Sand = natural?

[tacocat]

I have a question. Why does everyone use the word "natural" when referring to sand in a tank? For example," I like the look of sand. It looks more natural". I believe it is because we are conditioned by what we see in pet stores and that is how aquariums have traditionally been set up.

Most photos of acro dominated barrier reefs and fringe reefs show no sand at all.

 

[drake66]

holy moses! :rollface:

 

[SFlogic]

a tank with no sand is like a hamster cage with no bedding

 

[mikeguerrero]

Or a football player with no helmet....

 

[clkwrk]

I don't have sand and get plenty of natural comments

 

[tstone]

Tacocat
I agree there is no sand in your pics but there is also no glass bottom in your pic.

Sand in a glass box looks more natural than a glass bottom.

 

[blgreef]

a football player with a helmet would look anything but natural over here

helmets for football player, what ever next?

 

[DocReefer]

All the reefs I've dived on have sand all around the actual reef. I think this is what we simulate in our tanks; a reef surrounded by ocean and sand floor. I think a lot of people also tend to underestimate the microcosm/ecosystem that exists because of the sand bed. If you ever look at the cross section of an established sand bed you see tons of little tunnels and the like that suggest life down there. This may actually benefit the entire aqurarium in ways we don't know right now.

 

[tacocat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6870547#post6870547 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DocReefer
All the reefs I've dived on have sand all around the actual reef. I think this is what we simulate in our tanks; a reef surrounded by ocean and sand floor. I think a lot of people also tend to underestimate the microcosm/ecosystem that exists because of the sand bed. If you ever look at the cross section of an established sand bed you see tons of little tunnels and the like that suggest life down there. This may actually benefit the entire aqurarium in ways we don't know right now.

I'm not talking ecosystems or husbandry methods, but rather, alternative views to aquascaping and tank setup. I'm thinking outside the box. Drop the idea of what we think a tank should look like.

I've been toying with alternative tank setups. Instead of setting up a tank to look like a microecosystem, perhaps we can setup a tank to look like a snap shot of fringe reef.

 

[jiggy]

since when did the ocean have no sand?..

has anyone ever seen a reef tank using black sand?..

 

[tacocat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6870404#post6870404 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tstone
Tacocat
I agree there is no sand in your pics but there is also no glass bottom in your pic.

Sand in a glass box looks more natural than a glass bottom.

For example, an in-wall setup where the bottom of the tank is 6 inches lower than the visual bottom border. The rock is supported off the bottom, giving the viewer the illusion that there is no glass bottom. A phantom bottom perhaps.

 

[tacocat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6871697#post6871697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jiggy
since when did the ocean have no sand?..

has anyone ever seen a reef tank using black sand?..

Not the ocean in general, but think of a crest on a finging reef. Remember I am referring to a snap shot of a fringe reef setup.

I have some black sand, and I can't wait to pull it out. Black sand will look dirty in a year or so. Over time, the corals and live rock will flake off white calcium depostis over the black sand. It looks cool at first, but gets dirty quick.

 

[nebraskareef]

Taco, that is awesome. I've seen a tank similar to that in person. The top was the same way, coral for approx. 14 or so inches above the top edge. It was incredible.

 

[Obi-dad]

Re: Sand = natural?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6870024#post6870024 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tacocat
I have a question. Why does everyone use the word "natural" when referring to sand in a tank? For example," I like the look of sand. It looks more natural". I believe it is because we are conditioned by what we see in pet stores and that is how aquariums have traditionally been set up.

Most photos of acro dominated barrier reefs and fringe reefs show no sand at all.

But no photos that I have seen show flat expanses of starboard either...

 

[Amphiprion]

The funny part is, most of the ocean has a luxurious, natural substrate of...detritus.

 

[Wiskey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6871753#post6871753 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tacocat
For example, an in-wall setup where the bottom of the tank is 6 inches lower than the visual bottom border. The rock is supported off the bottom, giving the viewer the illusion that there is no glass bottom. A phantom bottom perhaps.

That is a GREAT idea, I really like it!!!! I may make the lip on my next stand 2 or 3 inches high to hide the bottom.

Whiskey

 

[MiddletonMark]

Re: Re: Sand = natural?

Re: Re: Sand = natural?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6871856#post6871856 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Obi-dad
But no photos that I have seen show flat expanses of starboard either...

But let's continue - since you bring it up

No stand, no glass walls, no overflow box, no back painted blue or black, no cords running around, no canopy, no actinic flourescence, etc etc etc.

IMO, they're all an artifical creation ... about as `realistic' as the flowerbox hat hangs off the railing of my deck compared to the wild prairie on the hill beyond.

IMO if you want to make a big deal about substrate - then be sure to apply that to all the artifical constructs we use.

Don't see waveboxes in the ocean, nor have I seen Atlantic and Pacific and Red Sea fish all mixing, either

 

[tacocat]

Thanks Whiskey and Mark. I am entertaining new visions of reef tank setup. We have the technology, we can make it better. It is easy to build a stand and make detachable panels that hide the bottom three to six inches of the tank. The detachable panels would allow you to see the bottom for servicing.

Place black starboard there so no light gets reflected back up, and allow the water for flow across the bootm to keep the detritus form being suspended. Nitrate reductiong can be accomplished with a remote sandbed.

It would be neat to watch your fish swim below your your tank and come back up over the top. The tank would would give the false illusion of a window to the sea if you would. Plus it would provide an area for nonphotsynthetic filter feeders to thrive unabated.

 

[tstone]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6872057#post6872057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tacocat
It would be neat to watch your fish swim below your your tank and come back up over the top. The tank would would give the false illusion of a window to the sea if you would. Plus it would provide an area for nonphotsynthetic filter feeders to thrive unabated.

I see how that would be cool but I do like to watch all the different critters that run around on the bottom at night.
Stuff like all the spaghetti worms and other creatures that inhabit the sand bed.
Seems like there is always something going on in the tank whether it be on the bottom, in the rock or in the water column.

Good to think outside the box though. That's how advancements are made

 

[tacocat]

Thanks tstone,

Imagine your curent tank make it 6" deeper below the stand line. Suspend all the rock off the bottom. Pump a closed loop or surge outlet underneath the rockwork to create an upwelling current. I think it would be interesting to create a fringe reef tank. It isn't for everybody, but it could possibly provide some interesting benefits.

1. Increased water volume without the need for more powerful lighting.
2. Extremely high turnover rates without direct current pounding on the corals.
3. Increased swimming room for fishes.
4. Potentially cleaner plumbing.
5. Increased habitat for cryptic organsims.