Re: Sand Filter
Dennyvd,
First off, welcome to PSAS! Well, you've opened with one of the most controversial subjects in our hobby. However, many of us have become frustrated with the foibles of undergravel filters and deep sand beds. While the benefits of these two things sound great in theory, most of us find in practice that undergravel filters and deep sand beds start out very effective, but over time they clog with detritus and develop strong anaerobic zones which are hard to undo. I have found, and many others will agree, that your most effective means of biological fitration is high-quality live rock. The more biodiversity on the live rock the better. Also, a highly active cleanup crew, consisting of algae eating snails, detritus eating starfish, cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp and algae sifting fish such as blennies or gobies is essential to maintaining a healthy tank. Also, most folks swear by protein skimming, as this removes a lot of protenaceous material before it decays. However, there are other means of reducing proteins and nitrates, such as nitrate-eating soft corals and macro-algae growing in a refgium. I'd highly recommend Delbeek and Sprung's book "The Reef Aquarium", followed by "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist."
Hope this helps,
Eric