Anyone running a partial sandbed?

[Tangy Reefer]

Is anyone running a partial sandbed? I have see some systems with sand in the corners and areas where it is bare bottom. Anyone do this and why???

 

[tripdad]

When you start cranking up the flow for things like SPS then sand can blow around quite severely. So some gets removed and the rest ends up in low flow areas. Sometimes we have fish that require some sand so we leave pockets here and there but remove most of it.

 

[Tangy Reefer]

When you start cranking up the flow for things like SPS then sand can blow around quite severely. So some gets removed and the rest ends up in low flow areas. Sometimes we have fish that require some sand so we leave pockets here and there but remove most of it.

Right, I’m considering moving my leopard wrasse pair to my 7 ft bare bottom reef. Obviously they need a sand bed. Not sure if I want to move them that bad lol. I have kept a Melanarus in a tank with sand in just the rear corner……

 

[SaltyWalty]

I’d actually love to hear more about this. I’m in the planning phase of a new tank and had a similar idea of partial sand.

I have run a much smaller tank with a rock wall and sand behind it probably not quite what you are thinking.

I have also build a “clam nest” basically glued together rubble to form a ring that I filled with sand, I did have a wrasse that lived in here for a while. Was able to get it about 2”-2.5” deep. Unfortunately I had a gobie that was determined to remove all of the sand for some reason and it made a mess

 

[exnisstech]

I did on a 180 so I could keep a derasa. I made a rock wall and uses e Marco cement to make sure the bottom was flat. Some sand got put but it wasn't too bad.
I don't have a very good image but you can't kind of see it here. Can't really see the wall but it's under the palys and other softies.

FTS

I did have a melanarus that slept in a clay pot full of sand in my bare bottom 330g