Sand or no sand- if you had to so it again

[edsreef]

Both for me. In my most recent setup, a rimless 25gal high-flow (136x) tank, I've used a 1/2" thick grout bottom with several handfuls of loose fiji pink sand added after the rocks were put in. So I have a hard, natural looking bottom with some natural loose sand.

 

[jverna1]

BB all the way! I have 3 MP40's that push the poop to one spot and all I do is siphon it out. I am also placing encrusting montis and zoo's on the bottom for cover. I like the look of sand but the ease of maintenance out weighs aesthetics for me.

 

[Johnyrotten]

I am brand new to this hobby and I went BB. I set it up so detritus collects in a certain spot. Then I added an aquaclear hob with floss and extended the intake pipe to where the detritus collects so that I never have to siphon. Six months in and never had any detectable nutrient after cycle. I always wondered about fixed sandbeds though. Sand looks good

 

[hypnoj]

BB all the way! I have 3 MP40's that push the poop to one spot and all I do is siphon it out. I am also placing encrusting montis and zoo's on the bottom for cover. I like the look of sand but the ease of maintenance out weighs aesthetics for me.

What maintenance is there for a SSB? 4 years and 2 tanks with it and zero maintenance so far.