Sand Bed -VS- Bare Bottom

[ecvernon]

i prefer shallow sandbed. . with proper husbandry unwanted parameters can be avoided in any tank IMO. i have a 2 inch ESV FINE GRADE WHITE SAND. So far the color is still bright white and it gets dirty around 2 weeks(when i need to do my water change in which i siphon the sand)

 

[Dace]

Well said. The main thing is that no matter which you choose, you need to understand what you are trying to accomplish by that choice and what the limitations or special requirements of your choice are.

The only reason to run a truly deep sand bed ( 3"+ IMO) is for denitrification and that needs to be setup and maintained properly. A shallow sand bed ( my preference) is primarily for aesthetics, and habitat diversity and shouldn't be treated like a DSB i.e. it should be stirred regularly to prevent clmping and dislodge detritus.

BB systems present there own needs and you need to understand what you are doing and why. I've seen very few BB systems that look aesthetically pleasing to ME, despite the obvious health of the animals, but that is a personal thing, not a better or worse thing.

well put!. I had a BB tank and could not stand looking at the bottom. i went back to a deep sand bed with 350 Nassarias snails, 1500 blue legged hermits, 16 garden eels, 2 sleeper banded Goby, a Variagated Jaw fish and am currently looking for a Blue Spot Jaw fish. The existing crew has my sand bed extremely busy. great job animals.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I don't think anyone here will be able to provide a straight answer. It's something along the lines of Canon vs. Nikon, or Mercedes vs. BMW.

I believe however that Medium sand bed provides far more benefts then bare bottom ever would. DSBs are even better except most people don't understand/apply it correctly. I myself have a sand bed ranging from 1-4" throughout the tank and feel that I wouldn't have it any other way.

The colors (different layers) are simply algae and other photosynthetic microorganisms living in the send. They DO NOT live throughout the sand bed but only closely to the glass because of light difraction in that area. If you don't like that, you can just wipe it every once in a blue moon.

As to the sand storm, if you have it, your powerheads/returns are positioned wrong. Move them around until you achieve even flow. I have a turnover rate of 7600 GPH in a 180G tank and there is no sand blown around the tank at all. Like water parameters, flow has to be initialy calibrated to find that sweet spot.

I've never had any nitrate issues in my tanks.

 

[marki24]

A deep sand bed may be necessary for certain fish and inverts so keep that in mind :wink1:

didn't i just say that :smash:

Second of all some fish will hide in sand as well as stars.

:givebeer:

 

[QUESTIONMARC]

I have a 6" DSB running for 2 years. A ton of critteres keep it active. no trace of the slightest nitrate or phosphate 2 years later. I also run a 6" DSB in my refuge that doesnt get touched/moved/disrupted, even in the slightest way. there was an 8-9 month period where i didn't have to do a water change because the tank was taking care of itself... well... that was until the fish grew up.

my bio load includes close to 25-30 fish, 10 large ones in a 150g. I do a 33% water change once a month (when needed) and change the filter sock and clean skimmer every 4-5 days. i feed once every other day and use amino acids on the off days. Not a lick of phosphates or nitrates. my zoas and sps double their size each month. I followed the boston reefer method and theories of a DSB to attack nitrates. and IMO.. it has done nothing other, than worked.

If anyone was to ask what i attribute the success too.. I would say it was because of the bacteria that can be found within the DSB... both in the tank as well as the fuge.

of course... once again.. this is just what has worked for me.

***the smartest thing anyone ever told me in this hobby was.. find someone's tank that you want your tank to look like.. and follow their method. .. and so i did.***

then again.. i believe in the method of duplicating nature.. closer to nature.. better you are.. and never once did i dive and see a glass bottom on the ocean floor... BUT.. there are plenty of ways to skin a cat.. so.. like i always say.. especially in this hobby.. to each their own!

as long as you are successful.. what does it matter... how you do it???

 

[ocholoco]

hey

:link: I'm with Questionmarc. Great point.

 

[Domboski]

didn't i just say that :smash:


:givebeer:

I have garden eels. Hence the :wink1: Just jumping in on the DSB bandwagon. Next time I will word it so you still feel special :biggrin:

 

[reefman]

i have shallow sand bed (less than 2")
there r pro n cons but 1 of the most important trumps em all- looks
reef looks more like a real reef with sand.
however, if u like the way your tank looks then it dont matter cause both ways (sand or no sand) can be made to be successful.

 

[Wes]

i had BB setup for a while, i added a small sandbed because i like the look better.

In my opinion:

No sand bed = easy to clean

Sand bed = better look (however the current RC TOTM is VERY nice http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2009-02/totm/index.php)

you can be successful with several different methods if you take the necessary precautions that apply.

 

[NYPDFrogman]

my tank is a BB with starboard it doesnt look like sand but it's not just a glass bottom
Coraline is finally growing so in a few weeks it should be covered
if I decide to add any fish that need a DSB I'll add a sand box