Bare bottom vs sand

[zak.payne]

This might be a dumb question, so bare with me.

The more I look at bare bottom tanks, the more I am starting to like the idea. I like that I don't have to worry about unsightly algae growth or sand moving and creating bare spots due to powerheads. However, my question is do I lose beneficial bacteria without sand? I know that populations grow on rock and sand. Knowing this will definitely help my decision, however even if I don't like it, adding sand is easy!

 

[ClownsRCoo]

Obviously you are going to lose out on some bacteria. If you don't have the sand there for it to populate on then you will never have that amount of bacteria present in your system.

 

[Psychomantix]

If you have deep sand bed, you can create regions where anaerobic bacteria can grow unlike in BB or SSB tanks, as these bacteria can't grow on rocks. Are these bacteria necessary for a successful reef tank? NO. DSB, SSB, BB tanks can all be successful. The consensus seems to be go with what LOOKS best to you.

 

[Maxxingout]

Also keep in mind that if by chance you wanted specific wrasses, you'd need a sand bed.

 

[C.Eymann]

If you have deep sand bed, you can create regions where anaerobic bacteria can grow unlike in BB or SSB tanks, as these bacteria can't grow on rocks. Are these bacteria necessary for a successful reef tank? NO. DSB, SSB, BB tanks can all be successful. The consensus seems to be go with what LOOKS best to you.

Actually with good porous real live rock, There is quite a bit of hypoxic area deep in the rocks structure where de-nitrification is going to occur. Hence why people are using matrix/ siporax
Deep sand beds just provide more of this hypoxic zone.

 

[MeghanisradxD]

I run a bare bottom tank and have one of the marinepure blocks in the sump. Leaves tons of surface area for bacteria to grow to make up for minimal live rock and lack of sand.

 

[toothybugs]

My 75 runs BB and is hooked up to a 40B display fuge with a reasonably deep-ish sand bed (around 3"). If I run in to a problem, I have the same options as a remote DSB. And it's prettier.

 

[powder blue]

Barebottom+Siporax

 

[Brieninsac]

Bare bottom vs sand

We see this same thread every few days, why don't people use the search feature. Furthermore its strictly a personal preference too.

 

[cloak]

I've mucked them all up...

KISS...