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

[Tabasco1]

Very interesting thread. I had never thought about have my fuge bb, but think I might go that way in the next build. Also might try out the 1/2-3/4" thick bed so that I can siphon clean during WC and still have the look of sand, which I prefer to the bb. The only bb tank I have ever seen that I really liked had the entire bottom COVERED in ricoridas. It was really cool, but I guess that technically isn't "bare bottom"

 

[lowbudget]

bb cause i dont have to worry about flow blowing stuff all over the place

 

[ruppertb]

i want to try bare bottom but smear a little silicone on the bottom and put sand on it, anyone done this?

 

[m and m]

i want to try bare bottom but smear a little silicone on the bottom and put sand on it, anyone done this?

My old friend did this. Some where there is a DIY on it, I dont even member what site it was on. He put sand in a bucket added clear silicone and had a cement mixer and then put it on the bottom. I was torn it looked semi ok IMO. He did have to do it twice because the first time he added to much silicone and it looked like crap.

 

[jaugermeister]

my bare bottom nano is much cleaner than my last tank... once a week I suck out the bottom of the tank with a filter sock in addition to a weekly water change. I really enjoy a bare bottom.


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[cdness]

Shallow sandbed with the option of a remote deep bed somewhere else. I just am not a fan of barebottom tanks. The sand makes it look so much more natural.

 

[neuwave]

BB looks too unnatural and sterile. Good for a frag tank but for a reed I enjoy the full experience. Such as Amano style reefs. Also gives me the chance to deal with a variety of animals and organisms that inhabit the sand (creating various depths of sand for different species.)

 

[WDLV]

All have their place.

I had a BB system that I loved. I like the look of a sand bed in general, and a shallow sand bed better than a DSB but it depends on the direction of the system.

I'm not putting sand sifting Gobys in a BB tank. I'm not putting a Haddons anemone in a BB tank (again) but it can be done. I'm not keeping sand in a really high flow tank (60-70 turnovers per hr) because it tends to get blown off the bottom, bury corals, and get in my hardware.

I've become a fan of biotope tanks and try to design the system around the types of inhabitants I plan to keep.

 

[fishboyt]

BB on all of my tanks, except for my puffer. Never going back to sand.

 

[crabbejoe]

I like the look of shallow sand, but I can see where BB would make things easier. Maybe my next tank will be BB.

 

[Trex]

All 3 of my tanks have a 2-3 inch sandbed; one tank has an S. haddoni, the other has an M. doreensis (( both are sandbed dwelling anemones )) and the 3rd tank has a shrimp/goby pair.

 

[slapshot]

Sand bed, 1 to 2 inches.

 

[toejam]

Bare Bottom with lots of flow.

 

[danka-cedium]

Bare bottom. I love the look, and helps in keeping my nutrients low.

 

[MadR33fer]

Deep sand in the reef. Bare bottom on the fowlr

 

[k2parkstar]

I've got a 4-6" sand bed only because of my blue spot jawfish.

 

[pgr11]

I like a 2" sand bed. Not a fan of BB or DSB

 

[myzislow]

I run sand in the front, and BB in the back. Party up front, all business in the rear. Looks kind of funny but it works for me. I couldnt imagine servicing a sand bed in the back of my tank.

 

[robby2782]

I run sand in the front, and BB in the back. Party up front, all business in the rear. Looks kind of funny but it works for me. I couldnt imagine servicing a sand bed in the back of my tank.

+1-I've been doing that too and it works great. Just stay away from cucumbers as they'll move the sand to the back of the tank.

 

[skinz78]

I run sand in the front, and BB in the back. Party up front, all business in the rear. Looks kind of funny but it works for me. I couldnt imagine servicing a sand bed in the back of my tank.

Ahh good idea, I'll have to try that on the next tank I set up!