Barebottom Reefers vs Sand Bed Reefers: Which one are you?

[shanzfish]

Today let's talk about the substrate or the non-substrate of your reef tank! Some reefers like the look of a sand bed and others like the maintenance of a barebottom reef. What about you? Let's talk about it today.

1. Are you a sand bottom or a bare bottom reefer?

2. Why do you choose one over the other?

image via @dr.dator

I voted “other” since I use a combination of crushed coral substrate mixed with live sand. I think it looks good, is easy to clean and is a good place for copepods and live bacteria

 

[SusQ_Corals]

1. Are you a sand bottom or a bare bottom reefer?
Bare bottom

2. Why do you choose one over the other?
I love the look of sand but with SPS nothing beats bare bottom. Don't have to worry about the sand blowing around and creating bare spots or covering coral.

 

[pjb9166]

Sand Bed
One: aesthetics
Two: all the life that lives in it.
Three: the ease of simply stirring the bed one or twice a week to keep it pristine and white. Maybe give it a quick vacuuming once every couple of months is needed.

 

[Crustaceon]

Barebottom because the need for maximum bacteria surface area is grossly overrated. I have no sand. I don’t even have a lot of live rock. I still have zero ammonia and this is with heavy feeding. I’ve never expected sand or live rock to handle nitrates and phosphates. IME, that doesn’t work and I have chaeto to take care of that. Also, sand is terrible in acrylic tanks and it’s a breeding ground for dinos. No thx. Never again.

 

[Maximitsurugi]

Barebottom for me. Went sand first and fought nutrient issues and I'm anal about keeping it white which doesn't last long unless i stirred it. Messed with my OCD.

Went barebottom and diy cement dry rock next trip. Tank takes a few months to mature, vs sand but my sump is filled with love sand from the ocean and rubble. You'll have some trouble but it soon stabilizes.
It's an easy clean too. I have a wavemaker down low that kicks on at night and moves detritus to the front. One vac in the a.m and done. Plus, no corals get buried in the sand. Bottom is all purple with encrusting stuff placed to fill it out.

 

[GillMeister]

I run a fairly deep sand bed. I believe it offers more benefits than drawbacks and it looks natural.

 

[Calizoa]

I had bare bottom I had sand I had aragonite. I now prefer sifted pure black Carib-sea for a true black look

 

[Sunny in Miami]

I love the look of a soft white deep sand bed with live rock. It gives the aquarium scape the realistic look of a living reef.
The bare bottom doesn't do it for me. I don't like the look of fish suspended between mirrored panes of glass. It's a disturbing feeling. I would think fish would not feel right either.

 

[kingjames_dc5]

Definitely sand. I prefer a more natural look Plus all of the bonuses it gives despite tedious maintenance.

 

[djsmallz]

I currently have a tile bottom tank. It provides a nice look, it's easy to maintain and if It becomes overgrown i can always pop the tile out to replace it.

 

[Reefjockey]

I have not yet explored all the reefs of the world, but never saw a glass bottom on the reef. Is the point of reef keeping to be a lab for experiments, or to recreate a micro version of the natural world in which we live?

 

[A Young Reefer]

Sand all the way. In fact, getting ready to add more sand this week

do you have any issues doing that , for example does the newly added sand experience anything similar to what you would see during the ugly stage ?

 

[jeepreefer1]

I like the discussions you come up with REVHTREE

 

[Stain]

Recent bb convert here. I dont miss the sand except for the 'aesthetics'.

 

[Reefing102]

do you have any issues doing that , for example does the newly added sand experience anything similar to what you would see during the ugly stage ?

Not that I’m aware of, however I’ll be honest to the point that this is the first time adding sand to an established tank for me. I’m thinking It may result in a brief algae bloom as any silicates in the sand burn off

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

the thought of scrapping coraline algae from a BB tank scares me. Sand please. Also, I love the pistol shrimp and goby combination.

Agreed!

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

Recent bb convert here. I dont miss the sand except for the 'aesthetics'.

Explain please! Just interested.

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

SAND all the way!!!!
I do admire the BB tanks, but I have wrasses and a shrimp gobie. And I love hoe it looks.. It does take time to clean but man it is worth it!
SAND all the way!!!!

Agreed!!!!

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

Sand, love the look of it.

Defiantly, looks more natural!

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

Definitely sand for surface area and to me looks more natural. I like using the special grade sand so I can still run a little higher flow without the sand storm effect.

Agreed!