Sand alternatives?

[leninja]

Hi all,
Long time listener, fist time caller...
I was wondering what alternatives there are for a sand bottom, love the look of sand but as I understand it, could be something of a ticking time bomb.

I didn't want to go completely bare bottom but I'm looking for any ideas as far as maybe using ceramic tiles or even reef rock with cut flat bottoms stacked on egg crate with rubble in the gaps. Maybe jigsaw them together to minimize the gaps.

I'm in the planning stages of a 60 gal breeder I picked up from petco and will be moving everything over from a damaged 55 gal.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

It really depends on what you plan on having as livestock. Will there be any fish, inverts, with a need for a sandbed? I really like the ease and maintainence with a bare bottom, but i can't have any sand dwelling wrasses or inverts . I could put a bowl of sand for them but it just doesn't feel natural to me. Also with a bare bottom i don't have to worry about a sand storm when i crank up my flow.

I've seen lots of reefers put starboards for bare bottoms.