I like the idea of two remote sand beds, yet the deep part still bugs me. I have no proven theories to add yet some short term results. I have been using about 2cm sugar fine to bare bottom (star polyp covered glass) on half. The small fuge has about double the depth of sugar fine.
Denitratifation is working fine since water changes have been basically not done unless bagging outgoing stuff. Nitrate levels read 0 on my only test kit. Tank is fed 2xday.
The look of the sand bottom appeals to me but somehow I got a nice green front lawn
No real algae problems yet.
---How about a remote dsb tank(s) with the bottom partitioned into say 4+ sections which could be siphoned out/cleaned and replaced at intervals. Smaller disruptions more frequent I guess. The older sections would reseed the serviced part quickly. Maybe I'll just make another drink and shut up. Is coke good for fish since I just poured it on the mysis instead of the rum?