Which route... SSB or DSB

[lolgranny]

Hey guys,

Im finally filling up my 300g system(180g display) and i miss the sand truthfully. I have a BB in my sps tank now, but its not the same. I want to put some sand in and initially i was thinking of going with a simple SSB (1/2"-1") but ive thought about trying out the 5-6" DSB.

Truthfully im leaning toward a SSB. I wont be doing much cleaning of it with a vacuum so my worries is it will become a problem down the road.

I guess im just looking for some thoughts or what route you would take.

Just incase i put some acrylic on the bottom so i can always change it to bare bottom.

Thanks for the input

Dave

 

[Allmost]

I personally like shallow much better, specially with high flow.
I have 5 queen conch and 2 sand sifting star cleaning it, and weekly I move it around with a Kent glass scraper.
There used to be a bunch of worms as well, but my cbb ate them all, so I do vacuum it on water changes now as well. I don't know how well it would work without vacuuming.

JME

 

[westreef]

I had a crash a few years back due to stirring up my DSB. So I am now just have a shallow 1" sand bed, just for look. IMHO the function of DSB can mostly replaced by nowadays high tech equipment, namely highly efficient skimmer, GFO and carbon. Just my 2 cents.

 

[lolgranny]

I guess the reason i want some sand is for wrasses and the look. I know it wont have any function compared to a dsb. I agree with you allmost about the high flow and a SSB being easier. Im worried about the SSB creating a issue with no3/po4 unless i stir it when i do my weekly water changes. I know there are some TOTM guys with SSB's but i think most are carbon dosing or using similar(mb7)

gah im torn on what to do. I will have to say as easy as a bare bottom is it doesnt look as good until its fully matured and your polyps / chalices...ect cover the bottom.

 

[Allmost]

maybe, put putty on the bottom glass, and sand on top ! press the sand, and remove the rest that are not glued to the putty/bottom glass.

I did this in a small 20 G tank, [the putty would cost alot for larger tanks] but with a bunch of snails, I was able to control algae on the sand sheet.
a year later, its covered with coraline[no way to scrape it unless I put an urchin in] .. so looks kinda like BB again .. lol

 

[lolgranny]

maybe, put putty on the bottom glass, and sand on top ! press the sand, and remove the rest that are not glued to the putty/bottom glass.

I did this in a small 20 G tank, [the putty would cost alot for larger tanks] but with a bunch of snails, I was able to control algae on the sand sheet.
a year later, its covered with coraline[no way to scrape it unless I put an urchin in] .. so looks kinda like BB again .. lol

Ive thought about going that route, but im back at a bare bottom again and wrasses wont be happy. I know mark poletti has a shallow sand bed and doesnt do anything but his tank is also bacteria driven and i dont know if i will be going that route.

 

[lolgranny]

Any other opinions?

 

[Playa-1]

I like sand in my tank. I would go with a SSB maybe 1-3" range. Then get yourself some livestock that will maintain the SSB so that you don't have to worry about it much. It's not a big deal to use a sand bed Siphon Vac from time to time if you need to.

 

[toothman]

Every time I redo my 400 gallon reef tank, I use less substrate. The next time I will go bare bottom. It is just easier to keep the nutrients low and cheaper. Less gfo etc.