Hey! we are glad to hear of your new setup. Post us some pics when you get a chance, as we'd like to see its progress as it evolves and grows.
Some points to consider in sand-bedding nano aquariums:
Sand beds in nano aquariums are not used in all the same ways they are in standard tanks, if you are hoping for any useful nitrate reduction it won't come from even a 5-6 inch bed in a 10 gallon. I say this because of size/volume restrictions in these small aquaria, and the ease at which water and oxygen permeate the bed in these smaller volumes. (oxygen=no nitrate reduction)
I do believe there are ways of obstructing oxygen and water flow through a nano sandbed to get some N-Reducing use out of it, but in all practicality we shouldnt rely on a nano's sandbed to do anything other than house interesting creatures. My sandbeds average 2-4 inches depending on the height of my container...I also like the way a sandbed looks if its proportioned to the tank size.
Sand beds can also crash an aged system if they aren't maintained well, and by this I mean not overfed and also keeping the correct # of faunal animals in the bed to munch on particles that find their way down. If you have too much food input and too few critters to process it, a sandbed can easily and quickly become a leaking mess of ammonia and nitrate. In most scenarios, the nano is better without a sandbed. This allows for the most efficient cleaning of a nano but also removes worms and assorted pods you would have otherwise.
In short, if used for the right reasons a nano sandbed is pleasing and can last indefinately. But, in a new tank or in an improperly designed/maintained nano, a sandbed can be a source of trouble if not cared for correctly. Im just ranting, heres my two cents for the day!
Brandon M.
