Bare bottom, sand, or ??

[ddaddy2420]

In general I know the 2 main options for the bottom of my aquarium is BB or sand, but I’ve heard of people constructing some type of false bottom to keep rock from sitting on glass. I’m curious if some of you could post what you’ve used? I’d like to just go bare bottom but this being my first tank, I’m a little skeptical because I’ve read BB is more difficult initially.

 

[PicassoClown04]

All of my tanks are bb. I’m starting a zoa garden to cover the glass some people put down tile first to protect the bottom glass

 

[Twotone24v]

I used a big sheet of ABS plastic that I trimmed to size and siliconed to the bottom. Your 2 options are usually smooth or rough, I ended up with the smooth finish but either will be covered in coralline algae eventually I like what I ended up with.

 

[schuby]

I have sand. I put some egg crate, fluorescent light diffuser panel, down first, then my rock aquascape, and then sand. The egg crate protects the glass and keeps the rocks from sliding (not glued together). Working well after 1.5+ years in my current tank.

 

[ddaddy2420]

I have sand. I put some egg crate, fluorescent light diffuser panel, down first, then my rock aquascape, and then sand. The egg crate protects the glass and keeps the rocks from sliding (not glued together). Working well after 1.5+ years in my current tank.

Any issues with build up getting in the egg crate? Is it difficult to clean or do you even bother with cleaning it??

 

[Silent]

I used black liquid rubber to protect the glass and to reduce glare.

 

[schuby]

I don't bother cleaning it. I'm of the school of thought that you don't mess with your sand. It's about 3" deep and contains the anaerobic bacteria (I think that's what it's called: purple and rust colored).

 

[rwreef]

I prefer sand bottoms. I have done bare bottom but never enjoyed it much so I went back.

 

[Hilltopreef]

Had both but prefer bare. Have sand now because of leopard wrasse. Some use cutting board like materials to cover bottom of tank and protect it from falling rock. Bare is much easier to keep clean and looks cool when coraline and or coral grows on the bottom.

 

[ddaddy2420]

Is there any truth to barebottoms being much harder in the beginning. By harder i mean, more issues that a bed of sand would help with...

 

[Smarkow]

I’ve done both. My patience always lost out and I put sand back in. Just got frustrated fighting the instability without the sand as biofilter. Plus I like the aesthetics of sand.

 

[Scorpius]

Bare bottom is very very difficult the first year. The benefits outweigh the difficulty for me though.

 

[ddaddy2420]

I’d like to go BB but this being my first tank, I think the smart thing would be a sand bed.

 

[Scorpius]

I’d like to go BB but this being my first tank, I think the smart thing would be a sand bed.

If you're not meticulous about keeping the sandbed clean, I'd pass.

 

[old salt reefer]

Bare bottom is very very difficult the first year. The benefits outweigh the difficulty for me though.

I don't think it's very very difficult the first year. If your good at getting your detritus out of the barebottom tank(I remove as much as possible 2x a week) it's just "about" as easy as a tank with gravel the first year. After that first year or so it's way easier than a tank with gravel/sand. I 100% agree that the benefits outweigh the difficulty.

 

[Scorpius]

I don't think it's very very difficult the first year. If your good at getting your detritus out of the barebottom tank(I remove as much as possible 2x a week) it's just "about" as easy as a tank with gravel the first year. After that first year or so it's way easier than a tank with gravel/sand. I 100% agree that the benefits outweigh the difficulty.

It's harder than having sand. Less surface area for bacteria.

 

[G Santana]

I have had both and in the next month or so I am starting a 120 gal and I am deliberating this same question.
What made it much easier yrs ago was that fact that I was starting with live rock and that made the transition to BB much easier. This time I am starting with dry rock and not really looking forward to having sand in spite of the fact that it adds so much surface area to help with the bio load.
A BB tank would benefit from those bio blocks for the sump, but as I have been reading they leach aluminum. What to do.
I am going to a LPS and trying to buy a few live rocks to supplement the dry and take it SLOW.

 

[old salt reefer]

It's harder than having sand. Less surface area for bacteria.

You give them surface area- biomedia in sump.

On 08/20/2020 this barebottom Nuvo 10(yes a nano tank) will be 6 months old.

 

[Dr. Jim]

I've been BB for the past 20 years but I'm debating BB vs sand for my next build, and if I go with sand, I'm considering a plenum.

1) Is anybody still using a plenum? I used one 26 yrs ago for about 6 years (before BB became the fad) but am uncertain as to its benefit mainly because of the inferior technology at the time for comparison purposes today.

2) For those using sand, do you think it is more difficult to keep NO3 and PO4 at low levels (2-5 and less than 0.10, respectively) initially, and, after 5-10 years?

 

[bigjgmac]

Is there any truth to barebottoms being much harder in the beginning. By harder i mean, more issues that a bed of sand would help with...

So this isn’t first hand experience, but I’ve read in many a forum and BRS TV has a few episodes about this. It does seem that reduced bacterial populations cause more initial issues but longer term stability is increased.
I’m agonizing over the decision. I have a new 100 gallon Waterbox on order and can’t decide how I want to go.