@Spaceman said:Lots of animals you were told and thought required sand in the past really dont need it

[Spaceman]

So I really believe all fish in the hobby don't need sand. The hobby is told many fish require sand and they really dont require it. If the fish are entering the sand and existing this will lead to problems in the future expessily with dsb. I have kept wrasses sharks and gobys and even lost of inverts with out sand including a sand sifting star in my one of my frag tank for a year now.
What is the communitys opinion on this?

 

[garyl]

Are you asking for opinions on deep sand beds or opinions on the comment that many animals we thought needed sand really don't?

 

[Spaceman]

Are you asking for opinions on deep sand beds or opinions on the comment that many animals we thoughtneeded sand really don't?

Deep sand beds is proven not to be a good idea by experts and hobbiest around the world. Now onto do fish need sand?

 

[daves-reef]

If the Reef Insanity build holds water and doesn’t sound like a tsunami in the TV room, one of my next decisions will be sand or no sand. I’ve always had sand, and I prefer the look. Although I’ve never seen a mature, life-covered bare bottom tank in person, I imagine it looks pretty cool. Since my goal for this build is to try something different with lower, sustainable maintenance—or quit the hobby altogether—I’m planning to go bare bottom for now.

What wrasses have you had success with and for how long? I’ve been considering life without wrasses, even though they’re a favorite of mine and great reef workers. I briefly considered using a sand container on a bare bottom, but I think it would be ugly and messy. From everything I’ve known and heard, wrasses seem to need sand for lower stress and better health.

,

 

[GobyWanKenobie]

I kept a 6-line wrasse in my bare bottom frag tank for many years. At night he would go in the same corner and do his usual nest/bed building thing. After losing him, I replaced him with a smaller 6-line that seems to be fine in the bare bottom. As long as they can feel safe, I don't think they are stressed without sand.

 

[daves-reef]

There are different type of Wrasses, ones that sleep in a mucus cocoon within the rockwork (sounds like the 6-line is this type) wrasses that don't need sand (e.g. flashers, fairies, mystery, possum). But many of the best pest control species do like a sand bed (e.g. melanarus, coris, leopard) to feel secure these sleep or seek refuge in the sand. Might be tricky or impossible to in a bare bottom to survive and thrive.

 

[Chris A.]

I’m split on this. I agree with both sides of the sand for wrasses but certain creatures literally reside in sand. Haven’t had them in my tank since I’m bare bottom but have had a yellow Cori’s wrasse without sand and he did fine until he thought he could fly.

 

[Blue Light Aquatics]

Garden eels