Tried the barebottom for awhile.

[SaJon]

My old 120 was BB. My 20g nano cube is bare bottom. I have 2 other systems with sand, one 3-4" and one 1".
Most dont have the patience to let a bare bottom grow out. They can look nice if done right. I like both myself.
120BB 20gBB

g

Thats BEAUTIFUL !!!

 

[BigSkyRich]

Bb or bust.lol you really have to embrace it as a reefing style. Sand just traps too much detritus imo. I went bb and it was just easier and better for my animals with my lazy reefing style.
Just can't keep the animals that need the sand. Only downfall.
D

I like that. Currently building a wb cube 20, marco rock, coral only, bb. My other 2 tanks are both with substrate. Just to change it up a bit.

 

[Philip Chin]

I keep jawfishes plus it looks to me a lot better. Without sand it looks like a frag tank in my local fish store!

 

[OlafsReef]

Did my first tank With sand this year. My 5th tank since 2005. It looks nice, sometimes, but man what a headache. So much harder to keep it clean and stable. Tempted to yank the sand, but spouse likes the look.

Definitely easier to keep barebottom happy and healthy. That said I feel like everything used to be easier and healthier...

 

[exnisstech]

I prefer bare bottom but have the best of both worlds in my 180 gallon. The fish seem to prefer that end of the tank.

 

[Miami Reef]

Both have their pros and cons.

I tried bare bottom and it was ok. Tank looked kind of ugly though and unnatural IMO.

I added a very shallow sandbed. It’s pushed towards the back because of the high flow lol.

Now I have a mix of bare bottom and sand.

 

[Tcook]

I ran BB many moons ago and liked it. I just like sand better

 

[schooncw]

Funny you mention the rock wall. WOW, I totally remember mine now. That was the way to do the scape back then.

I still have my rock wall and BB to boot, tho that's a misnomer, as my BB is covered with softies

 

[Miami Reef]

I still have my rock wall and BB to boot, tho that's a misnomer, as my BB is covered with softies

Wow! The depth of that is AMAZING!

 

[SaJon]

I still have my rock wall and BB to boot, tho that's a misnomer, as my BB is covered with softies

That is BEAUTIFUL. That was my ultimate goal when I got my system and decided to go bb. Then I broke down and added sand lol. Your system is gorgeous.

 

[biecacka]

Both have their pros and cons.

I tried bare bottom and it was ok. Tank looked kind of ugly though and unnatural IMO.

I added a very shallow sandbed. It’s pushed towards the back because of the high flow lol.

Now I have a mix of bare bottom and sand.

That’s how mine worked out too. Looks BB from the front! Have a few plating corals up front slowly covering the front anyway.

corey

 

[tigre44]

I run crushed coral substrate about 1/2” deep still needs to be vacuumed but not much of a be problem with my water changes. To me just looks more natural.