[Funky_Fish14]

As an initial clarrification for future reference, so everyone understands the expression "faux sand-bed".... faux means false in french.

Yes, I shall chime in on this one, heh.

I currently have a faux sandbed in the bottom of my 75g reef. It has been in there since December. I used Envirotex-Lite epoxy(about... 3/4 gallon of it) mixed with sand, and layed it directly onto the glass. After it hard started to harden, I sprinkled a bunch more sand on top, to make sure I had the sand-bed look. I did this because the type of epoxy I was using is a poor-on high-gloss finish. You can choose to mix the sand in, and have a smooth topped clear, hard finish, with which you can see sand inside, or have the sand on top. The stuff I used was quite expensive mind you, 89.99 at the only place I could find it in the city.

I used to run sand in the system, and the difference in alk and CA levels is obvious. It was very easy to up flow, and I do not get sand blown all over the place, my sand-bed always stays in place, lol. I have a 32x turnover rate in the tank(per hour). Two seio 1100's mounted in the rear corners facing the middle of the front glass(the Maxi-jet for the refugium doesnt cause much water turbulence obviously). I have found that syphoning detrius out is almost as easy as with a BB, but its nice to still get the sand-bed look. Yes, I do have some corraline growing on the bottom, however I dont mind it. IMO, it doesnt look bad. I have never had anyone question my 'sand-bed', lol, unless they know about it in the first place.

I do have the tank about half full of SPS, which I find the fact I can have more flow quite beneficial. I also do have two clams, a squamosa and crocea, both on the 'FSB'(faux sand-bed), and there is still quite a bit of flow even under the crocea, and some by the squamosa, but this doesnt seem to affect their footing on the FSB.

Hope this helps, if you have any questions about it feel free to ask!

Chris