live sand question

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darcyengland

AC Members
Mar 28, 2007
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I'm setting up my first salt water tank...i'm going the way of the reef and have a question about live sand. I know i should have approx. 1-2lbs of live rock per gallon, but was wondering how much live sand is appropriate?

My tank is 75g...48" by 18"

I would like 2-3" just for the look...but have no idea if this is alright
 
you only need about 1 inch of live sand mixed with 2 inches of aragonite or something to save money and still get the benefiets of the sand. 2-3 inches is good but also not that this wont create natural nitrate reduction in the sand bed but then again a shallow sand bed is easier to take care of.
 
so if i went with 2-3 inches mixed...i might have a nitrate problem? or are you saying 2-3 would reduce the nitrate more?
 
Personally, i would not waste the money buying live sand, i think its a rip off..I would just buy aragonite sugar grade sand, like in the link below, and all you need is a few cups of proper live sand from a LFS marine tank or a fellow reefer...

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CS0930

Am not saying to buy from Marine Depot, its there as an example...

In answer to your nitrate question, no, you wont suffer from nitrate problems..In my opinion, the deeper the sand bed ( talking 4 - 6 inches here, nothing rediculous before people comment ), the better ability it has to convert the nitrate into nitrogen gas...

Niko
 
no im not saying you will have a nitrate problem, the sandbed wont take away nitrates, its like a bacterial skimmer living in your sand bed. If you want to get the best use out of a deep sand bed you could add a plenum which helps keep conditions back there anoxic. But also beware, if you go with 4-6 inches although it will lower nitrates, there is a chance where if you do not take good care of it, it will become anerobic and release deadly gasses into your tank crashing it within moments. Its at your risk. Personally, in my opinion, if you have a good skimmer and will do water changes then you wont need a deep sand bed or a plenum.
 
Alright...thanks for the help...I'll probably just end up using 20 or so lbs of live sand mixed with aragonite...still have one question though...atnixon--> you said that I can get a cup or two of live sand from an established tank...is this necessary if I get my own live sand/live rock at the same time? I know the purpose behind getting it, i'm just wondering if it's still necessary.
 
the only reason i suggested getting a couple of cup fulls from an established aquarium is to save you waisting your money buying the bags of live sand, which, in my opinion are a rip...normal aragonite sugar grade sand is about half the price of the bagged live sand...

And i was not suggesting to have a deep sand bed in the tank, i was merely stating that a deeper sand bed is better for the nitrate conversion

Just an opinion..

Niko
 
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