New at sand substrate. Do I need invertebrates?

small fry

Hello.

I just put this here because I figured alot of people with invertebrates have sand-substrate. I need to know if the sand needs to be aerated (without haveing some kind of terrible diesaster). I have access to countless MTS for FREE if I need them. I already have about 2 in the tank. I plan to make it a Guppy/endler's tank.

It is already setup and a good way through the cycleing process. It has about 1-2" of sand and NOTHING else except snails (I think my sick cichlid killed my Ramshorns before it died, I was useing the 5g as a Hospital tank, as my regular one was already in use).

I hate the power filter that is in there. It leaves a giant hole in the sand, and makes it completely uneven throughout the entire tank. I will need to go over to Bettafish.com (a branch of Tropical Fish Keeping) and read the sticky'ed article about baffleing a filter.

Do y'all have any tips or suggestions? I plan to have a fake coral in the middle of it as a centerpiece (I love SW themed tanks!).

Thanks!
small fry,

Grimmjow

You can just stick your finger in the sand when doing water changes to make sure it doesnt compact. Im pretty sure plant roots help too.

About the filter thing, all it really is is cutting up a 12 or 16 ounce or whatever it is pop bottle and taping it to the filter but it works great, theres very little current in my betta tank with it.

small fry

Thanks! It would feel hard if it compacts, and compacting is a bad thing, right? I probably wont have any plants in it, as it is SW themed, and there aren't alot of SW plants. I still think I will get a hand-full or 2 of MTS for free from my LFS. And maybe an Assassin Snail way further down the road (if the MTS and maybe ramshorn multiply to invasive numbers).

Grimmjow

Ya not being aerated will get you anaerobic bacteria, bad and it smells like farts.

If no plants then you can probably just go with a thinner layer of sand, maybe like an inch? Id think as long as its not like powder sand youll be fine, that and just gently moving with your finger during water changes and Im sure you wont have any problems with anaerobic bacteria.

I had problems with anaerobic bacteria with this sugar grain sized aragonite but that was only under a 20 pound rock and I never moved it or moved the sand. Ive never had problems with this Estes sand I use but I recently started moving it just in case.

small fry

Ok, I think it is about 1", but once I get the filter baffled I will measure and take out enough sand to make it 1". Thanks!