Sand on bottom vs No sand on bottom
- Thread starter PotRoast
- Start date
waverz
Slave to the reef!
This isnt really the info you want but the black acrylic bottom will only look nice for a month or so after that it will be starting to fill in with coralline algae, so you will have a nice purple bottom then.
I really prefer no sand over sand myself because i can control the amount of crap that accumulates on the bottom better which helps keep my water super clean and more "SPS friendly". However i do have a super shallow layer of sand in my 29 and i really like the look of it.
Like Jason said it really depends on the type of coral you want to keep. SPS is going to need higher flow and less nutrients, where as other stuff can tolerate and thrive in a more nutrient rich tank with less flow.
Hope that helps some. Theres all kinds of debates here on RC about, just do a search.
I really prefer no sand over sand myself because i can control the amount of crap that accumulates on the bottom better which helps keep my water super clean and more "SPS friendly". However i do have a super shallow layer of sand in my 29 and i really like the look of it.
Like Jason said it really depends on the type of coral you want to keep. SPS is going to need higher flow and less nutrients, where as other stuff can tolerate and thrive in a more nutrient rich tank with less flow.
Hope that helps some. Theres all kinds of debates here on RC about, just do a search.
I am in the middle of setting up a 225L SPS cube avec BB display but will have a 6"-8" DSB in a 151L fuge. My hopes are that I will get the benefits of a BB(i.e. easy to clean, minimalist looking display w/o sandstorms) while still retaining the biological assets associated w/ DSB.
Like Waverz stated...both are up for debate and there are those who swear by one and denounce the other (just like nearly every other aspect, practice, and hardware used in this hobby).
You will probably be succesful with either or both options if you have patience and practice good husbandry.
Like Waverz stated...both are up for debate and there are those who swear by one and denounce the other (just like nearly every other aspect, practice, and hardware used in this hobby).
You will probably be succesful with either or both options if you have patience and practice good husbandry.
billbigsbe1
New member
Im bare Bottom now and I love It, many people I know also use no substrate!
matt the fiddler
New member
When I was SPS, I really liked bare bottom.
Now, I have a small softie tank, and am wishing I had some sand.
Though, 2 tunze 6000/6100 may be a bit much for a 25 with sand
Now, I have a small softie tank, and am wishing I had some sand.
Though, 2 tunze 6000/6100 may be a bit much for a 25 with sand
phishcrazee
Member
I think it's sort of a trendy thing..... the current trend is for no sand or a shallow sandbed I myself like the look of sand and think the DSB is also beneficial, even with SPS. There are many opinions out there regarding this. I keep sps, lps and softies all in the same tank and with a 5-6" sandbed. It can be tricky, but not impossible or really that hard.
I myself like the look of sand and think the DSB is also beneficial, even with SPS. There are many opinions out there regarding this. I keep sps, lps and softies all in the same tank and with a 5-6" sandbed. It can be tricky, but not impossible or really that hard.
matt the fiddler
New member
People have been saying BB is a trend for 4 years now.. I think calling it a trend is a trend itself!
Barebottom goes back a long time before DBS does in reefkeeping history. This first corals that spawned in an aquarium i ...believe... were residing in bare bottom tanks. I don't like the word "trend" as it implies the only thing sustaining it is it's a new idea and everybody is doing it. (and it's magic fix is more than just good husbantry)
You do loose some element of diversity in your tank going BB... but much is gained for sps.
I think it is the cheapest and most straightforward way to maintain a bulletproof SPS tank, assuming of course the CPU on your aqua controller does not fry.
What I have wanted to try was Remote DSB. just haven't had the space yet. I may decide to try that on my current tank... haven't decided yet.
Barebottom goes back a long time before DBS does in reefkeeping history. This first corals that spawned in an aquarium i ...believe... were residing in bare bottom tanks. I don't like the word "trend" as it implies the only thing sustaining it is it's a new idea and everybody is doing it. (and it's magic fix is more than just good husbantry)
You do loose some element of diversity in your tank going BB... but much is gained for sps.
I think it is the cheapest and most straightforward way to maintain a bulletproof SPS tank, assuming of course the CPU on your aqua controller does not fry.
What I have wanted to try was Remote DSB. just haven't had the space yet. I may decide to try that on my current tank... haven't decided yet.
matt the fiddler
New member
That is a good point.
