I'm about to start my first reef tank soon and so I've been visiting the LFS' asking alot of questions about the actual set up. I've been advised by a few to definitely use 1 to 2 lbs of live sand per gallon, while others tell me that a bare bottom is the way to go. If I remember correctly, I was told that if I do go with the live sand, siphoning/ cleaning it is gonna be a hassle and that I would have to replace it every so often. Is this true? I may have misunderstood what the person said at the LFS. He also told me that it would also kill the bottom part of the live rock that sat in the sand. I'm sure there are pros and cons to live sand so I'm hoping all you experts can shed some light on this subject. Thanks.
Live Sand or Bare Bottom
- Thread starter steveUNO
- Start date
I think most people prefer to have a sandbed for a multitude of reasons.........its more natural, it helps along with the natural filtration and houses tons of beneficial organisms, . With barebottom, you very little maintenance.....but you get no natural filtration or natural food for your fish. As far as maintenance goes for having a sandbed, It really doesnt seem like that big of a deal......especially if you have a decent clean-up crew.......HTH! : )
xinumaster
reef addict
The new tank 375g I will be setting up will be BB with remote DSB.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=988531
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=988531
AZDesertRat
In Memoriam
I have had them all including crushed coral, shallow sand, bare bottom and deep sand bed and much prefer the DSB. BB looks to sterile and unnatural, shallow sand needs maintenance, crushed coral traps detritus and requires even more work and DSB takes care of itself with a proper cleaning crew.
AZDesertRat
In Memoriam
Nassarius snails, cerith snails, turbo snails, astrea snails, a few scarlet hermits and a fighting conch work well for me.
EdKruzel
Premium Member
I ran BB in the late 70's and early 80's and although this will hurt many feelings, those that run a BB today don't have a proper understanding of the biological make-up and the compatibility required to succeed.
This doesn't make it right or wrong and it comes down to personal choice, however I have to agree with AZ on this one; I would quit the hobby before running a BB tank again.
With the proper planning a DSB not only looks more natural, but is so beneficial.
This doesn't make it right or wrong and it comes down to personal choice, however I have to agree with AZ on this one; I would quit the hobby before running a BB tank again.
With the proper planning a DSB not only looks more natural, but is so beneficial.
Dr.FuManchu
In Memoriam
I think most people running bare bottom these days have a pretty good grasp of "bilogical make-up and the compatibility required" whatever that means. Many beautiful tanks with incredible corals and coral growth on this forum a run barebottom with no issues. As long as you are willing to keep up the extra work and maintanence involved with a DSB then yes it can function properly, even for many years. But, do not decieve yourself into thinking that it is a set it and forget it thing, it requires EXTRA organisms, livestock, and maintenance and even then it may crash your tank.
That can be many, many years Steve. There is an unproven rumor that in X amount of years a DSB releases unknow toxin into the tank water and kills off the entire tank. If such where true there would be reports all over this board. If there are I certainly missed them somehow. There are ZERO documented studies showing that these crashes occur and only pure speculation on the cause of the disaster if it did occur.
By far the easiest method for a beginner is to use a DSB. Use good quality LS and there is no need for "extras". It comes with the needed organisms and it just takes a little time to begin working. You'll be rewarded with a stable, easy to maintain tank.
AZDesertRat
In Memoriam
What "extra work and maintenance" are you referring to? I guess I have been doing things wrong in my sucessful 10G with a 5" DSB because I don't do an extra work or maintenance. Quite the contrary in fact, My old BB had to be vacuumed constantly, my shallow sand bed had to be vacuumed and groomed and the old crushed coral produced nitrates in the 400 range if left alone. My DSB just keeps on chugging away with no problems.
jpitch
Premium Member
This is what I don't understand. People keep saying they need to keep vacuuming a BB and don't have to with a DSB. That's implying that the detrius is only present in a BB. There is just as much maintenance with both setups. However, you need to keep differrent things in mind.
Edkruzel, as a RC Mod I'd expect a little more neutrality before posting that those with BB tanks have "less understanding of the biological make-up and the compatibility required to succeed". They just have differrent priorities and preferrences than you do, I suppose.
Waterkeeper, there was an interesting article posted in last month's or the month before in the magazine Aquarium Fish attempting to tackle the DSB vs BB issue. And they were very slanted to the BB philosophy. There argument suggested that the risks outweighed the rewards on a DSB.
After reading my post you'd think I ran a BB in my tank. To the contrary, I have a 5" DSB in my display. I have no complaints at the moment but I monitor the situation more carefully after learning of this debate.
Edkruzel, as a RC Mod I'd expect a little more neutrality before posting that those with BB tanks have "less understanding of the biological make-up and the compatibility required to succeed". They just have differrent priorities and preferrences than you do, I suppose.
Waterkeeper, there was an interesting article posted in last month's or the month before in the magazine Aquarium Fish attempting to tackle the DSB vs BB issue. And they were very slanted to the BB philosophy. There argument suggested that the risks outweighed the rewards on a DSB.
After reading my post you'd think I ran a BB in my tank. To the contrary, I have a 5" DSB in my display. I have no complaints at the moment but I monitor the situation more carefully after learning of this debate.
AZDesertRat
In Memoriam
Again what maintenance is required with a DSB? I do nothing.
EdKruzel
Premium Member
Jpitch,
If you're going to quote me please get it right.
There are many correct ways to grow livestock, some are better than others and some hobbyists are more successful or have a better understanding of one method over another.
As I stated personal choice, but I do stand by proper understanding.
For a DSB you must feed properly and not keep animals that will decimate the fauna or move copious amounts of sand (sand sifters).
Many I speak with or have read about that complain about their DSB list items such as replacement water with high TDS's or fish and inverts that feed from and dig through the sand.
If you can't abide by the rules to make it work or have the proper understanding of what it takes, than a BB or thin layer is best.
If you're willing to run as necessary, than the benefits are huge.
If you're going to quote me please get it right.
There are many correct ways to grow livestock, some are better than others and some hobbyists are more successful or have a better understanding of one method over another.
As I stated personal choice, but I do stand by proper understanding.
For a DSB you must feed properly and not keep animals that will decimate the fauna or move copious amounts of sand (sand sifters).
Many I speak with or have read about that complain about their DSB list items such as replacement water with high TDS's or fish and inverts that feed from and dig through the sand.
If you can't abide by the rules to make it work or have the proper understanding of what it takes, than a BB or thin layer is best.
If you're willing to run as necessary, than the benefits are huge.
jpitch
Premium Member
I really don't want to take this thread away from it's original topic but I did a cut and paste right from your own thread, Ed. You're accusing people that have been in this hobby for DECADES. To accuse those that choose BB because of a lack of understanding is like a politician saying women don't belong in a particular career field. It's suicide. I hope fellow mods will take you aside and maybe explain it in a way I perhaps am not that will allow you see what you are really saying. I understand you are not saying either is right or wrong but to take this topic and attack a particular group is not in the best interest of this topic. Sorry to those that have followed this thread and got sidetracked by my babble.
Brent Burton
New member
I run both. On my reef I have 4" dsb. its very easy to maintain, all i do is give it a good stir once in a while and let the inverts have at it. I have cucumbers, mini brittles, sand sifting crabs, hermits, horseshoe crabs, all sorts of snails, sifter star ect...
On my community tank i have bb. Even easier to maintain. I feel its just a personal preference thing. both have benefits and disadvantages.
On my community tank i have bb. Even easier to maintain. I feel its just a personal preference thing. both have benefits and disadvantages.
