Sand bottom vs bare bottom

[incloud design]

If someone likes having a sandbed with all the critters than they should have one! Can have great tanks either way.

Personally I much prefer no sand. Looks more natural to me - the big acro reefs are mostly rock/coral bottom not sand. The biggest issue was that when I kept sand when I tore down the tanks it was so nasty. Had plenty of cuc, the sand was just filthy where I couldn't clean the sand under coral colonies. I would really be hard pressed to have sand again unless I was going for a specific environment.

I'm debating this myself and just met someone for the first time that had a bare bottom tank. I didn't really even notice at first because the tank had been up long enough to have beautiful coralline covering the bottom. One of the most beautiful tanks I've ever seen in person and looks meticulous while natural. My only concern is that i have never really had any luck with coralline and wouldn't want a diatom covered bottom that needs to be scrubbed all the time. Or a bare glass bottom would get old after a while I'd presume. Really just giving it some thought and great information here. I'll most likely try it in my new Red Sea Reefer 450 Build.

 

[hart24601]

I'm debating this myself and just met someone for the first time that had a bare bottom tank. I didn't really even notice at first because the tank had been up long enough to have beautiful coralline covering the bottom. One of the most beautiful tanks I've ever seen in person and looks meticulous while natural. My only concern is that i have never really had any luck with coralline and wouldn't want a diatom covered bottom that needs to be scrubbed all the time. Or a bare glass bottom would get old after a while I'd presume. Really just giving it some thought and great information here. I'll most likely try it in my new Red Sea Reefer 450 Build.

Worst case you just add sand! Sure a lot easier to add than remove, although if you try BB do give it some time. I also like using large rubble on the bottom.

 

[incloud design]

Lol, right? It surely would be much easier to add than remove. I ordered last night and am going to give it a go with BB. I'll experiment until I achieve the appearance I prefer. This is going to be my baby and sit directly in my living room plumbed into my house so there's no rush. Like I said in my post, the tank I saw recently with BB was absolutely stunning. Thanks for the feedback it really has helped!

 

[Retro Reefer]

I have done tanks both ways.. BB is easier to keep clean but I don’t care for the look and I like the light reflection sand provides to brighten my tank and help eliminate shadows, these days I just use enough sand to barely cover the bottom and I get the best of both worlds.. I typically siphon out some of the old sand during water changes and just add fresh to cover any glass I might have exposed.

 

[incloud design]

I have done tanks both ways.. BB is easier to keep clean but I don’t care for the look and I like the light reflection sand provides to brighten my tank and help eliminate shadows, these days I just use enough sand to barely cover the bottom and I get the best of both worlds.. I typically siphon out some of the old sand during water changes and just add fresh to cover any glass I might have exposed.

I was thinking the exact same thing. I'll give it a go with BB and if I don't care for it just add enough sand for aesthetics alone.

 

[Syed123]

If I ever want to make a dedicated SPS Reef tank I would easily go Bare bottom. Maybe have a white starboard bottom. But yeah cleaning detritus would be easy and I could have as much flow as I want since there will be no sandstorm or battered LPS.

I prefer Sand bottom but it has its limitations.

 

[incloud design]

I guess it's all preference but if you are trying to recreate the ocean, the ocean has sand. Some reefs are mainly rock. My concern is that I love my shrimp/goby combos, snails, wrasses, and other burrowing creatures so it comes down to compromise. I already have all that and this 450 is going to be my show tank per say. Only time will tell what it evolves into, just like nature itself.

 

[cracker]

I have both at the moment. Just recently removed the last of the sand from an older 75. it is much easier to maintain . As for looks? jury is still out.
Also from experience It is a "lot" easier to remove sand than add it.

 

[incloud design]

I have both at the moment. Just recently removed the last of the sand from an older 75. it is much easier to maintain . As for looks? jury is still out.
Also from experience It is a "lot" easier to remove sand than add it.

I'd presume you mean a lot easier not having sand than having sand.

 

[hart24601]

I put white starboard down. Then later if desired can put a tiny amount of sand or rubble. I like rubble. Then when you have bare spots with the small amount of sand you see white starbaord and not glass bottom.

But I really liked birdsnests and acros on the bottom glass so just still BB for me in those systems.

 

[hart24601]

Bottom dwellers! Sitting right on the glass.

But again, do what you like! It's not a huge deal. Just keep it clean.

 

[incloud design]

Bottom dwellers! Sitting right on the glass.

But again, do what you like! It's not a huge deal. Just keep it clean.

Looks great!

 

[cracker]

No Sir ,I mean it's a lot easier to just vacuum it out then add it back to the tank. If You have rock & livestock corals etc. You have to avoid getting the sand on it/them etc.
If you are adding sand please consider rinsing all the silt out 1st.
As for having sand or not, I agree it's a lot easier to keep the tank overall clean going BB . At least this has been my experience so far.

 

[incloud design]

The thing I hate about sand is losing sleep every time I use a Mag Float. One tiny grain of sand can destroy you! Nerve racking...

 

[mattgsa]

I love the look of a BB tank. However, I also love many of the creatures that require sand. So I think the only solution is to have two tanks. Perfectly logical. ;Greedy Now I just have to get the wife on board.;Dead

 

[incloud design]

I love the look of a BB tank. However, I also love many of the creatures that require sand. So I think the only solution is to have two tanks. Perfectly logical. ;Greedy Now I just have to get the wife on board.;Dead

Precisely what I'm doing.

 

[PanchoG]

I like how the sand looks like, seems to be more natural and I do like fishes who move in the sand like the diamond goby, so for me is sand all the way. The gobies also simplify the cleaning portion. BB tanks look odd to me but at the end I believe is a personal decision.

 

[doughboy]

I started with sand, then went BB based on exactly the same reasoning/justifications/rationalizations given for BB.
now I'm back to sand. The BB only looks nice at first when it is really clean. after a while, all kinds of crap builds up and it is impossible to clean and the tank looks really ugly.

 

[Luisreef]

I have had sanded bottom tanks since I started reefing. When I sold my 180, and downsized to my 66, I decided to try a barebottom for the first time. it has taken a while to get used to looking at it but now that I am, I LOVE IT. Best of all for me, I love the maintenance aspect if it. I simply vacuum up the detritus at a specific spot in the display and its clean. WOO HOO!!! as my tank is filling in, it looks better and better.

Do you get any ph drops

 

[pickupman66]

No. my PH is very steady. just the standard up and down based upon daily cycles.