Substrate question

[Bartman]

Originally Posted by reef_raf

The amount of crud I am able to siphon off the bottom glass weekly is enough to convince me to never use a sand bed again.

I get what you mean here but I don't think I'm ready to go BB yet. On the other hand is 1" of substrate just going to become a crud collector? Would a remote DSB help?

[mark]

A remote DSB won't help with debris in the main just used to help check the nitrates.

Sand in the main can be kept clean by good flow so crud is in suspension and carried to the overflow. Also if running a shallow bed, vacuuming isn't a issue (as opposed to disturbing a DSB).

[Aquattro]

I have a 75g with 6000gph flow, and I get plenty of crud settling. Good flow will not prevent detritus buildup in the sandbed.

[albert_dao]

You won't be able to silicone the starboard to the bottom properly from what I've read. Silicone doesn't like plastic much over the long run.

Anyway, another option is just to spraypaint the bottom of the tank white.

[Chin_Lee]

if you are contemplating on BB or substrate, go BB first. If you still don't like it after a few months, then add substrate. Otherwise its a PITA to do it the other way around.
I concur with the BB supporters - crud is inevitable and I feel that sand just hides it really well. some critters in your live sand will eat some of the crud but you will never have enough critters to sustain an aquarium environment's bio-load.
I can relate to this theory by this scenario - imagine yourself and your entire family being stuck in your house without any methods in which to remove your biological waste but a mysterious hand will continuously put food and water into your house to keep you alive. You are real happy for the most part because there's the big screen TV, computer, workout gym, various boardgames etc. However everyone dreads having to go to the bathroom but when they do, how many critters will be needed to live with you in your house to continuously eat and remove all that biological waste in your house? HOWEVER if that same mysterious hand can come in with a plastic tube and suck out all that biological waste, I think it will be somewhat ........ alright.