Sand or bare bottom?

[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

[intarsiabox]

I have sand and no algae, I only clean the glass once a week as well on water change day. I tried a bare bottom tank for a year and didn't like the look of it and if you're unhappy with the way your tank looks why have it? In the end either way can work with the same results but you have to be happy with it. I personally like a sand bed for the eco system it provides, the animals I keep in it and the natural look.