BB or Sand

[TheBoogieMan]

Ok so im setting up a new tank and i cant decide if i want to go BB or sandbed and advice ??

 

[woodiecrafts]

You will get several different opinions on that question, but first I would think you have to decide if you are going to run mostly a softy tank with limited flow or a sps tank with 60 or 70 times flow turnover rate. That will help give you somewhat of a direction to go in.

 

[TheBoogieMan]

Im going high flow SPS thats what i have now with a SSB and with this new one im going to run zeo and some people are saying i need sand i am just looking for some options

 

[dkh0331]

I've had sand and I've run with my bottom bare.

I think the bare bottom allows for better nutrient export control and don't have any desires to go back to a sand bed.

 

[crvz]

Not sure what zeo would do to factor into the equation, but I've enjoyed my bare-bottom tank for a while. I've probably had it this way for over 2 years now, and it' surely makes it easier to maintain. I'd recommend it for a coral dominated tank with mostly SPS.

 

[MeuserReef]

Barebottom! Being able to point a powerhead strait down at the bottom of the tank is a very beautiful thing when it comes to keeping the nasties out of your tank.

 

[Santoki]

I would recommend bare bottom as well. Aesthetics and maintenance as well as the type of animals you plan on keeping should be main factors. Sand will require more to maintain. I had sand up until recently. I could not get sand to work for me for the long term..(more than 4 years multiple tries). You may have better success. (others have)
Now that I'm running bare bottom, I find that I have more time to stare at my tank. I will never consider sand again.
There are many threads on RC about this subject. It's something you have to decide for yourself. But you won't really know until you try it. Whichever system you decide to go with, read as much as you can on it so you can implement it as successfully as you can...

 

[Garage1217]

After going bare bottom, I will never go back to a sandbed again.

 

[cobra2326]

What do you all do for nitrate export?

 

[Garage1217]

For me....
Cheato - Maidens hair - Grape Calerpa - Taxifolia

I also dose vodka and have been for 6 months

Have a good skimmer for poo removal

About 50 lbs of live rock

I also run GFO & Carbon in a large next reef mr1 reactor for phosphate & general water quality

 

[greggnyce]

I run a fuge with a dsb, this way I can shut it down and replace it without tearing the tank apart. Barebottom is definatley easier to care for. If you like thw white look of the sand you can cover the bottom with a white plastic. I have had mine running for two months now after having a dsb for two years and I am already getting alot of coraline covering the bottom.

 

[JustinReef]

I tried BB a few months back and although maintenance is nice and easy and you can get so much flow going, its not worth it to me. I think it looks terrible. I have yet to see a BB tank I love. Many of them are nice tanks but every time I see them I think...Wow thats a nice tank, can you imagine how amazing it would look with sand...

Just looks WAY too unnatural and sterile IMO.

 

[Garage1217]

All you need is a dusting of sand on the bottom to make it look white like I do Looks like any other reef with sand, only it is 1/4" deep haha. I still consider it bare bottom as being so thin it has no real effect.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13636019#post13636019 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Garage1217
All you need is a dusting of sand on the bottom to make it look white like I do Looks like any other reef with sand, only it is 1/4" deep haha. I still consider it bare bottom as being so thin it has no real effect.

Ok well thats different. I have done that too

I consider that SSB but yeah it works about the same way.

 

[cobra2326]

I suppose that as long as you have a good skimmer and some other method of export for any nitrates that the skimmer "misses" that break down into orthophosphate, a bare bottom system will work pretty well. It definitely makes it easier to keep detritus suspended and adding a filter sock is a great way to remove things before they even fully dissolve.

I'm not sure I understand the point of having a SSB other than aesthetics, as it removes some of the benefits of DSB like higher flow and easy siphoning of the bottom.

 

[Garage1217]

Just for looks The type of sand I use is super pure white with black specs. Helps reflect light back up under rocks and under corals and makes everything look better in general.

 

[guppychao]

if you want a particular look, get starboard for the bottom and glue on sand/rocks on the starboard.

eventually it will/should be covered in coraline algae.