Sand or Bare Bottom... Thoughts on Aquascape?

[ObsessedReef]

Determining factor may be sand for wrasses..

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Determining factor may be sand for wrasses..

I have a sand bed i want to suck out but I have a leapord wrasse who needs sand so now i'm in your boat. Barebottom sounds really nice, but I love my wrasse...

 

[Science/G]

I used a piece of beige acrylic silicone to the bottom of the aquarium. Most of the front of my scape is covered with Ricordia anemones. You can still see a little bit in the pic. I love my bare bottom.

 

[ObsessedReef]

I have a sand bed i want to suck out but I have a leapord wrasse who needs sand so now i'm in your boat. Barebottom sounds really nice, but I love my wrasse...

I hear ya, decisions, decisions..

 

[ObsessedReef]

I used a piece of beige acrylic silicone to the bottom of the aquarium. Most of the front of my scape is covered with Ricordia anemones. You can still see a little bit in the pic. I love my bare bottom.

Looks good, thanks for the feedback / tip

 

[Dorsetsteve]

Sand is for cat litter trays, or more seriously photos. Bare bottom for functionality. I’ve flip flopped over the year but the sand always goes cack eventually and now I’m firmly in the BB camp.
If you want the benefits without the drawbacks you can always have sand in a tub in your sump.

 

[Spare time]

I think barebottom looks ugly and unnatural. Plus the sand is a neat little environment for critters. I want an ecosystem that looks like a reef bommie, not a sterile looking glass box with rocks.

 

[Science/G]

I think barebottom looks ugly and unnatural. Plus the sand is a neat little environment for critters. I want an ecosystem that looks like a reef bommie, not a sterile looking glass box with rocks.

How about this?

 

[ObsessedReef]

Thanks all for the feedback and ideas.

 

[lukegroundrunner]

I tried bare bottom once but ended up not liking it ( I also like wrasse). Id recommend starting it bare bottom since you haven't had it before. If you don't like it it's pretty easy to add sand ( cloudy water is kind of cool for the day or so it lasts).

 

[Kodock]

Sand give you more stability. Unless you are doing SPS only and little to no fish, I would highly suggest sand. I had big swings in barebottom tank.

 

[ObsessedReef]

Thank you - I am planning on keeping some SPS. I opted to go somewhere in between. I went with a larger grain sand (Tropic Eden Mesoflakes) and keeping it around 1 - 1.5" thickness.