Sand or no sand

[phil_pl]

I am either going to replace my sand or have no sand bed at all. Who here has run a reef tank with no sand? What if any are the advantages?
Please explain why you chose the depth of your sand if you have sand.

 

[JR's Reef]

I dont have any sand. My tank has been BB for the last 2yrs. The best things about it is you dont have to worry bout sand blowing aroung and cleaning is much easier.

 

[Braves Fan]

I just don't think you can have a tank without sand, just dosn't look right, unnatural.

 

[morrowss]

I like the look of sand besides the benefits.....but i am thing about removing most of the sand in my maroon clown tank they clear it to bare bottom all around their anemone

 

[mikedelgado]

I just don't think you can have a tank without sand, just dosn't look right, unnatural.

agreed,I was bb but ended up putting just enough to hide the glass. the tank is much healthier and easy to keep detritus collecting in the sump where its much easier to remove. bad,cyano problem Was the reason I tried bb and it worked.

 

[Paul_N]

I just don't think you can have a tank without sand, just dosn't look right, unnatural.

I agree. I will always have sand in my tanks. I have a barred goby that keeps the entire bottom of my tank clean. I had one spot in the front center that would blow away and all I did was put some course crushed coral there and no problem. The goby can still sift it also.

 

[mheaven]

BB for me for the past 2 years, love it. I wouldn’t go back to sand.

 

[xrayrider]

BB for me for the past 2 years, love it. I wouldn’t go back to sand.

How do you Bare Bottom people achieve 0 nitrates without a sand bed? Do you use a remote sand bed? I went from a shallow sand bed to a corse, fine mixed bed that is 6+ inches deep. I have had 0 nitrates ever since.

 

[WWC Verified Sponsor]

BB for 6 years now and I will never go back.

 

[Paul_N]

I have seen some tanks that are BB with tons of rock and coral in it that cover the bottom of tank. I don't mind that look. Unfortunately, my tank isn't stocked like that.

 

[Yellowtang]

Currently runing just enough sand to cover the glass.

JR,

 

[Acezwild]

I just don't think you can have a tank without sand, just dosn't look right, unnatural.

BB is very natural when all the glass is covered in coraline algea

 

[Znut Reefer]

BB here as well. I won't ever use sand in my tank. Been BB for yrs.

 

[Eye Candy Coral]

I like about a 1.5" sand bed enough to make it look good

 

[mfinn]

I keep about 1" of sand, just in the front of the tank for appearance, the rest is BB.

 

[droblack]

BB for a couple of months now and I love it. Would only use to keep jawfish and gobies now.

 

[wildmantrav]

BB for 6 months, its easy to see where the waste accumulates and remove it with the weekly water change. I got tired of every time I moved something in the tank it would be cloudy for a day until the sand settled again.

 

[Nate82]

Yeap my sand is just for appearance and minimal filtration purposes

 

[AlexStinson]

I run about a 4" sand bed... I like the look of it, and i like the idea that if a rock falls, it hits nice soft sand

 

[epicenter]

4" here with mixed emotions, I am having nitrate issues despite the sand bed. I have heard the sand at some point stops working as a filter & becomes a problem in it's self. If this is true & I am faced with tearing the tank down to replace sand, there will be no sand going back in.