Sand or bare, {corals}

[BackPackHunter]

i perfure sand or Crush coral look over bare, but its your tank

[Doug]

I understand that but Im not so much discussing bare versus sand, as the placement of clams and chalice. I have a ton of sps to go on the rockwork.

Thanks

[Dyspnea]

I've had bare bottom, sand 3-4 inches and some .5-1 inch sand bed and even crushed coral.

Bare bottom was nice for keeping debris build up low, but I have always enjoyed having a bit of sand.

I never believed or bought into the hype of dsb's, but 1-2 inches of sand is a sweet spot, and it's easy enough too suction clean.

[Aquattro]

Why can't the clams go on the sand? Mine's been on the sand for 4 years and is happy as a, well, you know..

[MitchM]

I've started out bare, but I have a favia that is now starting to grow onto the acrylic bottom, which I do not want. It will make it very difficult to move if I let it continue.
I'm probably going to start adding a few cups of well rinsed sand every now and then to give me maybe a 1/2" overall depth.

I liked the bare look better than I thought I would. Very easy to keep clean.

[Reef Pilot]

I have a very thin sand layer now in my upstairs tank, as I moved much of it to my downstairs tank that I set up later. And with the water flow, it tends to keep the bottom bare in the front center. And my goby keeps moving it around. It is nice and clean, though.

[Dearth]

I personally would have an inch or so of covering on your bottom for a couple of reasons. To protect the bottom from accidental drops of rocks or other heavy objects, give your inverts and bottom dwellers something to rest or play in/on, easier removal or moving of encrusting coral and lastly if not least pure aesthetics.

More than likely you will have bare spots anyway but IMO you would still have the "natural" look