OPINIONS WANTED!!!

[Cujo#31]

In the final stages of getting my display up and going and I keep going back and forth on..... sand bed or bare bottom. Please share your opinions and experiences. Predominantly SPS and a few select LPS BTW before anyone asks that.

[rsisvixen]

I like sand, I think it looks nicer and more natural.
Gives place for my wrasses to sleep and snails to burrow.

[kien]

You're probably going to find a near 50/50 split on this topic. There are pros and cons for both camps. You kind of have to list the pros and cons for yourself and decide which out weighs the other :-)

I'm in the sand camp. I like the look of sand but I don't go crazy with it. I only have about an inch of sand on the bottom for aesthetics. My wrasses do like to burrow in the sand to sleep, even if half his body sticks out of the sandbed.

[Myka]

I like sand too, but I only have about 1/2" of coarse sand. My wrasses sleep on it rather than in it. They're fine with that.

[Tyfighter]

I have sand now and constantly wish that I went with a bare bottom. It would be much eaiser to vacuum out detritus that way. Also my clown and other fish constantly kick up sand that ends up on my chalices that needs to be blown off. If I didn't havea to worry about sand I could place a power head at the back of my tank where I actually want it and not have to worry about sand dunes forming in my tank.

I will agree that sand does look better initially but once Coraline grows and everything else grows in you won't even notice.

[rsisvixen]

I think the key with sand is you need critters to move it around for you such as Nassarius, my ceriths also burrow in the sand and come out at night. My other crew is a pair of tiger watchman gobies and they keep the sand turned over and pristine, although they can get a tad carried away building piles. But they are interesting to watch.

But it totally depends as every tank is different, and what works for one might not work for someone else.

[DKoKoMan]

I'm sand all the way as I enjoy my pistols and gobie. I find that as long as your diligent with siphons your sand bed during WC that detritus isn't an issue. IMO I like sand as it creates the natural beauty of an ocean bed.

[CHEAPREEF]

I'd go bare bottom and line it with corals, I think it looks pretty neat. WWC's 900

[Werbo]

Go bare bottom to start. One less variable with a new tank and makes reefing way easier. Hell it is like cheating it is so easy. If you can't stand the aesthetics you can slowly add sand over a couple months. You'll find the tank brightens up with nice white sand and looks more natural

[Cujo#31]

Originally Posted by CHEAPREEF

So what was the final outcome on this? Be great to see which way you went and ultimately why.

I just finished setting up a new shallow tank on Sunday and Having the same issue. It's BB right now with painted back and bottom, looks pretty good just never had BB before. lol

Went BB. Fewer places to hide excess nutrients and less likely to scratch the acrylic


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