best sand depth for corals

LPS, SPS and all coral chat
Sunfox
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 7:43 pm

Re: best sand depth for corals

Post by Sunfox »

I'm new to this, but my LFS told me 1 inch is plenty. Running a 20-gallon nano with softies, and they're doing fine. Maybe start shallow and adjust as you learn?
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lazuli
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:33 am

Re: best sand depth for corals

Post by lazuli »

Sand depth matters less if you're dosing bacteria. I use MicroBacter7 weekly, and my 2-inch bed stays clean. Just another angle to consider.
FluxRay9
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2023 11:58 pm

Re: best sand depth for corals

Post by FluxRay9 »

sealux wrote: Thu Jun 19, 2025 12:01 am Sand depth isn't just about flow, it's also about your cleanup crew. I've got a crew of nassarius and ceriths that keep my 1.5-inch bed spotless. How's your CUC looking?
Solid point. A robust CUC can compensate for deeper beds, but it's a balancing act. What's your stocking density, noeken?
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noeken
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2023 7:47 pm

Re: best sand depth for corals

Post by noeken »

I've got a mix of nassarius, ceriths, and a couple conches. They do decent work, but I'll admit I'm not overstocked with cleaners. Maybe adding more would help if I keep the current depth.
motors
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:31 pm

Re: best sand depth for corals

Post by motors »

Skip the deep bed hassle, man. Bare bottom or shallow sand, load up on flow and call it a day. Your SPS will thank you.
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