sand or bare bottom?

[monsaas]

I have heard different opions on have live sand on the bottom of tanks and not to have it at all (bare bottom) I am in the process of setting up a 24g AP with 30lbs of LR but i am undecided to have sand or not to have it. What is your choice and why? I heard sand can become bad as time goes by. I also heard no sand will also be a problem in the future. I seen both ways be very successful so its up in the air for me.
Give me your thoughts
Thanks

 

[JC VT]

Most BB tanks are aggressively skimmed.

If you are going softies/LPS I see no reason why to go BB.

 

[AngeloM3]

Sand!

 

[oldreefer76]

BB a good DSB takes up to much volume along with the appropriate amount of LR in a Nano ie. 10g ends up being 5 gals or less. I have done both and will never go back to sand not even in a big tank

 

[natedogg]

oldreefer- how do you make it look good without sand?

 

[Chihuahua6]

I use less than an inch for asthetic reasons in my nano tanks. A DSB won't function as a nitrate reducer in a tank with a small footprint so the point is moot. Go barebottom or use less than an inch and vacuum and replace small portions with each water change.

 

[Mrseptember15]

I prefer DSB just because of the look. And its also for my pearly jawfish, I've read that they like to dig around make there nests or whatever. So far my P.J loves it and digs everywhere.

 

[Krazy]

I say go for a thin sand bed cover, for the look of it

 

[Dr.FuManchu]

I use limestone slab bottom. Trying to find a source for Fla. Limestone tile to make Bottoms with. It will become live, without all the issues of a sand bed.

 

[oldreefer76]

It is just my preference but have never liked the look of sand in any reef tank I have 20+ pounds of LR in my 10g so there really isn't any room for sand and at a flow rate of over 600gph in it the sand would be blown around like a storm

 

[CPT. MURPHY]

I use a 3/4" sand bed for cosmetic reasons.

CPT.

 

[Dr.FuManchu]

I use a limestone bottom for ease of maintenance reasons! Stays cleaner than sand too.....

 

[ohiosalt]

i use a thin layer of sand. seems to work.

 

[alien9168]

Go with sand.

It may be a little extra work to keep it clean...but it makes your tank look better and REAL.

I mean... think about it...what ocean has glass at the bottom?

 

[chelskisw6]

i agree, sand all the way. a dsb wont function properly in a small tank, as mentioned already, but a tank with sand looks 1000 times better IMO.

 

[ohiosalt]

i have had problems with the dsb solidifying into sand rock in my larger tanks so now i have been using a thin layer