Question for TOS....

Reefneck · 12-16-2005, 05:16 PM

How much sand total should I buy for a 55G tank I am setting up to be my Reef tank? I plan to buy aragonite sand both live & non live. My curent plan is to get 20lbs of live for the top layer but how much of the non live should I get for the bottom layer in a 55G?

I am not interested in a DSB after reading some of your previous posts about that and this will be a full Reef tank with Corals, Fish and Live Rock/Sand.

I don't want it too shallow or too deep.

My 29G Reef is coming down to be moved into the 55G.

Keri

Reefneck · 12-17-2005, 07:42 AM

To the Top!

**TheOldSalt** · 12-17-2005, 07:56 AM

25 lbs of plain aragonite & 20 lbs live should work just dandy. Personally, I prefer using much more live sand than non-live sand, but whatever. If you're going to use a shallow bed like that, then using a plenum will give you better results. Just put an ordinary set of 55 gallon undergravel filter plates under the sand, but with no riser tubes and the big holes plugged. ( leave the little holes ) That will maximize efficiency quite nicely and give burrowing critters a little refugium where they can grow & multiply in peace. Every now & then, have a look at the bottom from underneath your tank. You'll see all sorts of neat stuff, some of it kinda shocking.

45 total lbs will give you a pretty shallow bed of sand, but one with no waste or reduction compared to the amounts you'd have with a deep bed. On the other hand, you'll need to have enough rock to finish the job. Don't go putting 25 lbs of rock in a 55 and expect it to work. Try more like 75 lbs.

**TheOldSalt** · 12-17-2005, 08:00 AM

Oh, by the way, if you want to ask just one specific person a question, use the private message system. That's what it's for, after all. There's no need to alienate other people who might also be just as able to answer.

Reefneck · 12-17-2005, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

Oh, by the way, if you want to ask just one specific person a question, use the private message system. That's what it's for, after all. There's no need to alienate other people who might also be just as able to answer.

Sorry, It was not intended that way. Anyone was welcome to answer, I just wanted your opinion because as far as saltwater goes I have learned to respect your opinions on here.

You are not the only one with saltwater knowledge I know. Just appreciate the knowledge a person has when it is demonstrated so often.

Thanks for responding and other opinions are welcome.

Keri

Reefneck · 12-17-2005, 08:26 AM

Wow, That is the first time I have heard about using a UGF in that manner! It makes perfect sense though for copods and amphipods to get under there and multiply. Excellent suggestion. The last thing on my mind was a UGF for a reef tank.

**Fishfirst** · 12-17-2005, 09:19 AM

hey tos do plennums compliment the ecosystem method?

**TheOldSalt** · 12-18-2005, 08:52 AM

Not really.
They do up to a point, but then they start doing too much of the work and wind up hamstringing the ecofilter's efficiency. I would personally use one as a redundant backup, but it wouldn't be the best idea.
The ecofilters take a long time to mature when other filtration methods are also in use. Once they are fully mature, the other filters hardly make a dent in the overall system compared to the ecofilter, but the eco would still work better without the competition.
In a tank with lots of fish or with big fish, that is, a tank that gets a lot of food put into it, extra filtration & skimming are good to use. For tanks that are mostly invert and/or have only a few small fish, extra filtration is not really needed.

12-16-2005, 05:16 PM	#1
Reefneck Senior Aquarist Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Near a Coral Reef Age: 46 Posts: 1,351 User Feedback: (0)	Question for TOS.... How much sand total should I buy for a 55G tank I am setting up to be my Reef tank? I plan to buy aragonite sand both live & non live. My curent plan is to get 20lbs of live for the top layer but how much of the non live should I get for the bottom layer in a 55G? I am not interested in a DSB after reading some of your previous posts about that and this will be a full Reef tank with Corals, Fish and Live Rock/Sand. I don't want it too shallow or too deep. My 29G Reef is coming down to be moved into the 55G. Keri

12-17-2005, 09:19 AM	#7
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Soon to be Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,489 User Feedback: (1)	hey tos do plennums compliment the ecosystem method? __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

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12-17-2005, 07:42 AM	#2
Reefneck Senior Aquarist Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Near a Coral Reef Age: 46 Posts: 1,351 User Feedback: (0)	To the Top!

12-17-2005, 07:56 AM	#3
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,058 User Feedback: (5)	25 lbs of plain aragonite & 20 lbs live should work just dandy. Personally, I prefer using much more live sand than non-live sand, but whatever. If you're going to use a shallow bed like that, then using a plenum will give you better results. Just put an ordinary set of 55 gallon undergravel filter plates under the sand, but with no riser tubes and the big holes plugged. ( leave the little holes ) That will maximize efficiency quite nicely and give burrowing critters a little refugium where they can grow & multiply in peace. Every now & then, have a look at the bottom from underneath your tank. You'll see all sorts of neat stuff, some of it kinda shocking. 45 total lbs will give you a pretty shallow bed of sand, but one with no waste or reduction compared to the amounts you'd have with a deep bed. On the other hand, you'll need to have enough rock to finish the job. Don't go putting 25 lbs of rock in a 55 and expect it to work. Try more like 75 lbs.

12-17-2005, 08:00 AM	#4
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,058 User Feedback: (5)	Oh, by the way, if you want to ask just one specific person a question, use the private message system. That's what it's for, after all. There's no need to alienate other people who might also be just as able to answer.

12-17-2005, 08:26 AM	#6
Reefneck Senior Aquarist Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Near a Coral Reef Age: 46 Posts: 1,351 User Feedback: (0)	Wow, That is the first time I have heard about using a UGF in that manner! It makes perfect sense though for copods and amphipods to get under there and multiply. Excellent suggestion. The last thing on my mind was a UGF for a reef tank.

12-18-2005, 08:52 AM	#8
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,058 User Feedback: (5)	Not really. They do up to a point, but then they start doing too much of the work and wind up hamstringing the ecofilter's efficiency. I would personally use one as a redundant backup, but it wouldn't be the best idea. The ecofilters take a long time to mature when other filtration methods are also in use. Once they are fully mature, the other filters hardly make a dent in the overall system compared to the ecofilter, but the eco would still work better without the competition. In a tank with lots of fish or with big fish, that is, a tank that gets a lot of food put into it, extra filtration & skimming are good to use. For tanks that are mostly invert and/or have only a few small fish, extra filtration is not really needed.

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