Sandbed or no sandbed.

[Jake_the_reefer]

So I am starting a build thread on a 16g biocube restoration project and one thing has been bothering me. Should I do a sand bed or do bare bottom. In my other tanks I have a sandbed and have always had issues with detritus, sand being blown about and fish moving the sand everywhere. In this new build I am going to venture into sps corals. This will not be an sps dominant tank in any way, it will have a few here and there and that's all. Would it be in my best interest to go sandless or should I go with sand for aesthetics and the added bio filtration

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

This build is going to be heavily based off others opinions so I can venture into something entirley new

 

[c.poindexter]

Another thing to keep in mind would be the amount of flow you are looking to have. If a lot of flow it might be hard to keep a sand bed from blowing everywhere. Another consideration would be to the type of fish that you are looking to keep as some need a sand bed. As for myself I do not think I could live without the look of a sand bed. I also vacuum my sand at every water change which is pretty much weekly.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Another thing to keep in mind would be the amount of flow you are looking to have. If a lot of flow it might be hard to keep a sand bed from blowing everywhere. Another consideration would be to the type of fish that you are looking to keep as some need a sand bed. As for myself I do not think I could live without the look of a sand bed. I also vacuum my sand at every water change which is pretty much weekly.

I will be looking at probably a clown pair and a flametail blenny.

 

[TheKingInYellow]

I'm a barebottom guy now, lost a tank to a rogue powerhead in a sandbed, never again. Check my build.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I just setup my Bare-Bottom a week ago..... well, still working on it....... either way, check my build thread..... I actually like the look of the bare bottom better

I put black PVC 1/4” thick sheeting (in one piece) on the bottom...... looks awesome

 

[TheKingInYellow]

I just setup my Bare-Bottom a week ago..... well, still working on it....... either way, check my build thread..... I actually like the look of the bare bottom better

I put black PVC 1/4” thick sheeting (in one piece) on the bottom...... looks awesome

Same here, black textured ABS on the bottom.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Same here, black textured ABS on the bottom.

Should a false bottom be used instead if live rock flat on glass?

 

[TheKingInYellow]

It's not necessary, I just like the insurance in case of rockslide, and the textured ABS will give encrusting corals a place to grip. Looks great too, prevents glare off the bottom glass.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

It's not necessary, I just like the insurance in case of rockslide, and the textured ABS will give encrusting corals a place to grip. Looks great too, prevents glare off the bottom glass.

Will encrusting corals take to a glass bottom or should I go the abs route

 

[TheKingInYellow]

Will encrusting corals take to a glass bottom or should I go the abs route

I'm no authority on it, but they did it on BRS and it made sense to me.

 

[boacvh]

I am a total noob, so probably not the best to opine here, but I do prefer the look of detritus in my sand bed in my DT rather than the look of detritus in my bare-bottom QT.

 

[LIreefguy]

I feel you answered your own question
You had trouble with nutrients and no sand makes it easier to clean and keep nutrients down
As far as the look that’s up to you
Can you live with the look of no sand for the benefit of ease of cleaning

 

[TheKingInYellow]

I am a total noob, so probably not the best to opine here, but I do prefer the look of detritus in my sand bed in my DT rather than the look of detritus in my bare-bottom QT.

Does your QT run a overflow and 60x flow or more in the tank though?

 

[brandon429]

It won't matter in any tank where the keeper is willing to drain off all the water for easy access. Once you're dealing with a tank small enough to be accessed, you can just deep clean it/reset it's age anytime you want

Nano reefs don't have to follow the same rules that large tanks do about storage...who cares if a sand bed stores waste you just clean it out once a year it takes like an hour for me for the last fourteen years.

It slowly builds up, you put back clean ad infinitum. sps or no sps doesn't matter, any tank that can be 100% accessed will work this method well

 

[Jon Fishman]

I run my powerheads all-out...... couldn’t do that with sand......

I know coral will encrust on glass too, but I also like the assurance of the plastic sheet on the bottom plus the look of it.

 

[Haacheew]

Welcome R2R

Similar to you. I used to have a 4" think sand bed in my 75 gal tank. This time I am trying something new. I've just set up a brand new 20 gal bare bottom tank a week ago. ( I still have 60 LB live sand sitting in buckets.) Will see how it goes.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Welcome R2R

Similar to you. I used to have a 4" think sand bed in my 75 gal tank. This time I am trying something new. I've just set up a brand new 20 gal bare bottom tank a week ago. ( I still have 60 LB live sand sitting in buckets.) Will see how it goes.

RSR Nano? I have sand in mine, and Bare Bottom on my main tank!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I'm a fan of sand for the aesthetics.

 

[TheKingInYellow]

I'll admit sand beds can look great but they don't seem to stay that way for me