Sand or Bare Bottom... Thoughts on Aquascape?

[ObsessedReef]

Hey Gang,

Starting my new build. What are your thoughts on my aquascape? Also debating to add sand or keep it bare bottom. I already have sand purchased but torn.

Thanks!

 

[BoredNuke]

Hey Gang,

Starting my new build. What are your thoughts on my aquascape? Also debating to add sand or keep it bare bottom. I already have sand purchased but torn.

Thanks!

Looks fine. Maybe a little too close to the sides for my liking but if the scrubber fits thats enough for most. The sand vs barebottom is a long topic mostly centered around what you plan to keep and like aesthetically. Bare bottom is easier to have very high flow and keep clean so great for SPS dominant tanks. If you enjoy sand sifters (sand siftinf gobys,jawfish,engineer gobies,pistol shrimp etc) then you need sand. Sand also adds a lot of surface area fpr bacteria and some buffering ability.

 

[Euphyllia97]

This tank calls for a wrasse and many wrasses call for a sandbed :) looks great, just make sure you don’t have any dead spots when it comes to flow

 

[Reefin' Steve]

First, I think that aquascape looks hard to build but I personally don’t enjoy working with rocks

Second, I like sand and my diamond goby was probably the most amusing fish to watch in my tank before my velvet wipe out.

Third, if you want to do bare bottom I think the bottom of the tank should be black. Detritus and other junk will show like crazy on the white and the black will make your colors pop. The white will be a blue glowing floor

 

[ObsessedReef]

Thanks for the feedback

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I prefer sand over bare bottom, but that is a personal preference! Aquascape looks fine. I do agree with others that I would try to move it off the sides a little bit.

 

[X-37B]

It's a personel choice. I have both.
It really depends on what you want to do with the system.
It takes patience to get a BB covered.
If you like the scape that's all that matters.
Pics of the bottom of my 150, 22 months old.

 

[BryanM]

Definitely a personal choice. I prefer sand, even though I do not like cleaning it.

 

[toothybugs]

I've done both. I'll probably do my next system BB and make it full stonies with quick fish like damsels, but my current system has a big display fuge hooked up so it's LPS and softies with a decent sandbed (3" in a 75)

 

[exnisstech]

Looks like a great scape for fish. I have sand and BB. I prefer BB because I have trouble keeping sand looking nice and I'm bad about a scratching tanks. Pretty much depends if you want livestock that need sand or not.

BB tanks

 

[ObsessedReef]

Thanks all, I’ll take some better photos later today as I believe it’s difficult to tell dimensions. Rocks are about 3” off the glass on left and right. Planning on a mixed reef with sticks on mid / top.

 

[ObsessedReef]

Looks like a great scape for fish. I have sand and BB. I prefer BB because I have trouble keeping sand looking nice and I'm bad about a scratching tanks. Pretty much depends if you want livestock that need sand or not.

BB tanks

Thanks - beautiful tank!

 

[ObsessedReef]

It's a personel choice. I have both.
It really depends on what you want to do with the system.
It takes patience to get a BB covered.
If you like the scape that's all that matters.
Pics of the bottom of my 150, 22 months old.

Thanks! - your corals looks great

 

[ObsessedReef]

 

[ObsessedReef]

 

[SaltyWalty]

Looks good! I like the bare bottom! It’s definitely takes more patience, but I find they are easier to clean and care for. The scape looks very cool!

 

[ObsessedReef]

Looks good! I like the bare bottom! It’s definitely takes more patience, but I find they are easier to clean and care for. The scape looks very cool!

Thank you, definitely considering it as I have had many tanks with sand but never a bare bottom. Weighing pros / cons.

 

[Waters]

I like the look of CLEAN sand....problem is I have never been able to keep my sand beds clean enough for my liking....so I always end up switching to BB and wished I would have done so sooner.

 

[Spartan76]

For that style scape, I would not use sand. Your corals will fill in the gaps over time and there will be no way to vacuum the sand under the scape, which will become a detritus trap. Clean up crews do not erase the need for you to periodically clean the sand. I strongly prefer the look the sand but I gave up on it.

 

[56longroof]

Sand is not that difficult to maintain and a tank with sand looks so much better. My tank is almost 2 years old and I have never touched the sand. I have alot of water movement and clean up crew to take care of that. Your scape looks good but is a little big for the tank. When everything starts growing out you not going to have much room. Ask me how I know. LOL