Which do you prefer, bare bottom, sand bed, or deep sand bed?

Z-man · Apr 6, 2012

This is my first shallow sand bed and hate it. Major algae bloom after 6 months that now I can't get rid of. I have always used a crushed coral bed for the past 20 years until this set up. As I do water changes, 'm sucking out the sand and will replace it with crushed coral.

The reason I did a SSB was because I like the look. My fug is a 3" sand.

VegasRick · Apr 6, 2012

ca2or said:
If you have diamond gobies and sand sifting stars you won't have dirty sand.....well I don't anyway

So the gobies and star fish are going to suck the phosphates off that have bonded to the ca carb sand?

SDguy · Apr 6, 2012

BB here, with corals covering it, rather than sand covering my corals :crossedlips:

HealthyTanks · Apr 6, 2012

BB for frag tanks.
1 - 2 inches in display tanks.
Deep sand bed in remote.

Don
HealthyTanks

gillundr · Apr 6, 2012

VegasRick said:
So the gobies and star fish are going to suck the phosphates off that have bonded to the ca carb sand?

I think his idea is that those animals will eat any food or waste before there is opportunity to build up Po3.
I have done all. And think they all have merit. loved the copius amount if life in Dsb applications. Bb is easy to take care of and looks nice when things are grown in and encrusted. Bb is a pain sometimes because rocks slide all over.
Ssb is nice but should be kept to about a quarter to half inch. I think people run into problems because they keep sand beds in the range that does no good. Like the 1-4 inch range isn't deep enough to truly facilitate the denitrification benefits of a dsb and its to deep to be really cleaned. So in time becomes a nutrient sink and causes problems. I have been able to keep the medium beds by using a baster and blowingb the sand to release the nutrients which feeds filter feeders and seemed to work well.
There is multiple threads on wetwebmedia that do point out a lot of info on sand. Like the half life of sand and how it needs to be replenished because its dissolving etc.

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warlock4x4 · Apr 6, 2012

DSB for me but only cause I was fighting a nitrate problem for over 18 months.

VegasRick · Apr 6, 2012

gillundr said:
I think his idea is that those animals will eat any food or waste before there is opportunity to build up Po3.

Yea I know what he meant, I have done it all as well too, DSB, SSB, plenums, remote sandbeds, remote refugiums with DSB, BB refugiums. Unfortunately its not as easy as throwing in a couple sifters. Without proper husbandry any tank will have issues. When you don't have a sandbed recovery from issues is usually easier, faster and cheaper. And since almost all beginners have issues I think they are better off learning how to maintain a tank without a sandbed first.

I prefer BB because when I get distracted or lazy and neglect my tank, it's a lot easier to recover.

Reef Breeders · Apr 6, 2012

I have always done just about the minimum height for a DSB in my display, my fuge and frag tanks are bare bottom, and need a clean up right about now

spscrazy · Apr 6, 2012

I started my tank 4 years ago with a dsb my nitrates were always 10-20ppm I was always adding snails copepods etc to keep it clean but my 6 line wrasse ate them up
then around Dec last year my maroon clown decided it was time to move it causing snow storms and releasing nastys in the tank & algae of every sort showed up time to give it up took everything out & took sand down to maybe 1" now my nitrates, silica, phos etc are all 0 and the tank is so much cleaner algae almost gone 6 line wrasse is gone & added a new batch of copepods & rocks etc are much cleaner I know dsb can work but they have needs just like any coral or fish & for me & for my display tank those needs were just not properly met so I'm better off without it

dnov99 · Apr 6, 2012

I am going through this debate right now as I will be re-doing my tank in a couple of weeks. I have decided to go with BB after having sand for years.

I do love the look of sand and agree its is much nicer aesthetically, but there are just too many benefits for me to go BB. After seeing WWC new 600 gallon tank with a BB, it convinced me to go with it.

I have lost and had way too many corals damaged over the years from getting buried in sand. In addition if a coral falls off the LR and lands face down in the sand it will die relatively quickly.

We all know how much nasty stuff the sand bed can trap and that is a fact.

Lastly, having an acrylic tank, sand is a huge enemy when trying to clean the panel.

Sahin · Apr 6, 2012

I am on my 5th Reef tank. All my previous tanks were either deep or shallow sand bed. I always thought I'd hate a barebottom tank, but after having a barebottom on my current tank, no nutrient issues and the fact that it doesnt really look that bad, I am all for it now.

my2girls · Apr 6, 2012

BB for me. Too many benefits plus I like the look. Jawfish and gobies are not my thing.

creefer · Apr 6, 2012

Great thread and very timely for me. I'm running a sand bed now, approximately 1.5" thick. In the new system I'm setting up, I've been contemplating 1/2-3/4" sand bed or BB. As of yet I'm undecided.

Thanks for starting the thread, Rev.

KJAG · Apr 6, 2012

Good thread. Have had a sandbed for years, no complaints but will be BB next tank. Much easier to move since you can drain & remove everything, and I like the look and higher flow options.

Reef_Princess_Appria · Apr 6, 2012

The deeper that sand the better for me. I like deep sand because it's more natural. Also, I like macro in my tank, it fares better in a nice deep sand bed. More reef critters can live in the deep sand as well.

Coral Pimp · Apr 6, 2012

I always like sand beds, it made it more natural looking...

secretreefer · Apr 6, 2012

I've had a DSB for over 5+ years, 2 different tanks. My current 2 year+, 180G has had the same sand 6+inches deep without any problems. But am planning to do BB with my next tank. want to have a "cleaner" running system where i can put a powerhead to run along the bottom of the tank to kick up any detrius. also want to run crazy flow all over the tank and i can't have that with my current superfine sandbed.

mcarroll · Apr 7, 2012

VegasRick said:
Yea I know what he meant, I have done it all as well too, DSB, SSB, plenums, remote sandbeds, remote refugiums with DSB, BB refugiums. Unfortunately its not as easy as throwing in a couple sifters. Without proper husbandry any tank will have issues. When you don't have a sandbed recovery from issues is usually easier, faster and cheaper. And since almost all beginners have issues I think they are better off learning how to maintain a tank without a sandbed first.

I prefer BB because when I get distracted or lazy and neglect my tank, it's a lot easier to recover.

+1

Well said! (…and honest. Boy can I relate!)

Connie · Apr 9, 2012

I have about 2" of sand on the bottom of my DT. I have to have it because I have a scooter dragonet, sand sifting starfish, sand siftng goby and snails that only come out of the sand to feed. My sand stays very clean. My BB is in the fuge with cheato.