Show Me Your Bare Bottom or Tell Me Why Not

[daves-reef]

Show Me Your Bare Bottom or Tell Me Why Not

For the definition of reef insanity re-build, link to build thread, I originally planned to go bare bottom—because adding sand would mean doing the same thing again. I even placed black acrylic sheets over the bottom glass. But now, I’m having second thoughts.

This tank may end up as fish-only again, but if it stays a reef, it’ll be a mixed reef with zoas, mushrooms, LPS I can keep alive, and possibly a BTA (another TBD decision). There will be some SPS, but not as a main focus.

Should I stick with bare bottom, or add sand before placing rock? If I go with sand, I’m considering rock on egg crate. Looking for advice and pictures—let me know what’s worked for you!

 

[Errol]

I'm sure its been said many times before, but there is no right or wrong answer---its a personal aesthetic and a trade off. Both have advantages/disadvantages; both can look amazing. What is it you are looking for? Perhaps you are looking to learn something new about the hobby, in which case trying bare bottom for the the first time might be more interesting.

I personally prefer sand for my mixed reef, but have moved over the years from a deep to a shallow sand bed.

 

[daves-reef]

What is it you are looking for? Perhaps you are looking to learn something new about the hobby, in which case trying bare bottom for the the first time might be more interesting.

The goal for this rebuild is to change things up and (hopefully) have better success. I’ve always used sand, though I’m not sure it contributed to past issues. The biggest change this time is ditching the 100G basement sump/refugium and external pump—the pump being the source of the biggest failures. But, as you said, everything is a trade-off. I’ll be losing a lot of water volume, extra rock filtration, and biodiversity.

Bare bottom is supposed to be lower maintenance—who doesn’t love that?—but I also think sand looks better. What’s everyone using these days? Still special grade?

 

[new2saltyfish]

I have always used sand, just maybe a 1-2 inch sandbed max. I’m not a fan of the dsb. Too many issues. The rockwork and bio bricks hold plenty of beneficial bacterial. I have learned i’ll never run a tank without a fuge again ( nano, pico, or otherwise). I always used to fight algae without. I recently started a new bare bottom. Will let you know how it turns out. Definitely more algae so far than my other 3

 

[ChrisPchef]

Show Me Your Bare Bottom or Tell Me Why Not

For the definition of reef insanity re-build, link to build thread, I originally planned to go bare bottom—because adding sand would mean doing the same thing again. I even placed black acrylic sheets over the bottom glass. But now, I’m having second thoughts.

This tank may end up as fish-only again, but if it stays a reef, it’ll be a mixed reef with zoas, mushrooms, LPS I can keep alive, and possibly a BTA (another TBD decision). There will be some SPS, but not as a main focus.

Should I stick with bare bottom, or add sand before placing rock? If I go with sand, I’m considering rock on egg crate. Looking for advice and pictures—let me know what’s worked for you!

I would second what Earl said when he mentioned it all depends what YOU want, there is no right or wrong answer.

Advantages I enjoy the color contrast and peace of mind knowing my substrate is packed with a diverse array of beneficial bacteria. I also love my mushrooms and it allows them to easily grow out, onto new larger substrate. Which in return makes it easy to take some of those baby mushrooms attached to substrate, and glue them to a new frag plug.

Disadvantages I have luckily never encountered diseases such as ick. However I have read Ick can lay fallow and live within a substrate for a good period of time even if there are no fish present. Some more knowledgeable members may be able to elaborate on that idea some more… Also if you choose a finer substrate you may have issues when it comes to finding adequate flow. I’ve heard stories of reefers struggling to turn their power heads up high enough to satisfy their corals without causing a cloudy sand storm.

 

[Spaceman]

Sand imo only adds time to every maintenance task and makes for more maintenance and a scratched tank. I enjoy watching my tank more then doing maintenance. I believe i have over 90 fish and countless inverts of all species and not one has asked me to add sand.

 

[daves-reef]

@Spaceman that looks great, First bare bottom example for me to consider what might mine might look like bare bottom. Few questions -- do any corals ever grow onto coralline covered bottom? Softies or SPS?

