could have 2" and under in your tank to help with bio-filtration and keep a Deep Sand Bed in your Refugium/Sump for de-nitrification.

The Aerobic bacteria consume Ammonia and Nitrite and generate Nitrate; Anaerobic bacteria consume Nitrates and generate harmless gas that eventually escapes the tank.

[carpenterwrasse]

well I have no idea what seagraves typed in its a bunch of gumbled symbols and letters but the others sure helped me.