Sand Bed depth??

[jamesbuf]

How deep should a Sand Bed be? I'm setting up a 42gal hexagon, which is pretty tall, so I want to know the pros and cons of making the sand bed as deep as possible. How deep is too deep?? I want to maximize the de-nitrifying aspect of the sand bed. Also, how many fish is too many fish for a 42 gallon hex? I'm planning on just having a pair of clown, or maybe 2 other random fish. Any and all help is always appreciated.

 

James

[kngfisher]

try this link

 

http://www.3reef.com/sand.shtml

[jamesbuf]

I was also curious to know what experiences people have had with the small aragonite. Does the small aragonite still give you the anaerobid denitrifying qualities??? I would assume that you could vacuum the small aragonite unlike the DSB. One of questions I've always always had is how do you clean a regular sand bed?

[gastone]

James,

 

I've got a 42 hex and though I enjoy it, it can be a challenge to work with and is not at all flexible or forgiving. I had two different seems split on me in the past two years. Once while I was out of town and I lost 90%of my livestock. The second time was about two weeks ago. Had to drain the tank, re-silicon everything and set it back up. What a PITA. That being said, I do like the tank. One day I'd like to set it up as a species specific tank with just a large derasa and maybe a few fish. All of that being said, I've utilized with a decent amount of success two different approaches.

 

The old way - I had a DSB (6-7") with a gravity fed 30 gallon display fuge. Remora Pro skimmer w/mag 3 upgrade. There were never any problems with nitrates.

 

The new way - see signature.

 

Here is an article by Dr. Ron outlining DSBs: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-06/...ature/index.php

 

Here is his website with all of his articles: http://www.ronshimek.com/Online%20Articles%201.htm

 

By the way, I keep a pair of GSM clowns and a coral beauty in the hex tank. I certainly believe the system could handle another small fish or two, but the coral beauty is a bit of a bully and I haven't done it yet. Good luck James.

 

Garrett.

[GaryL]

James,

 

I've got a 42 hex and though I enjoy it, it can be a challenge to work with and is not at all flexible or forgiving. I had two different seems split on me in the past two years. Once while I was out of town and I lost 90%of my livestock. The second time was about two weeks ago. Had to drain the tank, re-silicon everything and set it back up. What a PITA. That being said, I do like the tank. One day I'd like to set it up as a species specific tank with just a large derasa and maybe a few fish. All of that being said, I've utilized with a decent amount of success two different approaches.

 

The old way - I had a DSB (6-7") with a gravity fed 30 gallon display fuge. Remora Pro skimmer w/mag 3 upgrade. There were never any problems with nitrates.

 

The new way - see signature.

 

Here is an article by Dr. Ron outlining DSBs: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-06/...ature/index.php

 

Here is his website with all of his articles: http://www.ronshimek.com/Online%20Articles%201.htm

 

By the way, I keep a pair of GSM clowns and a coral beauty in the hex tank. I certainly believe the system could handle another small fish or two, but the coral beauty is a bit of a bully and I haven't done it yet. Good luck James.

 

Garrett.

 

i usually run 4" sand bed. if you want animals like carpet anenome or other sand critters that is a good standard i guess. but if you run a several good power heads you end up with sandstorms. i put in tunze streams in my 150 and have this area that looks like the petrified forest of tube worms. i have always had 0 nitrites and nitrates after the cycle. even with a few algal blooms.....

 

Garrett, 2 GSM's and the coral beauty is the bully, cool!! my CB used to beat the crap out of my yellow tail damsel.

[DEEPBLUE]

My CB was the same way until I got a Flame angel which now after about two week of being bullied, they now swim together. I also run about a 6 inch sand bed with 2 mag 12 returns, mag 24 return from chiller, and 2 seio m1500 in my 240 and I don't get a sand storm. If you plan on getting fish like watchman gobies you will need a good sand bed so they can build their home in it. You can look in the galley for pics of my goby.

 

Eric

Deepblue

[Charlie97L]

your livestock load should be a bit lighter than one would think with 42 gallons, because it's mostly vertical room. most reef fish need lateral room to swim, and the hex doesn't really provide that... in addition, you have less surface area for oxygen exchange.

 

i would primariy go with fish that like to hang out... gobies, firefish, maybe a blennie... and stay away from active fish like wrasses or anthias. smaller clowns would probably be ok... i might downsize your fish load from a comparable size rectangular tank.

 

that being said, hexes are way cool! i love them. they make great seahorse tanks, and you can get some cool aquascaping going with them as well.