This is what the lady at Coral Reefs said...??

[bluetanggirl]

I wanted to know if i could go bare bottom or not but she said that if u go bare bottom that you are not able to keep your pH at a good level?? And I was wondering if that was true for those who have bare bottom tanks? I really want to go bare bottom because I think that it would be much easier to keep clean.

 

[Aadler]

but its sooo ugly to go barebottom :C).

It is true argonite helps buffer PH, but drip kalk or something if you end up having problems, or find which salt mixes produce higher ph. or just give it a go and see. if you go below 7.7/7.8 you may have problems, but i have had tanks that low without much serious issue.

 

[GROWSZOAS]

i see a lot of bare bottom tanks, if that was the case i dont think anyone would do it

 

[aerius007]

Lots of BB tanks out there. Nice people at coral reefs but they are not current with todays trends. Chances are they would sell you a sump with bioballs.

 

[rbd0331]

Mine is bare bottom....and has been for 7 yrs. I used to have substrate, but took it out years ago. I like bare better cause I found it easier to siphon out junk from bottom. The coralline algae will eventually cover most of the bottom anyway.
But I do think some type of substrate does make it look better (more natural). Guess it depends on your preference.
I have no problems with ph. However, I am running calcium reactor and kalk reactor (kalk reactor via topoff water).

 

[DEERE G]

BB and lovin' it.

 

[chuggy]

i have both like the sand better but theres a whole cleanup crew living in it bb is a pain i hate siphoning to try and keep it sparkling clean in my main dt my sandsifting goby snails hermits and stars keep the sand bed stirred and clean

 

[lowman31]

I have been bare bottom for about 4 months and have not had any trouble with pH. I supplement randy's two part each day. Everything looks pretty good.

 

[Akronviper]

They say the Argonite sand helps buffer the water but its at very low levels it will help slightly but as Aadler said it lower than 7.7/7.6. It could help a little but you will never know. Correct information but misleading.

 

[75pxatr]

I have a bare bottom tank and drip kalk and have no problem keeping Ph between 8.1 and 8.4.

I would rather supplement to adjust PH and Alk than fight nitrates!

 

[bluetanggirl]

It was either nitrates, nitrites or pH i can remember which one that she sayed. She also sayed that the sand helps keep stuff from floating.

 

[Tswifty]

The only negative to going BB in my opinion, is that you lose the ability to keep burrowing livestock, or other livestock which requires a sandbed.

I do like how nice and clean they look when set up properly though.

 

[75pxatr]

Don't seek advice from the local pet store. You can probably tell from the above feedback that both methods, bare bottom and Deep Sand Bed will work. The question is what do you prefer?

There is no issue in maintaining Alk, PH with a bare bottom.