Sand beds: What do you need and why.

[PoonTang]

Well I use a DSB both in my DT and in my fuge. To my understanding the DSB is all about Anerobic Bacteria that a Shallow SB wont have. Without getting into a bunch or reasearch etc apparently these Anerobic bacteria are good for our tank. Where I stray a little from the normal practice is in the fact that most say that a DSB is a do not touch zone. In other words, you should never disturb it because you will release all sorts of nasty stuff into the water column and mass death will occur etc... Well It is regarded in some circles that these DSB eventually become plugged with all kinds gooky stuff leading to Old tank syndrome, algae, phosphates etc. Hence this is the source of your smelly sand etc Aqquatro? Some current thinking, which I am currently following, is to regularly stir up small areas of your DSB everytime you do a water change. Say no more than 10% by surface area, this will release all the trapped detrius, SO2 bubbles etc into the watercolumn but not in amounts enough to do any harm. Thus renewing the sand bed and removing some of the nasty stuff that gets trapped there. My fish actually seem to enjoy it as I am sure that I am releasing little bugs too within the small dust storm I create. Anyways, not saying what is right or wrong, Its just the course that I am currently following.