Well said.

If you choose to employ a DSB make sure you re-stock it with critters and don't add things like sand-sifting stars, sand dollars, etc. And don't be surprised if over time you end up with an accumulation of phosphate and some kind of algae problem.

If you go BB be sure you make the necessary investments for an incredible skimmer, high flow (with a well designed flow scheme and minimal LR), and preferably a coast-to-coast overflow to ensure that as much suspended detritus makes it to the skimmer as possible. Then be sure siphon out detritus every week (I use an Eheim Sludge Extractor which works great for this with a small modification).

The one thing I will say in comparison between BB and a SSB is that when I had a SSB I had more coralline algae growth. Without sand I get very little coralline algae growing on the glass or back panel but my coral growth has been unaffected. I don't know how this is possible or what could possibly explain the difference though other than maybe my BB tank is nutrient limited and the SSB was helping store and leach some small amounts of nitrate to help fuel the coralline growth.

Well... I've had an established 10g BB nano running for about 2 months now, it was/is a friends tank :) as for maintaining the tank for the last 2 months, I've had no major issues to speak of.. I am new to salt but I have kept african cichlids almost exclusively for the past 9-10 years.. Since this neat little salt tank was transplanted into my livingroom, already containing 6x 6 foot cichlid tanks and a 72g as well, not to mention one of the bedrooms... The little tank started to grow on me and the maintenance was not all that much for a tank of this size. I started to get a little curious of how difficult it would be to get one going... The tank & filters were just sitting around, so I set it up.. It's a 10g with 2x hob filters, live rock in one HOB, Caulerpain and small bag of aragonite in the other (all from a friends established tank) 15lbs LR from that same established tank, and water from the same tank, I have a single clown fish and a single pom pom crab, a few very small things on the LR besides a bit of coraline algae..

I like the idea of sand as far as asthetics are concerned, plus the extra critters in the sandbed. Still thinking.... :)

Canadian, I'm BB lots of coralline, bottom is covered where lit.

Great post interesting info don't agree with the sand siffting though. Did you have the same light in each of your BB and SSB tanks? I find the watts and K's play a big part in the coraline growth.

I just mention that, to show I,m also a fan of dsb. Not sure whats funny about it.

I was asking a question as you said I would NEVER, {big letters}, set up a nano without one, thats all.

I would think I know a fair bit about a dsb, just debating the need for it to provide stability in any specific aquarium.

Anyways, I just wrote a large piece on sandbeds but took it out. Been in enough of these discussions over the years and there,s plenty of info on them in the RC threads, and in our links on here for those that wish to read up on them.

I agree with the latter posts, {whatever method you use, research it and do it right.}

Yeah I've had several reef tanks over the past 10 years and they've all been DSB or SSB. I've always had uncontrollable coralline algae growth. Since starting this BB tank a year ago I have had sporadic coralline algae growth. At one point in time when I moved several months ago I re-set up the tank with a SSB for aesthetics. In the first few weeks I had a spurt of coralline growth on the back panel but I also saw how much crap was accumulating in the sand bed (and yes I had lots of nassarius snails, ceriths, hermits, etc.) so I yanked it all. Since then my coralline growth has again diminished on the glass but does grow on the rocks. Coral growth remains the same. I did/do suffer from some pale coloration of some of my SPS which may be due to a very low nutrient system and is the only explanation I can come up with for the lack of coralline growth.

As far as adding sand sifting stars and sand dollars to a DSB is concerned: take a look at the recommendations for proper husbandry of a DSB by Ron Shimek. Firstly, both white sand sifting stars and sand dollars are generally inappropriate for a reef aquarium - they decimate the infauna in a sand bed and tend to then slowly starve. Secondly, adding anything other than detrivores to a DSB is counterproductive. If you're adding things to "stir" the top layer that's one thing, but if you're adding things that aggressively consume the infauna in the sand bed then you're defeating its purpose of assimilating waste as quickly as possible so it can be processed by bacteria. The pods, worms, microstars, etc. that sand sifting stars and sand dollars are eating are exactly what need to be left in a DSB to help consume waste so your DSB can function efficiently and not solidify.

Thats definitely the most useful comment on this thread.
I'll maybe try and comment some more when I get a tank featured on RC.

It sounds like you need a hug - you're too angry. *hug*

There, do you feel better now?

Maybe now you can lose just a bit of the attitude and lay off the personal attacks on members who have been here a long time and have helped a lot of people (Doug).

I have 2 tanks with sand and 2 without. One in particular is approaching 7 or 8 years (I can't remember if it was technically 2001 when I set it up or early 2002).

Honestly? That one tank has hit end of life and has hit it hard ... and I'm afraid .. very afraid of the teardown process ahead of me. As been said what can be found in sand that is a mere 8 months old, never mind 8 years. I am hoping to have all fish corals and clams removed before I touch that sand.

I like the aesthetics of sandbeds but that's it and that's all. And in hindsight, it's not worth it, spend the money on extra nice rock or a nice skimmer instead. Barebottom tanks from here on out for me.

I love the look of sand, to me bb looks too barren. I think when (if) i ever get a bigger setup, i'm going to have a really thin layer (1cm) of sand and siphon it out every few months.