Any Bare-bottom Regrets?

[nickkohrn]

Have you ever forgone sand in a system in favor of going bare-bottom but turned out to regret your decision? If so, then can you elaborate on why you regretted your decision to go bare-bottom?

I love the look of sand, but I love the ease of siphoning out detritus during water-changes. I’m kind of stuck and don’t know if I want to add sand to my system before I start cycling it.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I went bare bottom on my lps tank. Just did not take. Only grew algae on the bottom. Still not easy for me to clean due to all the corals. I then went to a false bottom (made from marco 400) and was okay for a while. I just took that out and now just have a dusting of sand. I play a lot with my 40g tank. My main system will always have sand. Just prefer the look and the animals in it.

 

[Cherie cook]

No...but that title...ROFL!!

 

[nickkohrn]

No...but that title...ROFL!!

I crafted it so that it might bring in more replies. Ha ha

 

[NY_Caveman]

Love mine. Glad I did it. Only a month in, but no regrets at all.

 

[nickkohrn]

Love mine. Glad I need it. Only a month in, but no regrets at all.

I’m glad to hear it. Do you have any issues with corals being blown around on the bottom glass since there isn’t any sand to keep them anchored?

 

[KrisReef]

Only one: My wife doesn’t like it “without any sand.”
Otherwise, doesn’t everyone appreciate a bare bottom?

But seriously, first it grows diatoms, then nasty algae, and finally it gets red and crusty with coralline. That crust keeps the corals from blowing in the current and eventually the coral will grow onto the bottom directly.

 

[NY_Caveman]

No corals yet, but I can not foresee anything I would regret with them. Most bottom placed ones will be glued to small pieces of shelf rock. The bottom of my tank is black King Starboard.

My only concern was the aquascape rocks would slide around and not be secure, but they are in place and sturdy with no epoxy, glue or rods.

 

[pickupman66]

4 years into my bare bottom system after coming from sandy bottoms for years. the ONLY regret I have is being able to get a wrasse that sleeps in the sand. thats it. other minor issues is being able to have a fungia plate. those can slide around LOL.

the floor of my tank has gone thru several changes over the years. it has grown coralline. that has died. it has remained clean, and been dirty with some algae film however this is MINIMAL. Currently a large portion of the front is covered with zoas. I like that i have a corner of the tank that when I do water changes, i can suck out the detritus pile. I dont believe I will ever go back to a sandy bed. ever. my next tank may however have starboard for that sandy color but im pleased.

August 2014 when the tank was setup:

Current status as of this weekend.

 

[doughboy]

I went from sand to BB and now back to sand.
BB looks nice at first when it is still clean. After a few months, it does not look as nice with thick coraline and calcium precipitate that looks like sparse amount of sand spread randomly, it becomes no easier, if not, actually harder to clean than just sand, and eventually gave up and then tank just became uglier.
The previous post mentions there were several changes over the years, so just looking at the before and after picture is a little out of context, as it will never look like the after picture after 4 years without major change.
you can have same problem, like algae, with or without sand.
I would not go back to BB.

 

[Midrats]

My wife cries when I set up a BB tank. The first thing every single guest asks is where is the sand. No more crying or sand questions anymore because I always sport a layer of Tropic Eden these days.

 

[pickupman66]

The previous post mentions there were several changes over the years, so just looking at the before and after picture is a little out of context, as it will never look like the after picture after 4 years without major change.
you can have same problem, like algae, with or without sand.
I would not go back to BB.

My build thread is linked in my signature. Go check it out. Lots of fts and it is very consistent over the years.

 

[DharkaronReef]

Not to point out the obvious but BB looks good on Frag tanks. Display tanks should have sand. I also debated to have BB on my new 57gal build but i ended up with 1" of sand. Never regret that decision!

 

[Waters]

I like a natural look, therefore sand in all of my tanks. I agree BB is probably easier to maintain, but if I am going to spend the time and money on my tank, I want to enjoy how it looks That being said, I have seen some nice BB tanks but they were extremely mature, with coral pretty much covering the entire bottom either by large colonies or encusting. I don't have the patience to wait that long though.

 

[alten78]

Been BB for about 2 years and not looking back, although, I would love a wrasse but its the price I paid. Painted the bottom of the tank white and even managed to change the minds of a few non-bb believers. Mine stayed clean for whatever reason, coralline grew on the back and sides but doesn't on the bottom.

 

[JMM744]

Bare bottom all the way. Just don’t need the hassle. I see some great tanks with sand/gravel but I have never been able to keep it looking nice. My tank scape is meant to please me and me alone. I am good with it. Just fish and corals. My little shrimp and watchman goby do just fine pushing snail shells and small rocks around.

 

[Skep18]

I think you're going to get two major opinions. Either BB cuz its cleaner or sand cuz it looks better (subjective opinion).

That said, my tank is like a piece of decorative furniture in my house to me. If it doesn't look good, it kinda defeats the purpose. IMO without sand it just doesn't look good. It looks almost like a glass box with a pile of rocks in it, almost too clean and scientific. That said, I completely understand the utility and respect that not everyone agrees with me.

EDIT: To be clear, I know I didn't answer your question... Lol. Sry.

Didn't and don't plan on going BB.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Bare bottom for sure, there's more benefits for sps, easier to keep low nutrients.

 

[AJsReef]

Only regret would be limiting wrasse options. Sure people inquire why there is no sand, but the reality is in many reefs its all rock and no sand.

I went bare bottom on my lps tank. Just did not take. Only grew algae on the bottom. Still not easy for me to clean due to all the corals. I then went to a false bottom (made from marco 400) and was okay for a while. I just took that out and now just have a dusting of sand. I play a lot with my 40g tank. My main system will always have sand. Just prefer the look and the animals in it.

Do you have any pictures of the false bottom? Sounds interesting!

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Only regret would be limiting wrasse options. Sure people inquire why there is no sand, but the reality is in many reefs its all rock and no sand.



Do you have any pictures of the false bottom? Sounds interesting!

Came here to say this also. I love wrasse and not having sand for them to sleep in wasn't worth the hassle of bare bottom (if algae was growing on it). I do really like the look when reefers allow their encrusting corals to take over the bottom glass though!