I jst have glass with some encrusting montipora growing here and there. Never had NO3 in any tank, so their not a reason to use sand. The defining point in my decision making was when I removed the sand from my 150g. I could not believe the crud that was built up in there!! Just disgusting, I'm surprised the fish didn't jump out.
Since going BB, and keeping every other aspect of my tank maintenance the same, I get better growth, better colors and full polyp extension on every single coral in the tank. Never did I have that with a DSB.
When I first set it up, sure, it looked a bit strange, but now I don't notice it, and people that come to see my tank don't notice it either. My tanks is built for corals, not sand.

Just plain glass on our BB tank. Given sustained proper chemistry, coralline grows like crazy.

So many happy campers with their bare bottoms, I might have to give this a try. I could remove the sand from my present tank to see if I like it, then I can choose between BB or SSB when I set up my new tank... To that end, does anyone have any good links on going bare bottom. From what I understand, it involves removing all the rock, scooping out the sand (straining it for snails), and totally re-aquascaping.

That's how I would do it. Then you are assured that possible toxins from the sandbed won't harm your animals.

Just wondering....what are some methods that BB people use to maintain pH?

Thanx much,

I only use Kalk at the moment, for at night when my PH drops about 4 - 6 points... I have too much CO2 in the house and even with better venting it doesn't want to budge.. so at night I dose Kalk.. keeps me steady at 8.2

PH doesn't move, it is the same as it was when I had a sand bed. the sand doesn't really buffer a tank anyways as for it to dissolve you have to have your PH below 7 and if it is that low you have more problems to worry about.

but I suppose that if you are running a kalk reactor and a ca reactor you shouldn't have any problems.

Steve

I have a sandbed,but what Ive found realy stabilizes the Ph is my refuge with Chaeto run opposite my lights. Solid 8.3 or above depending on Alk.

I think it comes down to what you want from tank, I like sand sifting gobies, I like yellow headed Jaw Fish, I like snails, Crabs, feather duster worms, to me it is my little ocean:biggrin: So for me, for now I will stay with my 3" sand bed. Then again, I have only been into this hobby for four months now, next year I could change my mind. We will see.