Sand or Not!

Would you build a reef tank without substrate or bare bottom?

  • Substrate all the way!

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Nothing but Rock!

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Depending on type of reef!

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I don't know.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
  • Poll closed .
DanSreef

DanSreef

Premium member
OK Everyone... I am curious of what everyone thinks of the following topic:

What do you all think about tanks without substrate....or a bare bottom tank?

Please respond to the attached poll. I would also like to get the pros and cons of going sandless...
 
i like a bb tank always wanted to set one up one day pros seem to be easy to clean up all the junk that gets caught in the sand gets a nice coraline bottom with time which looks cool cons i see being u wouldnt be able to keep or might have issues keeping those fish that need a sand bed and you might scratch the bottom of tank with the rock work a really good one i seen had a closed loop built in it which without sand allowed for the pipe to be hidden behind the rock and under. right on the glass that kept nice easy flow with no dead spots other wise sand would be blown around i think its all personal preference a gsp on the bare bottom would look pretty sweet like a bright green shag carpet just my .02 gl
 
I prefer substrate all the time...it's more natural for the live stock, helps keep ph balanced better, the lighting bounces off of it and back into the tank as useable light, and is more satisfying to the human eye.
 
So much easier keeping 0 Nitrate / Ultra low Phosphates without sand. Sand is nothing but detritus trapper. Coraline algae is very slowy growing on my bare bottom and starting to look good.
 
I like the natural look of the substrate / sand. It allows me to simulate the small piece of the living sea / ocean. Reminds me of the times I go snorkeling.
 
I changed from sand to BB and could not be happier.Once the coraline algae takes over and other corals spread on the bottom,it looks very natural.I can keep my flow high without worrying about sand storms and it is soooo easy to siphon any food leftovers and detritus.
 
Hey Mark. Thanjks for your response. I did not know your tank was BB. I also did not know you went to the Apollo LEDs. Sweet! Your tanks is awesome and certainly a good example of a successfull tank without substrate.

Do you have any issues with PH or Calcium? I have heard some say that the absense of substrate causes some issues.
 
In a super high flow SPS only tank BB all the way, anything else I like sand just because I like the look better. I try and keep my sand bed mostly free of coral just for the appearance.
 
I prefer a small layer of sand because I love lawnmower blennies that sift through the sand and the snails that hide there until feeding time. Just personal preference.
 
Thanks for the opinions thus far. I am still on the fence. I see the value in both... I think as my ReefRock comes in tomorrow... I hope... and I get to start rockscaping, it will become a little more clear to me... I like the sand bed... I like the look and the opportunity to keep different sand bed creatures. For BB...there are huge advantages... from flow... to waste removal...and other aesthetics. I have seen some nice coralline algae growth on the BB of some tanks. That is pretty cool.

Hopefully in the next few days I will have a better idea. Thanks for your comments and contributions to this thread.
 
Rodney said:
One tank sand, the other tank is no sand. All depends on the tank. :thumb:
Click to expand...

So... Do you have any issues controlling water parameters with the no sand tank? This is a concern as I have heard having substrate has a buffering capability. Of course... I think that can be offset with the ability to export waste out of the system more efficiently....

Anyway, I have my 72 with sand... and I know how much of a problem I have when I crank up the watr circulation in there. I have always had an interesting duning effect that has been kind of cool....

I may end up having one of each as well.... Thanks for your input.
 
I have a bare bottom and it looks awesome. The coraline will cover the bottom in about 6-9 months and look awesome.
 
DanSreef said:
So... Do you have any issues controlling water parameters with the no sand tank? This is a concern as I have heard having substrate has a buffering capability. Of course... I think that can be offset with the ability to export waste out of the system more efficiently....
Click to expand...

Sorry, both tanks are tied together so I really can't answer the question.
 
For a home aquarium all the way stores is ok for a clean look!! I would never do a no sub bottom. way to unnatural and chemically its better for the tank
 
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