Also what kind of BTA are those? I will be brining back my 10+ year old clown pair and will most likely add a BTA as soon as the tank is ready for it.

 

[Spaceman]

So yes they will cover the bottom. My 1000 gallon display is my dream tank it was scaped for the shark I recently just lost. Had him a few years and he hated things on bottom of the tank. He was a bull in a China shop any where else sure if it was not glued he would move it but was a great pet and honestly don't think he feel he needed sand as most guides say it's required. He jumped and my tank has a 6inch euro brace. The left anemone is a inferno and right is a Colorado or at least that what they were sold to me as. I think there very very very close to the same.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

My last bare bottom system build thread. https://bostonreefers.org/forums/index.php?threads/biggies-build.169888/

 

[daves-reef]

@BiGGiePauls33 do you have an updated FTS?
Like to see the grow out and look of bottom.

You can always find or see something new or new for you in this hobby when you’re active on forums. Even after 30+ years. Had to use the google machine for pipe mounted frags. They are grow out pipes right? Must take a lot of planning, do they eventually become somewhat hidden with grow out of frags?

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

@BiGGiePauls33 do you have an updated FTS?
Like to see the grow out and look of bottom.

You can always find or see something new or new for you in this hobby when you’re active on forums. Even after 30+ years. Had to use the google machine for pipe mounted frags. They are grow out pipes right? Must take a lot of planning, do they eventually become somewhat hidden with grow out of frags?

New video by BiGGie Pauls

photos.app.goo.gl

New video by BiGGie Pauls

photos.app.goo.gl

This is right before I took the system down in November of 2023. Did a remodel and a system upgrade.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Current system:

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[Chris A.]

I like the look of sand but I’m running bare bottom because I’m running a shallower tank 16” high. I can’t get enough flow to the corals if I have sand in such a low tank. All corals will grow on the glass and coraline will cover the rest. Set your power heads to run at a higher speed for a few minutes and most of the detritus will end up in your sump instead.

 

[daves-reef]

@Chris A. Thanks for FTS gives me an idea of life on bottom. My tank is high 24" so that's not a problem.
I am wondering how thin I can go if I do sand. If I put egg crate only under base of the rocks. Then half inch sand to cover eggcrate and the rest of bottom. Not sure if that would work.

@BiGGiePauls33 Thanks for updated pics, no pipe stands in current system?

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

@BiGGiePauls33 Thanks for updated pics, no pipe stands in current system?

Not at the moment, I bought a bunch of Australian branch rock with the idea of gluing it together, it'll have to wait until it gets warmer to do so as the chemical bond smells pretty bad with the glue and crushed aragonite.

 

[this is me]

Bare bottom tanks look like poo poo with all the coraline growing on it. Just my IMO.
People go bare bottom because they can’t keep the sand clean. Learn how to property maintain a tank.
2-3” of sand is the way to go. But your tank, do what you like.

 

[rock-n-reef]

Don't listen to ^this guy! just kidding.

Here is a bare bottom that i ran for couple of years. No issues growing corals. Most of the challenge was keeping things trimmed and managing flow, which was easier given it was bare bottom.

That said, i love sand bottom and for my next tank I'm going back to sand substrate.

 

[Dave T]

I would never go bare bottom, but as others have said, you do you. Bare bottom is certainly easier to clean, and you can add a lot more flow. But you won't need that much flow if you don't have a lot of acros anyway. But why would you want egg crate if you go with sand? It gets in the way of things that want to burrow in the sand.

 

[daves-reef]

But why would you want egg crate if you go with sand? It gets in the way of things that want to burrow in the sand.

My thought was egg crate would only only go directly under rock. Cut to size and not the whole tank. Only a thin 1/2 inch of sand. But eggcrate may be un-necessary for a very thin layer of sand. Which is the option I am leaning towards for sand in mixed reef. Not going heavy acros maybe few at top rock work. Hell may be fish only.

 

[Dave T]

To protect the bottom glass from the rock? I don't think you need to worry about that. If you put egg crate under the sand, it will eventually get exposed in spots. And if you only put 1/2 inch of sand, the bottom will be exposed too. Fish and flow and inverts will push it around.