Benefits of going bare bottom?

[KJAG]

I always wanted to go bare bottom but was always afraid of rocks falling and hitting the bottom glass, I've heard of people using egg crates to protect the bottom glass but is there anything else that I can use to protect my bottom glass that is t such an eyesore ?

Starboard

 

[Sobo's Reef]

See I would have done starboard if I knew about it before I set this tank up Lol... I may go BB. I guess I should rehome my queen conch then huh?

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Now that I think about it. Probably won't b good to go BB, I have a watchman goby and a scooter that live off the sand, would that cause a problem?

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Oh also, I have 3 different wrasses too

 

[chefishman]

i love having a bare bottom tank. after using crushed coral 15 years ago...and a sandbed 4 years ago..lol im loving the bare tank. the pink alge dots are almost all over my tank bottom and it looks sick lol.
also having a pump low in the tank flowing along the bottom back wall its so easy to clean the tank. ALL the loose stuff, detrius and whatnot flows and piles up in 1 spot in my tank, like a lil tiny pile of sand lookin spot. super easy to vacuum out

 

[Sobo's Reef]

i love having a bare bottom tank. after using crushed coral 15 years ago...and a sandbed 4 years ago..lol im loving the bare tank. the pink alge dots are almost all over my tank bottom and it looks sick lol.
also having a pump low in the tank flowing along the bottom back wall its so easy to clean the tank. ALL the loose stuff, detrius and whatnot flows and piles up in 1 spot in my tank, like a lil tiny pile of sand lookin spot. super easy to vacuum out

I'm really considering it. Just have to figure out how to manage it with my 3 wrasses, a watchman goby, and 1 scooter dragonet

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, BB tanks look like aquaria, while sand bottom tanks look Ike a chunk of nature.

I certainly agree that detritus removal can be easier, but I don't spend any time worrying about detritus.

 

[mike007]

IMO, BB tanks look like aquaria, while sand bottom tanks look Ike a chunk of nature.

I certainly agree that detritus removal can be easier, but I don't spend any time worrying about detritus.

Amen bro!!!!!

 

[Sobo's Reef]

I wouldn't mind having sand if I didn't choose the "fine" kind. It kicks up so easily and my tank is always cloudy bc of it I feel. I've never had any bare bottom tanks before so this will be a first. Do you guys think my wrasses and other will be ok without a sandbed?

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I wouldn't mind having sand if I didn't choose the "fine" kind. It kicks up so easily and my tank is always cloudy bc of it I feel. I've never had any bare bottom tanks before so this will be a first. Do you guys think my wrasses and other will be ok without a sandbed?

What types of wrasses do you have?

 

[Sobo's Reef]

What types of wrasses do you have?

Christmas, melanarus, and red coris

 

[chefishman]

especially after cleaning the glass, and blowing off the rocks, the next morning its all settled and ready to be removed. easy peasy.
Oh and maybe a large rock that has a hollow portion, like a bowl could be filled with sand for a wrasse. or maybe an acrylic box 1 or 2" tall with sand would work. like a sandbox :bigsmile:

 

[Sobo's Reef]

especially after cleaning the glass, and blowing off the rocks, the next morning its all settled and ready to be removed. easy peasy.
Oh and maybe a large rock that has a hollow portion, like a bowl could be filled with sand for a wrasse. or maybe an acrylic box 1 or 2" tall with sand would work. like a sandbox :bigsmile:

I've heard that from a few people but do you think that's going to be enough for 3 wrasses?

 

[danangelo]

The sandbox idea works..I am loving my BB I can feed a lot for my anthias and my po4 is staying lower not using po4 remover just fuge and zeo start twice a week..might cut it down to 1 because my po4 has been 0 for a week I like it at .02..

 

[that Reef Guy]

A lot less Work on Water Change Day.

Sand Vacuuming takes Forever.

I love it and am Converting all my Tank to Barebottom right now.

 

[stylaster]

I love my bare bottom 312 gallon tank. The best part is i got the flow setup to collect all the detrituis in one corner. You would be amazed at the amount that collects from 22 fish. Since my tank has been up and going overa 1.5 years the bottom is pretty much covered in coralline algae now and gives it a neat look. Here is a pic


and some top down so you kinda get idea of what it looks like. I used a white foam board under the tank also

 

[ZoanthidGuy]

Christmas, melanarus, and red coris

I have had my melanarus and christmas wrasse in a BB tank for over 6 months now and they have done fine.

 

[thumperss]

I have seent the tank in person many times and always beautiful

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Well after seeing pics of your tank and hearing that a Christmas and melanarus wrasse both r doing well, I think I'm gonna pull the trigger. I love the way the coralline looks on the bottom glass. What did u say u used for underneath the tank? I'll def need to put something there or you'll see my ugly sump!

 

[pickupman66]

You will only see the sump if looking from the top otherwise it will appear mirrored.