Sand or bare bottom?

[e46er]

i tried it a few years back in my 120
its better in every aspect except aesthetics, which after probably 3-4 months i put in a couple bags of white sand because I couldn't get past the look.
my current tank has black sand which I really like. not sure if I actually like it better than the white sand but after 10 Years of white sand its a nice change.

Id say start without it and its easy to add later if you don't like it.

[shrimp]

If you go with sand, you will never be able to keep snails alive for long.

[SpongeAl]

I say sand, it just looks better IMO.

I put just enough in to cover the bottom at the front, tapered up to about 1" or so at the back.

Its mostly cosmetic, but there definitely is bristle worms etc in 1" of sand.

All I have to to is give a a blast with the baster once in a while before a water change.

By all means though, if it was to accommodate a favorite fish, then I guess go bare bottom if you have to, otherwise a 1/2" or so of seafloor special is not going to cause really any extra work.

The sand will mask the detritus temporarily from site, as well as give habitat to fauna that might help clean up detritus a bit between water changes, at the very least some of them may provide a snack for an inhabitant.

[AquaAddict]

What does the sand do to the snails?

AquaAddict

[shrimp]

Snails will not be able to flip themselves back up,properly with their shell up.

[hondas3000]

Originally Posted by shrimp

Snails will not be able to flip themselves back up,properly with their shell up.

lol I seen that a lot in my tank and I have to help push it back.

[MitchM]

It's much easier to control the nutrients that feed nusiance algae in a bare bottom tank.
It's that simple, really.

[GQsmooth]

Sand always, bare bottom looks cheap and unnatural