The Sand Bed Debate is over !! the plenum is dead

[Mitch#3]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

well considering that it is nothing new information wise and that it just confirms what a lot have people have been saying for the last two years I don't see the need to say much,
Steve

I am not sure that I agree with you 100%
While it may confirm what "a lot" of people have been saying
It offers some scientific basis to justify their position. Further it
Fly’s in the face of what most hobbyists “know” to be true.

There are still a lot of people who argue passionately about the depth composition ect of the sand bed. In some forums the bare assed vs sandbed debate rages bitterly....

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

...... a4 years ago there was a study between a tank with Sugar sand, one with crushed coral and one with a bare bottom. they were left to deplete naturally to see which one had a Ca crash first, well after 3 months the BB crashed, then a week later the crushed coral crashed then a few days later the sugar sand.. so not really a concern as to which is better for buffering.

You wouldn't have a url or cite for this would you? It sounds kind of interesting.

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

............. you won't need the detritus break down of a sand bed as it will all be taken care of. the rock in most tanks do more than enuf of a job for handling nitrates.
Steve

The rocks may not be as significant as the current wisdom suggests

In the live animal trials about 1lb/gal of live rock was added to the systems

After adjusting the final nitrate levels [in terms of the difference between the lower nitrogen input levels in the live (with rock) systems and the higher nitrogen input levels of the dosed (without rock) tanks] it does not appear that the rocks made a statistically valid difference in final nitrate levels.

In terms of your comment

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

My views on using a sand bed for denitrifacation now have radically changed, ... I was a fanatic for sand beds,..... if you create your tank setup right (as in equipment) and clean crud out once a month (or so ) you won't need the detritus break down of a sand bed .......
Steve

I could not agree more

I set up my new tank about a month ago and rather than worrying about limiting bio load and nitrate (food) input to the tank I am using a Sulfur limestone Autotrophic denitrifer ( for nitrate removal) and Ferris oxide hydroxide (for phos removal).
Feed, let it break down, then remove it

only had critters for a week SO WE WILL HAVE TO SEE