Bare Bottom Reefs, Opinions?

[td3025]

I'm starting up a new 80g starphire glass reef tank in about a month. I'm debating doing this tank bare bottom, because I've heard it can benefit the corals and prevent nitrate spikes.

what are your opinions on bare bottom tanks? is it worth it or should I go with live sand instead?

 

[hart24601]

I am a huge fan of bare bottom for SPS reefs. Even mostly stony coral reef I like BB. I really like it for the flow big SPS colonies need.

 

[Jimbo]

If you can get over the look of the barebottom it's the way to go especially if you want a high flow tank and want to keep nutrients to a minimum.

That being said tanks with sand look way more natural IMO . By the way my tanks barebottom for the reasons stated above but it takes getting used to.

 

[MaddyP]

I started my 40 breeder as a bare bottom. Yes, keeping nitrates down and detritus suspended is a plus, but it looks a bit unnatural. Also, I struggle keeping my nutrients up anyway. I ended up adding a bag of Tropic Eden Reeflakes, about and inch deep. I'm running two MP10w's on opposite ends at 100% without stirring up sand (and 600 gph through return).

I say this to explain high flow doesn't necessarily mean you have to go bare bottom.

 

[Bj’s Reef]

I Didn't go bare bottom. However I have a thin layer of sand on the bottom. I wish I had gone bare bottom then I would not have to deal with blowing sand issues. I Think bare bottom tanks look great if they are done right. You should see the six hundred gallon bare bottom display tank at world wide coarls. It's truly inspirational.

 

[Zero Nitrates]

I love bare bottom tanks! It's a lot easier to manage nitrate levels. Something like Oyster Feast is a great food to keep your nitrates up.

 

[JasReef]

I love the look of sand but have a bare bottom tank. I put encrusting montis on the bottom and the rest is growing coraline so you get used to it. It's easy to figure out where the detritus is and get it siphoned out. It's not always crystal clear with all the crap getting blown around but thats ok with me.

 

[Justin Thain]

I Didn't go bare bottom. However I have a thin layer of sand on the bottom. I wish I had gone bare bottom then I would not have to deal with blowing sand issues. I Think bare bottom tanks look great if they are done right. You should see the six hundred gallon bare bottom display tank at world wide coarls. It's truly inspirational.

Just saw it this week. Incredible!!! Also those guys rock

 

[hawkinsrgk]

I went back and forth with my setup and ended up having sand. It was a big mistake. Wish I never put sand in the tank. Now that I have removed the sand the tank is doing a lot better

 

[brad65ford]

sometimes bb takes a while to really kick in or to get the balance (bio load) out similarly but differently the sand beds. Its worth in the long haul.

 

[Anirban]

I run a bare bottom and love the look of it. I have king starboard at the bottom. It less work and I can go quite high with water movement and little less work with cleaning.

 

[hart24601]

I think sand looks nice, but of you're going for SPS reefcrest type sand looks "unnatural" to me. I hate the term natural, but the reef crests I have seen are stone bottom, not sand unless lagoons. Granted there are always exceptions. There are options for the bottom rather than just glass. And if you want birdsnest or acros on the bottom, good luck with flow and sand!

You can see my tank in my signature. I love water flow and I really like it on the bottom of the tank too.

 

[Ibra9]

I prefer BB for sps tanks less than 100 gallon, so I can put more flow in it, and by the time coralline will fill the bottom up and it will look awesome. I have a 45gal sps BB for 4 years, when I turn on blue channel, it looks as pink as hell, just feel in love with it. I also have a 90 gal mix but it was my first set up with sand. I wish I could starting it with BB.

 

[JMM744]

Just started a 30 cube that is bare bottom. Cycling now. Question? Can you keep feather dusters in a bb tank? Love them.

 

[dkray944]

I ended up buying flat cut rocks from Marco rocks and placed them on the bottom areas that are visible. It's pretty cool in my opinion and provides lots of area to grow more corals.

 

[Ibra9]

Just started a 30 cube that is bare bottom. Cycling now. Question? Can you keep feather dusters in a bb tank? Love them.

I hace couples of feather dusters in my 45 cube BB. Don't know how I got em

 

[Sm51498]

I think it is all about personal preference and your approach to reefing. What you miss without a sand bed: a bunch of the neat sandbed fauna, surface area for bacteria, habitat for microfauna, the ability to keep some fish. The drawbacks are obvious.

 

[Oldsofty]

I am going to make my first post! Yea.... I actually enjoy sand bottom tanks. With that said, i don't do sps. Not because i can't, i just don't care for them. So, if you do sps, then go bare bottom. It just makes sense. If you go softies, lps; then you will be using a much lower flow, probably. With that said, sand offers you a myriad of reef options that are truly awesome to watch. Either way will have pro's and con's, pick the one that appeals to your vision of what you want your perfect reef tank to look like, then tailor your maintenance to meet that challenge. Good luck!

 

[mcarroll]

sand looks "unnatural" to me. I hate the term natural,

You don't like "natural" because we'll never attain natural by starting with an indoor space.

If you're a word nerd, "naturalistic" is the word you're after! I think "unnatural" is still the negative form though.

We should endeavor to create a naturalistic space...

 

[Piranhapat]

BB are so much better for maintaining better water par. You basically control your nitrates better. Once removed my sand never had to deal with cyano again. No more sand drifts no diatoms. SPS love it with more flow. The best thing I done to my tank.