Fot those SPS'rs with sand,...

[StrategicReef]

How does barebottom contribute to unstability and how does a shallow sand bed contribute to stability? What parameters are we refering to?

I believe the sand leach out bad stuff after a year or two and should be gradually replaced?

[MitchReef]

There are as many opinions as there are reefers, also, there are as many different outcomes both long-term and short-term...

A person just has to read as much as they can (or can stand to) and then decide....

I have kept reefs off and on since 1986 (20 gallon nano, even though we didn't know that was what they were called back then) and never had any issues that I couldn't deal with on either type. I am setting up a new display tank right now, mixed SPS, LPS and softies, and will go with SSB, with somewhat coarse real reef sand, mixed with packaged LS stuff from the LFS....

Just my preference....BTW, I will have oodles of flow....just have to get everything situated and pointed right....

[killagoby]

Most forms of sand can help keep your Ph balanced. Some can provide calcium, mag, ect.

[rutz81]

Personally, I think the functionality of a DSB is great, but, it inhibits the flow amount of flow you can have. So, in my next tank, I am going to have a RDSB and a BB Display.

[tfp]

lol...you know what is missing...you helped me pull out and toss about $350 worth a few months ago!

personally, i miss the look of it . but what i don't miss is it scratching the heck out of my acrylic, seeing algae grow on it and slowly watching it turn to brick over 2.5years .

biologically, i think its great haven for diversity (pods, critters, bacteria).

chemically, i think mine over time became dirty and acidic?

[mile sq. reefer]

I keep a 2" SSB in my tank. This tank has been up for over three years. I keep routine weekly husbandry practices. So far I have yet to encounter serious problems. I also siphon the top layer of the sand bed and a new layer of live sand 10-15#'s is added every 12-16 months. This replaces what is lost from the cleanings and helps recharge the old sand.

[mcliffy2]

I would also not have to worry about the sand vs starfire thing.

I haven't heard about this...what is the "sand vs. starphire thing"??

[Marko9]

Sand scratches glass, sorry, that is what I meant.

[mcliffy2]

Originally posted by Marko9
Sand scratches glass, sorry, that is what I meant.

OK, but you just meant glass in general right? Not that starphire is more susceptible?

[Oldude]

I run a SSB (3.5 years) and have gobies & conches to turn it with no issues that I am aware of. I prefer the sand look but it is a personal preferance. I've seen tanks successfull both ways. I have a buddy the has BB but has a glass wall a few inches tall and set back 6" from the front glass that is filled with sand so he still gets the SSB look.

[mcliffy2]

Originally posted by Oldude
I run a SSB (3.5 years) and have gobies & conches to turn it with no issues that I am aware of. I prefer the sand look but it is a personal preferance. I've seen tanks successfull both ways. I have a buddy the has BB but has a glass wall a few inches tall and set back 6" from the front glass that is filled with sand so he still gets the SSB look.

Curious about this - can you get ahold of pics of this setup?

[Emster]

This is an older pic of my tank, the tank is now 3 years old and has about a 4 inch sand bed. It has the very fine sand. I can't add anymore flow because my hammer and frogspawn start to close up because they don't like that much flow, also the clams don't like it either. My sand can take a lot more flow then some of my lps's.

[liquidfunk]

Hey Rick nice pics,,, who took those for you

[ricks]

DOH!!!!

[ricks]

You got my pumps yet??? I got some more frags..

[MAthU]

i didnt even notice that ricks tank was a BB... i couldnt tell just couldnt stop staring at those humungo corals!

i am a bb person my self..

[ricks]

Nobody has ever commented on the lack of sand...

MAthU, what does a 36" tall seahorse look like??? And what do you feed them???

[Marko9]

I guess that is a personal thing because I look at the overall apearance and go wow, then I always look for sand or not.

[stangreef]

those are some nice tanks

[MAthU]

Originally posted by ricks
Nobody has ever commented on the lack of sand...

MAthU, what does a 36" tall seahorse look like??? And what do you feed them???

lol

i dont realy know..

im planning a tank that tall for seahorses.

a seahorse that big would need to be fed cats or small rodents.
j/k

[bugitup]

I currently run a 100 gal tank with a deep sand bed. (about 4 inches) i really love how it looks but, it is constantly getting blown around to the point where the direction of flow is more for the sand and not the corals. Im about to set up my prop. tank bare bottom and see how i like it. I guess im in the middle.

[OnlyCrimson]

If i could re-plan my whole system i would go bare bottom with bottom drains in my tank. Just like in a true koi pond system. So basically my system would not have overflows. There would be two tanks on the same level one as a filter and one a display. The water would exit the display through the bottom drains, go through the filter tank and be pumped back into the display. Its not feasible for very large tanks, but for smaller tanks it can work.

[Oldude]

Originally posted by mcliffy2
Curious about this - can you get ahold of pics of this setup?

Sorry I don't have one. I'll try to remember to take a picture next time I'm over there.

[killagoby]

I had a 24" deep tank with a 30" deep sand bed. JK.

[Jester]

Great post... came to post a similar topic, but this was here already.. .getting ready to transfer my 25 gallon to a new drilled 29 gallon and was wondering is I should go BB... hmmm.. .stil ldebating, but great info here...

Jester