How deep is your Sand Bed? Poll

[danny zubot]

I was rearranging my tank the other day when I noticed my sandbed isn't as deep as some fellow reefers. It seems healthy but I'm curious as to what the average depth might be?

[muck]

I voted 2-3 because thats about how deep im going in the new tank.

[danny zubot]

Do you feel its needed or is it just for esthetics?

[muck]

I don't feel its needed and many people have successfully thriving reefs without a sandbed.
For me its mainly for looks. I like the nice white sandy bottom...

[albert_dao]

I remember a while back on RC that the concensus was to either go all out with a 5"+ sandbed or to skip it as the benefits encountered anywhere below there is no different then what you'd get from a thin spread of sand (oxygen was able to penetrate too deep into the bed).

[Quinn]

There have been numerous monster threads on RC on this in the past. I don't think there's enough good science to really say what works and what doesn't. Maybe that has changed now though.

[Son Of Skyline]

I keep about a 1" sandbed just for esthetics. I tried bare bottom in my 20gal but I just couldn't stand the sterile look. I like the natural look of sand.

[bulletsworld]

To have sand or not to have sand?

IMO, I think its horrible for the creatures if you don’t have sand. First we take them away from the ocean, stick them in a glass box and now we take them away their sand too?

Lots of gobies, inverts and other fish love to search the sand for goodies. I couldn't take that away from them. My mandarin goby, yellow headed goby were so sad in a bottomless tank and my puffer was so scared in the reflective glass bottomless tank. IMO, I think its horrible to take away their sand just cause we think it looks better (cleaner).

IMO, I think we forget where most of these creatures come from....the ocean! They are wild caught and held captive as we play gods. The least we could do is put our selfish feelings (esthetics) a side and simulate (ocean) their known environment the best we can. Isn't that what’s its all about? Having a piece of ocean in our homes?

[ruck'n'reefer]

I have a minimum 0f 6" probably near 10" in spots. No problems. It has been running for 3 1/2 years. That is with out a skimmer.

[StirCrazy]

where is the 0, I have 1/2 an inch now and am going to 0 around christmas time.

as for the DSB hype even Dr. Shmek is now saying that we cannot creat a properly operating sand bed in the averag home aquarium.

Steve