Bare bottom tank questions

BigNick

BigNick

New member
Im getting a tank built 48x24x16tall
Not sure if I should use sand from my other tank I'm closing down
Crushed coral or just bare bottom
1 - what are positives and negatives
2 -im putting live rock, zoas,Palys and Acans n few fish nothing crazy
Thanks guys
 
I love it BB!!

+
can utilize more flow.
keep sps happier.
easier to maintain low nutrient system.
cleaner tank and water.
makes cleaning up detritus easier.

-
can't keep sand loving fish. i.e. some wrasses, gobies, jawfish, etc.
when detritus accumulates, it's easily noticed setting off OCD alarms.
you won't see many of the pods that hide in sand, though they will be in your live rock.



Based on your planned livestock list, I don't think you'll need to run BB. All of those kind of like "dirtier" water. SPS need the sparkling water but you're not stocking any.
 
i am having such a head ache with sand bottom but would still stick to sand bottom than bb

sand bottoms kinda look more pleasing to the eye and some species need sand bottoms (like my jaw fish and some shrimp )
 
I hate BB, the look pushes me away. I use to have BB tanks for FW. No more!

If you run a sump, IMO do a DSB or use sand in there.

Stay away from crushed coral ;)
 
Personally for me i like having a sand bed on my tanks.. Especially since im doing a zoa tank.. My tank requires high nutrients and i have a lot of critters like nassarious snails, worms and pods that help keep it clean.. Also they are good for gobys shrimps and wrasses..

But i also thnk bare bottom is awesome to have if ur doing sps/lps and dnt have a heavy bioload.. Also it keeps it looking slick and clean(for me i'd paint the bottom of the tank black to make it look extra slick).. And like walt said its easy to clean up and siphon fish poop and other wastes..
 
Naw I'm new to salt I use real fine sand but man is it a head ache, I'm giving my buddy this tank and I'm getting this other one made and not sure what to use on bottom
 
Ok guys next thing then, what substrate is best than the sand is to cloudy, and would you guys suggest a bare bottom in my tank that has a dogface puffer that destroys everything and a eel that shreds everything, would bare bottom. Be better in that tank.
 
I prefer a sand bed...but it's best to keep it shallow(1-2inches), to keep it easily maintained. Deeper sand beds can cause problems if not taken care of correctly. Bare bottoms look unrealistic and unnatural, and are primarily beneficial in sps dominated tanks.
 
BigNick said:
Ok guys next thing then, what substrate is best than the sand is to cloudy, and would you guys suggest a bare bottom in my tank that has a dogface puffer that destroys everything and a eel that shreds everything, would bare bottom. Be better in that tank.
Click to expand...

I thnk for an eel.. It'll like a sand bed.. So i can burrow and create its home
 
Smitty said:
I prefer a sand bed...but it's best to keep it shallow(1-2inches), to keep it easily maintained. Deeper sand beds can cause problems if not taken care of correctly. Bare bottoms look unrealistic and unnatural, and are primarily beneficial in sps dominated tanks.
Click to expand...

a fish tank is totally unnatural, but i hear what your sayin. really it depends on if your doing a eutrophic or oligotrophic
 
I used to run bare bottom and never had problems with nitrates and phosphates. You just need a powerhead dedicated to blowing the bottom of the tank to keep detritus floating, so they get into your overflow and into your sump for the skimmer to suck out.
Now I use a small layer of sand just for aesthetics. But funtionality wise, barebottom is the way to go.
 
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