Well, the real thing about this hobby, and life in general is everything is a trade-off. A perk in one area for a handicap or exclusion in another.
Few things give you 100% positive and no drawbacks, other than issues like "tank or no tank", "water or no water", etc. and still flooded floors and spouses would find ways to argue with those absolutes.
Well, the real thing about this hobby, and life in general is everything is a trade-off. A perk in one area for a handicap or exclusion in another.
Few things give you 100% positive and no drawbacks, other than issues like "tank or no tank", "water or no water", etc. and still flooded floors and spouses would find ways to argue with those absolutes.
dascharisma
New member
My suggestion would be to look at the tanks kept by people advocating on both sides, and make your decision based on that.
Some people will tell you that there are some magical benefits to be had with a sand bed. Take a look at some BB tanks (like JJ's for instance) and decide for yourself if there is any magic missing.
If you decide to go BB (which is what I suggest), I would not keep a DSB remotely. I don't think there are any benefits to keeping sand in a BB system. The entire point of a BB tank is to keep all detritus in suspension so that the skimmer can take it out. If you have a sand bed anywhere in the system, you will get settling in that area. That defeats the purpose of being BB.
Brad
Some people will tell you that there are some magical benefits to be had with a sand bed. Take a look at some BB tanks (like JJ's for instance) and decide for yourself if there is any magic missing.
If you decide to go BB (which is what I suggest), I would not keep a DSB remotely. I don't think there are any benefits to keeping sand in a BB system. The entire point of a BB tank is to keep all detritus in suspension so that the skimmer can take it out. If you have a sand bed anywhere in the system, you will get settling in that area. That defeats the purpose of being BB.
Brad
I have had the same thoughts/questions. Therefore I can't argue with your logic but, the last to underlined sentences are quite subjective and dependent upon the hobbyists preferences and expectations (i.e. bio related advantages or aesthetic appeal). Personally, for my 3rd setup I would like to try something different. For me, I like the "clean" lines of a BB and I like to keep DSBs in my displays pristine and radiant at all times thus BB seems like one less thing to maintain or at least will simplify maintenance.
glaspie69
Premium Member
It's pointless to run a BB tank and then put a tank with a dsb in the same system loop, completely cancels the point. I still say the best way to decide is to look at what corals a person is planning on keeping, I've run both set-ups. I'd run a BB hands down for sps but I don't think they look quite right with a soft tank. Comes down to what catches your eye
matt the fiddler
New member
Glaspie, ordinarily, you are right on... but there are some lesser known methods to pull this off... that I think make it a viable option to use with a BB tank.
a remote Deep Sand bed kept in the dark (many people do this in a 5 gallon bucket or 10 gallon tank), that has a filter on the intake, and draws water from the cleanest part of the system (very very important details) has been shown to prevent detritus buildup in the sand. It does not grow old and cause old tank problems like normal deep sand beds.. these still provide a great amount of filtering of the nits from their deep anaerobic areas. I am going off my head here.. I can provide links if needed....
Also, you can greatly increase the current in the main display. So there are benefits Some people expose their bottoms just to stop the sand storm, and not to prevent Old Tank Syndrome.!
a remote Deep Sand bed kept in the dark (many people do this in a 5 gallon bucket or 10 gallon tank), that has a filter on the intake, and draws water from the cleanest part of the system (very very important details) has been shown to prevent detritus buildup in the sand. It does not grow old and cause old tank problems like normal deep sand beds.. these still provide a great amount of filtering of the nits from their deep anaerobic areas. I am going off my head here.. I can provide links if needed....
Also, you can greatly increase the current in the main display. So there are benefits
Some people expose their bottoms just to stop the sand storm, and not to prevent Old Tank Syndrome.!
Torpus
New member
we ran BB, actually cutting board bottom, on our last tank and had one serious issue with it.
we didn't glue acrylic around the edges and detritus got underneath the board and was impossible to siphon out
if you decide to go with the cutting board bottom consider glueing it down, I have had both ways and prefer sand easier to clean and is better looking in my opinion
we didn't glue acrylic around the edges and detritus got underneath the board and was impossible to siphon out
if you decide to go with the cutting board bottom consider glueing it down, I have had both ways and prefer sand easier to clean and is better looking in my opinion
