Switching to bare bottom

[oscarsdad608]

I have had sand in every tank setup and never truly been happy with it. I have to much flow in the tank and blows sand on all corals that are on the bottom. I am going to slowly syphon the sand out. Any one that has dome this and has any kind of feed back I would appreciate it.

 

[sedor]

I did it, and wasn't happy with it. For purely asthetic reasons. IMO you will be happier in the long run with a course grain sand that doesn't blow around and it is out there. Its a lot easier to remove a sandbed than add one back in.

 

[SeanT]

Check this out:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=650985

Be sure to "cook" your rock or you'll be siphoning forever.

hth,
Sean

 

[CUZ]

I like BB myself, mostly because I can add more flow to the areas needed with out worrying about flying sand. I've never had an issue with nitrates are had to "cook" my rock.

 

[n8ureman]

Personally I prefer BB as you don't have to worry about the sandstorm caused by powerheads. Also IMO it is easier to keep a handle on detritus removal/ nutrient export. As a matter of fact, I just removed the sanded in my tank that had been in my tank for six moths that I installed because I wanted to keep Halichoeres sp. wrasses. ( I ended up just making a acrylic box to house enough sand for their bed.) in the end it is personal preference though.

 

[Blueline12]

I did it and will never go back to sand. Wait until you see how filthy the sand and water that comes out. I would keep a phosphate remover on hand just in case you get a spike while removing it.

 

[MammothReefer]

I've done it on a few tanks, and I'm doing it now. I always like the way sand looks start out with it.. then move away. Now i'm kinda going half and half. I'm going to leave all the sand that is the back half of my tank, and whenever I do a water change I just siphon out whatever comes forward into visible area. It's easier to deal with no more sand on corals etc, I just setup barriers with mariplugs and rocks so there is still sand but it's all sheltered and not getting blasted around. Next time I'll go BB from the start... or at least I'll try.

Oh and I wouldn't worry about that "cooking your rock stuff" unless you tank has really been saturated with excess nutrients. You have to siphon anyways.

 

[dixiedog]

I went barebottom in desperation over cyano. I didn't cook my rocks. I did remove all my rocks from the tank and installed a "starboard" bottom, which I like a lot and recommend highly, both for looks and for the safety of the bottom glass.

I have never had cyano problems again, even though I have a pretty enormous bioload at this point. I don't bother siphoning detritus, I just stir it up real good twice a week or so, and the filter sock gets it.

The only downsides to BB are aesthetics (which starboard helps with a LOT) and the inability to keep certain wrasses, shrimp/goby combos, and such. I like sand, and wish I could have it for the above reasons, but for me it's just not worth the agony.

 

[bobdole2nd]

I like barebottom but taking sand out was a pita.
All my future sps setups were barebottom from the start. SO much easier

 

[mushroom head]

BB for years and won't ever go any other way.I've seen the acro frags that always fall into the sand and die.It always happens when your not home, bare bottom,frags live every time.