bare bottom reef

[hvusalt]

I am setting up a 90 gallon reef with bare bottom that connected with an existing 150 gallon softy- planning to transfer all SPS from 75 gallon to this new set up. are there any advantage and disadvantage with bare bottom vs. sanded reef? I just noted that I can turn my wavemaker all the way up and any direction that I want. my 150 gallon system had lot of rocks and good sand bed and this system was established. my plan is one softy tank with sand bed and live rock connected with a SPS bare bottom with some branches live rock.
any input appreciated

 

[Jeff.:P]

Much lower nutrient levels which is great for SPS. You can crank your power heads on full blast without the worry of sand flying everywhere.
Each week when I do a water change all the debris is typically collected at one end of the tank, where I siphon it out without issue.
I started growing montiporas and other spreading corals on the bottom of the tank which look very cool.

 

[clutchgeargasgo]

Im thinking of doing bare bottom on my 29 biocube Just because I like the look when you get corals to spread on the bottom.

 

[delta]

Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Number one looks Done right both can look great. On the other hand both can look horrible.

Number two flow, in the end it doesn't matter once a sand base tank matures as you can throw as much flow at a mature bare bottom tank. But yes in newer tanks you do get some sand blowing around.

Maintenance this is the big one. How much do you like the look of detritus? That rate at which you need to remove it in a bare bottom tank can be pretty oppressive. Where as in a sand bottom tank it is a non issue for the most part.

A neglected sandbed isn't a pretty one and you need to make sure it has updated Biodiversity. SO that is good and bad. Good for more diversity, bad if it goes south as it can be ugly and frustrating.

In the end it is a personal choice. I have run both and neither presents a result over the other when the end result is creating a healthy reef.

One thing to consider is if you intend to keep wrasses or other sand dwelling fish bare bottom might be an issue

 

[reefstarter]

I have both and the one thing I notice most is there are more pods ( at least it looks that way) in the DSB tank. When it look after lights out there are hundred on the sand in the BB tank there are probably just as many but I don't see them

 

[this is me]

Tried BB years ago and didn't like it at all. Although I had starboard on the bottom, coraline was growing on it and it looked horrid. Detritus also a pain to look at even if I do a weekly waterchange and suck it out. Went back to sand 3 months after that.

 

[clutchgeargasgo]

Good to know didnt think of the detritus that will build up So thats a decision maker for me im a lazy lazy reefer lol more work no good ☺