Sand bed

[Doug]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

You're still not addressing the accumulation of detritus. Nitrate is one of the lesser evils caused by detritus buildup. Other organics/toxins (phosphates, gases) can build up in the presence of large detritus deposits, plenum or DSB notwithstanding.

With the open surface area & the larger particles, one can siphon clean the top portion of gravel easily. I have no idea how one siphon cleans a fine sandbed, unless removing & replacing sections, which many seem to do now.

FWIW, I have run bare in my last few tanks and my new 90 is also. I like the control of detritus removal also. I have rubble in mine and already its trapping detritus.

I have to admit was extremely close to setting up a plenum as I described. I really wanted to see the long term possibilities when done as above. But I cant make myself lose all that space. Not to mention the cost of a decent gravel. If I could find some of the old crushed coral, around the 5mm size, that we used on our undergravel systems, cheap, I may try still.