Substrate or Barebottom

[N1Husker]

I am moving in a couple of months and will have to move my tank. I currently have about 4 to 5 inches of argonite substrate (live), but I was told that I should go bare bottom as the DSB will trap a lot of detrius thus elevating the nitrate level. I see many tanks with substrate as does mine but I am getting confused as what would be best for my tank. Also I might go with a little larger tank going from my current 36 gallon corner tank to around 50 to 65 gallon. Don't know about that yet, If I can sell a refrigerator that I have, I should be able to afford a new tank. Also, if I should stay with substrate, should I take what I have now with me or buy new?- Thanks, Earl:ear:

 

[Peppie]

Earl,
I am a fan of BB. IMO the sand in a tank is a very large detrius trap, it is near impossible to clean it under your rock work. You will lose some of the bacteria in a BB. It has been proven that you can run a tank either way.
You have to ask yourself. Is the mait. worth the pretty white sand you want to look at? Or would to rather forgo the maint. and look at your corals and fish?

If you plan to reuse your sand for a new tank be sure to rinse it rinse it rinse it rinse it rinse it. Or throw it out and do as all should do GO BB LOL

 

[TJL]

Personal preference Earl, pros & cons either way. Bare bottom tanks typically have less maintenance but... lot less natural in appearance and less choices in livestock while sandbeds look much better IMO and allows me to keep one of my favorite fish species (Leopard Wrasses). You do not need a whole lot of sand, just an inch or two of something fine grained enough to keep detritus on top yet not blow around much if you have alot of water flow. Anyhow it's up to you either way...

Cheers, Todd

^Peppie^ is nuts... just likes sayin bare bottom

 

[Krish]

Bare bottom is the only way for me...Thank you and please come again! eace:

 

[N1Husker]

LOL, Todd, What size of granules do you recommend. My wife doesn't want bare bottom, so I think I will put enough in to have about 2" depth. Also should I use live sand, the only fish I have that picks stuff out of the substrate is my red scooter blenny, but he also eats mysis and he picks stuff off the live rock.

 

[Derbird]

What ever appeals to you is the wright answer

IMO unless you have a whirpool of flow (Krish) I like the sand. I also have heard of problems with the deeper beds so I went with a 2 - 3 inch sand bed. I love my wrasses and sandy goby's and star so its an easy choice for me. Lots more critters to choose from

 

[N1Husker]

Thanks and please come again? What is this, McDonalds!

 

[N1Husker]

I have pretty good flow, it's a 36 gallon corner tank with two 525 gph in the back pointed forward, crisscross to the front corners. Then I have two nanos at the front corners pointed toward the front center.

 

[josh88]

I just moved too. I have a 28 gal with 36x the flow rate in the tank. I used fine Arganite sand this round. I tried taking about 2/3 the water out and after moving the sand which was black, I noticed a lot of detrius in that 1/3 of water which was brown......gross! So I just took the sand out, cleaned the tank out and changed the sand. Let alone if the sand is disturbed under the top .5 inch the aerobic, And anaerobics in the lower layers get into the water, which releases all the harmful substances. I'm not exactly sure but I think it would cause a small cycle again.

HTC EVO

 

[TJL]

Hey Earl I'm not a big fan of or sold on purchased Live Sand neccessarily but do think seeding it or dry/dead sand with substrate from a running CLEAN system is very beneficial to jumpstart the good bacteria. Since I now have a completely parasite/pest free system I'd be happy to give you a cup or two of seed if needed... just let me know. I have about 2" of mostly very-fine 1-2mm sand in a fairly high-flow system with only a couple pounds of crushed coral in front left where the backflow of PH's removed the fine sand. My last system had about 20#'s each of fine and crushed coral mixed together and was fairly easy to maintane.


Cheers, Todd

 

[NC2WA]

Earl,

my tank is carbisea ooglite sugar size white sand, and the only decision that matters is yours...so if you want sand, put sand in your tank.

 

[Peppie]

personal preference earl, pros & cons either way. Bare bottom tanks typically have less maintenance but... Lot less natural in appearance and less choices in livestock while sandbeds look much better imo and allows me to keep one of my favorite fish species (leopard wrasses). You do not need a whole lot of sand, just an inch or two of something fine grained enough to keep detritus on top yet not blow around much if you have alot of water flow. Anyhow it's up to you either way...

Cheers, todd

^peppie^ is nuts... Just likes sayin bare bottom

bbbbiggg beautiful bare bottom bare bottom bare bottom bare bottom bare bottom bare bottom bare bottom bare bottom bare bottom

 

[N1Husker]

Yeah, I think I will go with sand, it looks nicer and that's what the boss wants. I don't want to use the sand I have now, too large of a granule. I want to go with a finer sand. Thanks for all of your help, and Todd when I make the move I will let you know so I can seed the sand.

 

[cheeks69]

Some of my SB is going to hit the 10 year mark, I'm waiting for nuclear fallout...lol
For me I just don't like the look of BB but hey that's just me, plus I love Gobies.