sand or bare glass bottom?

[Marlin65]

Originally Posted by Canadian

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.

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.