Debating bare bottom back to sand

[pelphrey]

I started my tank bare bottom, added sand after 5-6 months. I prefer sand, I think it made the tank look 100% different!

 

[Scott.h]

Bare bottom imo is superior to sand in more aspects except for looks, which to me is pretty important. I have both. Sand holds as much garbage as it does hold benificial bacteria. And despite having no sand in my fuge or display I add nitrates daily. Denitrification happens refuardless. Its simply personal preference.

 

[apt220]

I roll bare bottom mainly because it is soooo much easier to clean and I have heavy flow in my SPS dominated system. I considered large substrate to help it from blowing around but the larger it is, the more detritus it can trap. I have a melanarus wrasse and it seems pretty happy and it's certainly fat. I do agree that sand looks much better, especially if you have minimal rockwork but I disagree that barebottom is generally ugly. IMO if you run barebottom your job is to take attention off the barebottom and keep everyone's (including yours) eyes on the corals/fish/scape. Like I said this is more challenging if you have a minimalist aquascape. When other aquarists see my tank for the first time, it takes them over 15 minutes after looking at it to notice that is barebottom. I think that is a good indicator that my barebottom has little impact on the appearance of my tank. I should say, however, that, while I don't have just a pile of rocks, my tank is far from a minimalist 'scape. Good luck. It all personal preference as many have stated.

EDIT: Forgot to say that the outside bottom of my tank is painted white, but this doesn't matter anymore since it is covered in coraline. Also, I have an unlit DSB in my sump for filtration purposes..

 

[TbyZ]

if you don't like the look of a bare bottom why not cover the bottom with coral instead.

if you want a sand bed for foltration do it in a sump so it's easy to clean.

 

[TheLadyCrash]

@apt220 - Do you have a FTS you could share? I'd live to see your tank.

 

[apt220]

Well I probably oversold my tank now hehe. The first shot is the most recent and shows best how little the barebottom is exposed towards the front of the tank. The FTS I think is little misleading. It kind of looks like a big rock wall and doesn't show well how much swimming space there is within the rockwork. I do like to pack my tank full of corals though and minimal 'scapes arent my preference . I figure since i'm lighting the whole tank might as well fill 'er up.

My 120g..

 

[TheLadyCrash]

@apt220 - your tank is BEAUTIFUL. I'm hoping my tank will grow out into something like that one day. I'll have to take a FTS tomorrow. I haven't put one up lately.