Finally starting! But sand?
- Thread starter angelfishgirl
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BODI
Active Member
I am one who loves the look of sand myself. I have considered the benefits of running "bare-bottom", but I just can't seem to get past the (oldschool?) idea of not having some form of substrate in my aquarium's! It's a personal point of view thing.
I used to make my sandbed's around 4" deep give or take, until recently... now I like to run less. If the aquarium uses plastic trim, I like to use just enough sand to bring it to trim level.
I used to make my sandbed's around 4" deep give or take, until recently... now I like to run less. If the aquarium uses plastic trim, I like to use just enough sand to bring it to trim level.
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ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
You can put some in if you like the look. I don't care for it and run bare bottom myself. Also gives me more room for coral.
Kworker
Tang Lover
Easier to siphon out detritus, doesn't get all over corals on the bottom of the tank. Issue is you have to siphon it out regularly (which you should do with a shallow sand bed too) or it will be unsightly.
Over time it will cover with coralline algae, or you can put some encrusting corals to grow on the bottom.
In the process of getting rid of my sand bed. Its been a PITA. Fish are constantly stirring it up and getting it on corals, its impossible to keep clean, it turns to rock in some spots...etc, etc. Barebottom for me from now on. Can't wait until I have a bottom covered with coralline algae and encrusting corals
Hentz
Active Member
I'm also in the process of removing my sand! Having an SPS tank, its not "natural" to have sand 
Also keeps the water cleaner and more stable. Though also having problem with my fish who keep pushing it out lol. Not a big deal though! It'll be gone soon!
Also keeps the water cleaner and more stable. Though also having problem with my fish who keep pushing it out lol. Not a big deal though! It'll be gone soon!
CMpapa
New Member
My first tank was a 29 gallon and used a DSB and it worked extremely well for the years that I had it (till I sold the whole thing my marine biology professor). The growth rates I had for all my corals and the amount of livestock I was able to keep in that small of a tank was pretty amazing.
My current tank is a 60 cube and it has 1-2" of oolitic and crushed coral mixed up and I am slowly in the process of reducing my sand to next to nothing.
My suggestion is go DSB or go with barely anything at all (or bare bottom).
My current tank is a 60 cube and it has 1-2" of oolitic and crushed coral mixed up and I am slowly in the process of reducing my sand to next to nothing.
My suggestion is go DSB or go with barely anything at all (or bare bottom).
Have had both
I have had success with sand now which I have a thin layer and without sand. The benefits I have had without sand are easier to clean tank bottom and fish did not ever rub themselves on the bottom of a bar tank. The benefits of a current sandbed are sand sifting fish, inverts, beneficial worms enjoy the sand, its natural to see sand live rock in a reef tank and after cleaning sand during water change white sand brightens up tank.
I have had success with sand now which I have a thin layer and without sand. The benefits I have had without sand are easier to clean tank bottom and fish did not ever rub themselves on the bottom of a bar tank. The benefits of a current sandbed are sand sifting fish, inverts, beneficial worms enjoy the sand, its natural to see sand live rock in a reef tank and after cleaning sand during water change white sand brightens up tank.
In my opinion you have 3 options.... Barebottom, 1" or less and 4"-6". When you start getting between 1" and 4" you start the biological process of a deep sand bed ( 4"-6" ) but the process does not complete. This can cause many problems in the long run.
