What do you think guys, bare bottom tank or live sand bed
- Thread starter badreefer
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tankaddict
New member
I think they both have their pros and cons. BB gives you more control over your system and easier to clean but a more sterile environment. A sand bed would provide more niches within your system for diversity, but can cause issues if not maintained. My tank had a shallow sand bed because i like more diversity and it allows me to keep a few animals that needs the sandbed to thrive.
TucanSam007
New member
I run a deep sand bed. I'm not biased though because I believe all ways will work, dsb, shallow sand bed, and bare bottom all can work with proper stocking and maintenance. I want to go bare bottom in my next tank just because I would like to start a full blown SPS tank and have really high flow rates. On my mixed reef I run the DSB and I love looking at different types of infauna at work. I never had a problem with nitrates. It just takes proper seeding/time/ and not messing with it to mature. You must keeping out sand sifting starfish/gobies and any other critters that would eat the beneficial life. My fighting conch does great work at sifting through the top layers and is really cool to look at. DSB's are also limiting to the amount of flow before I you end up with a sandstorm. I really believe its personal preference and what type of maintenance and look you are trying to achieve, as well as what your livestock is going to be. All have pro's and cons, Give us some more info, what are you planning to keep?
njreefermadness
Member
Bare bottom. Just can't get the flow I want with any substrate. Too much flow in my tank. I would have a sandstorm of biblical proportions.
My 2 cents.
Herb
My 2 cents.
Herb
chrishayes
New member
yep, agree with tucansam above. Lots of ways to skin a cat. Ill admit, I pretty much hate my sand. it restricts flow in a tank full of sps. Its terrible cause if I say screw it and blast the flow the corals react so well but my sand ends up at the opposite end of my tank...I just cant stand barebottoms...it works for some folks but not me.
Also, with a real shallow bed of special grade sand I have to vaccum it weekly which pretty much destroys any critters that live there so throw that out the window as a concern.
Also, with a real shallow bed of special grade sand I have to vaccum it weekly which pretty much destroys any critters that live there so throw that out the window as a concern.
Finland
Member
I went with bare bottom when I set up my 180. I went that way because of the flow in the tank, and to help keep it cleaner. At first I did not like it at all. Too sterile looking. Now it has been up for a year and a half, I am really glad I went this way. the bottom is covered in coralline and zoas and montis are starting to cover the bottom.
RynosReef
New member
^^ so it's really up to you and your personal tastes. Bare bottom tanks allow greater flow, and less maintenance, but you'll lose out on the biodiversity a sand bed can provide. If done properly, you'll have happy sps.
A shallow sand bed restricts you from having a huge amount of flow, but a high flow rate is possible. However, it allows for greater biodiversity. It gives amphipods, copepods, tiny starfish, sea cucumbers, serpent stars, burrowing fish like jawfish and some wrasses, and many other creatures a place to live. If done properly it can give you happy sps.
And a deep sand bed restricts your flow potential more, although high flow rates are still attainable with care. It provides an even greater habitat for more creatures to inhabit your tank, and acts as a buffer to some of your chemical properties. It will lower the total water volume of the tank though, meaning you have to be a little more careful dosing wise. But it's negligible how much it will matter. It can also be a ticking time bomb for your chemistry if not taken care of properly. If done properly you'll have happy sps.
So it's up to you. All three are fine and can make for happy sps. But what kind of reefer are you? Are you all for maximum sps growth and ease of care? Go bare bottom. Are you all for maximum biodiversity and don't mind a extra tank maintenance? Go for a deep sand bed. Or are you in the middle? Go for a shallow sand bed.
I personally love seeing as much life in my tank as possible while not risking a tank meltdown by disturbing a deep sand bed. So I've gone with a shallow sand bed. Throughout a year period, I siphon a little out during water changes. And replace it with new sand as need be. So my sand bed never really sits long enough for bad stuff to collect and probably is totally replaced inadvertently each year.
A shallow sand bed restricts you from having a huge amount of flow, but a high flow rate is possible. However, it allows for greater biodiversity. It gives amphipods, copepods, tiny starfish, sea cucumbers, serpent stars, burrowing fish like jawfish and some wrasses, and many other creatures a place to live. If done properly it can give you happy sps.
And a deep sand bed restricts your flow potential more, although high flow rates are still attainable with care. It provides an even greater habitat for more creatures to inhabit your tank, and acts as a buffer to some of your chemical properties. It will lower the total water volume of the tank though, meaning you have to be a little more careful dosing wise. But it's negligible how much it will matter. It can also be a ticking time bomb for your chemistry if not taken care of properly. If done properly you'll have happy sps.
So it's up to you. All three are fine and can make for happy sps. But what kind of reefer are you? Are you all for maximum sps growth and ease of care? Go bare bottom. Are you all for maximum biodiversity and don't mind a extra tank maintenance? Go for a deep sand bed. Or are you in the middle? Go for a shallow sand bed.
I personally love seeing as much life in my tank as possible while not risking a tank meltdown by disturbing a deep sand bed. So I've gone with a shallow sand bed. Throughout a year period, I siphon a little out during water changes. And replace it with new sand as need be. So my sand bed never really sits long enough for bad stuff to collect and probably is totally replaced inadvertently each year.
MammothReefer
Active member
Bottom of my sump is clean, I run a filter sock. I think BB would be the way go but I keep ending up with sand.. eventually you have things that can encrust across the bottom..should have gone BB and stuck my sunset monti on the bottom... I may still do that but I am I thinking of going back w/a sand dwelling anemome.
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