The great bare bottom debate

I don't believe a sand bed is the 'curse' that many make it out to be. I have countless animals that live there that help to keep it clean. Lot's of things 'might' cause a tank to crash. As I said earlier, I simply don't like a bare bottom tank, it looks unnatural to me. Further I do keep leopard wrasses.
 
The great bare bottom debate

Thanks for all the info and suggestions, obviously I don't want a potential crash somewhere down the line but hopefully considering my bed isn't that deep I won't have to worry about it. I agree with both sides hard decision to make!! [emoji12]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
jeff240gallon said:
Thanks for all the info and suggestions, obviously I don't want a potential crash somewhere down the line but hopefully considering my bed isn't that deep I won't have to worry about it. I agree with both sides hard decision to make!! [emoji12]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Just make the decision based on your preferred aesthetic. Sand is not a con of a tank, it's just an easy scapegoat.
 
ktownhero said:
Just make the decision based on your preferred aesthetic. Sand is not a con of a tank, it's just an easy scapegoat.
Click to expand...

Yup. I was a sand guy forever but on my new build, I went for bare bottom. Sandbeds, like anything else in this hobby, have their up and down sides. The fauna diversity is great but keeping them looking nice can be a bit of a challenge (although sand sifting gobies do help and are fun to watch).

I just decided I wanted to try something different. Moreover, it's way easier to add sand after the fact than to try to remove it.
 
I have a 2 inch sand bed because I like wrasses and I like the look of sand. It takes a periodic stirring with a turkey baster but it isn't anything that takes time out of regular maintenance.
 
If you want to go bare bottom and have sand sleeping wrasses you can make a sand box for them. get some medium sized sand (bigger than sugar) and place it in a little tub. for my 150 I used a clear plexiglass container from the container store 3 in tall x 3 wide in x 12 in long and placed it in the back of my tank behind rockwork filled with sand, and the wrasses slept in there- I think, I really never checked- but at least they had the option. Depending on your rockwork this can be a great option and completely invisible.
 
Last edited:
nematode said:
If you want to go bare bottom and have sand sleeping wrasses you can make a sand box for them. get some medium sized sand (bigger than sugar) and place it in a little tub. for my 150 I used a clear plexiglass container from the container store 3 in tall x 3 wide in x 12 in long and placed it in the back of my tank behind rockwork filled with sand, and the wrasses slept in there- I think, I really never checked- but at least they had the option. Depending on your rockwork this can be a great option and completely invisible.
Click to expand...

This is a really cool idea. I really wanted to keep a couple of fairy wrasses in my tank but figured it was out of the question with a bare bottom. It certainly wouldn't look any worse than my frag rack at the back of the tank.
 
Quick question. If you have encrusting sps growing on your glass, doesn't that potentially weaken the glass? I mean, coralline etches the glass pretty good and I could only imagine how deep larger, thicker, sps corals could get. I apologize if it's a dumb question but I was really curious.

FWIW I like both, sand and no sand. It's like aquascaping. A lot of rock or minimalist. It simply depends on what kind of look you are shooting for.

I have a deep sand bed in at least one tank and moderate in the other. I stir my sand on a regular basis, several times a week, in small spots, to keep the gunk from building up.
 
My issue with sand was keeping it as clean as I wanted... it always seemed to have some diatoms or cyano in spots..

I painted the bottom white on a couple tanks and haven't looked back... still not sand... but gives a decent look..

With the amount of stuff I suck out weekly I can't imagine going back to sand....

38a0c68278d068fc3354c8719071c0b3.jpg


527120ddb3bef49715a4e41b2218dc53.jpg


Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
GOSKN5 said:
My issue with sand was keeping it as clean as I wanted... it always seemed to have some diatoms or cyano in spots..

I painted the bottom white on a couple tanks and haven't looked back... still not sand... but gives a decent look..

With the amount of stuff I suck out weekly I can't imagine going back to sand....

38a0c68278d068fc3354c8719071c0b3.jpg


527120ddb3bef49715a4e41b2218dc53.jpg


Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Nice tanks, but it almost looks as if they're all frags that have been extremely well placed. How long has the tank been set up? Where's all the coralline algae at? If keeping the sand bed clean was such a task then I can't imagine how your keeping the rest of the tank spot free either. Hmm.
 
It wasn't a task as in time consuming... just something I couldn't accomplish.. no matter what I tried the sand wasn't as clean as I wanted it..

The shallow tank was around 2 years old.. the other is only a year old..

I clean frequently even scraping the bottom.. I can show many examples of tanks without coraline algae... not an indicator of age IME...

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
EdgeN said:
Nice tanks, but it almost looks as if they're all frags that have been extremely well placed. How long has the tank been set up? Where's all the coralline algae at? If keeping the sand bed clean was such a task then I can't imagine how your keeping the rest of the tank spot free either. Hmm.
Click to expand...

I disagree, they don't look like frags at all. What I see is a tank where the owner has a keen eye for detail and precision. Just as some people have a very organized, near surgical room clean home.

In all honestly EdgeN, your comment makes you sound jealous. I know I'm jealous of GosKn5's beautifully clean tank. I can't even organize a book shelf and make it look neat.
 
JWClark said:
What did you use on the bottom? Just plain white ceramic tile? I'm thinking of doing something similar.
Click to expand...

I used travertine tile from Lowes. Worked out great! Just cut and place. No glue or mortor. The travertine looks like flat live rock, pretty natural looking for bare bottom.
 
Nice, glad I stumbled onto this. Converting my reefer 450 to bare bottom as we speak--currently has a freshwater planted tank after the previous reef. Long story short, thought I'd have to move but didn't. But now there is talk of going to West Point to teach...Can't wait to retire and stay put! 4 more years!
 
Tiles have been in place since the tank was set up about a year ago. I never lift the tiles. There's no cavity underneath so I'm not worried about detritus buildup.

I took a new picture today:



My iPhone is picking up the purple in the LED's. It's much more natural looking in person with a mix of algae including purple coralline.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Q
Which mini snail for artemia tank?
Replies
2
Views
170
griss
griss
OrionN
Baby CB Regal Angel from Biota
Replies
8
Views
2K
OrionN
OrionN
Niven
I'm back....and ready to jump back in, feet first in the deep end, speedo, everything!
2
Replies
24
Views
671
griss
griss
R
Cyano and nutrients
2 3 4
Replies
77
Views
11K
Elmareefer
E
L
Should have known better.
Replies
2
Views
837
lb013
L
Back
Top