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BB or SB
- Thread starter RobSzar
- Start date
There is no really right or wrong way when it come to sandbeds ot bare bottom tanks. You'll find people use all sorts and have good results.
Base your choice upon what you want to keep in the tank. If you want fish that dig, like jawfish, then you need something for them to dig in. If you have a refugium with a DSB, then you may not need a sandbed at all in the tank. There are many other ways to work this.
My personal preference is a DSB, but someone using a bare bottom or shallow sandbad can be just as correct.
Base your choice upon what you want to keep in the tank. If you want fish that dig, like jawfish, then you need something for them to dig in. If you have a refugium with a DSB, then you may not need a sandbed at all in the tank. There are many other ways to work this.
My personal preference is a DSB, but someone using a bare bottom or shallow sandbad can be just as correct.
Edwardw771
NJRC Member
sand bed.
Also, there is yet another alternative you can go with that's sort of a compromise. If you like the look of the sand bed but don't actually want one you can get a sheet of acrylic cut at HD/Lowes and glue sand to it. Then place this on the bottom of your tank. It will have the look of the sand bed but won't blow all around.
With good current it won't get dirty but without high flow the "sand" will get a brownish look over time. The good part is that you can take a powerhead and blast it to clean it without worry of it blowing all around.
As already stated your choice of fish and other equipment will help dictate you need for a sand bed.
Carlo
With good current it won't get dirty but without high flow the "sand" will get a brownish look over time. The good part is that you can take a powerhead and blast it to clean it without worry of it blowing all around.
As already stated your choice of fish and other equipment will help dictate you need for a sand bed.
Carlo
Hi Rob
Decision should be based on whether or not you want to keep "sand dwelling" livestock, if like/dislike the look of a SB tank and whether or not you have the time or even want to clean a SB.
Personally, I have a 2" SB and think the gobies, wrasses, snails, starfish etc. that use the SB make my reef more interesting.
But, I really dislike cleaning the SB and know that I don't do it as often as I should.
Dom
Decision should be based on whether or not you want to keep "sand dwelling" livestock, if like/dislike the look of a SB tank and whether or not you have the time or even want to clean a SB.
Personally, I have a 2" SB and think the gobies, wrasses, snails, starfish etc. that use the SB make my reef more interesting.
But, I really dislike cleaning the SB and know that I don't do it as often as I should.
Dom
I really prefer the look of a sandbed but I am going BB in my new tank for a couple of reasons:
1) Want to have huge water flow to maximize SPS growth
2) I have been traumatized by flatworm infestation. The love DSBs, hate BBs and high water flow.
3) It simplifies maintenance. There's not LESS maintenance, but what needs doing is more apparent.
4) Depite what SOME people think, most reefs are on hardbottoms, not sandy shoals.
5) The sandbed in my 58G eventually got full of organic material and it was a problem. I think you can have a sandbed if you follow the Steve Weast practice of removing and replacing some of it all the time.
Negatives for me:
1) I love the look of sand, particularly CaribSea special reef grade
2) I like the micro and macro life that needs a sandbed, wrasses, pistol shrimp etc. Sandbeds promote diversity.
3) It are my beach! I needs sand!
1) Want to have huge water flow to maximize SPS growth
2) I have been traumatized by flatworm infestation. The love DSBs, hate BBs and high water flow.
3) It simplifies maintenance. There's not LESS maintenance, but what needs doing is more apparent.
4) Depite what SOME people think, most reefs are on hardbottoms, not sandy shoals.
5) The sandbed in my 58G eventually got full of organic material and it was a problem. I think you can have a sandbed if you follow the Steve Weast practice of removing and replacing some of it all the time.
Negatives for me:
1) I love the look of sand, particularly CaribSea special reef grade
2) I like the micro and macro life that needs a sandbed, wrasses, pistol shrimp etc. Sandbeds promote diversity.
3) It are my beach! I needs sand!
Another upside to not having a sand bed at all is parasite infections. The less substrate and rock in the tank the less chance of parasite life cycles being successfull.
I wouldn't base my decision on that alone however but thought I'd throw that out there for anyone "on the line" or making a Pro/Con list.
Carlo
I wouldn't base my decision on that alone however but thought I'd throw that out there for anyone "on the line" or making a Pro/Con list.
Carlo
Its really up to you and what livestock you will keep. I have a 180g with starboard and the pro's I see on it is It stays clean and I like Flow
.I don't have to worry on cleaning the dietrus as it doesn't build that much compare to sand. Less work for me... HOWEVER - I miss the look of the DSB AND SB when I had my 75 and 120g. I can't also put some of my favorite fish like wrasses as they need sand to hide. When I set up another tank I will go with SB on it as I will be likely keeping more fish than corals...
I say no sand! use white cutting board so you will get a nice white reflection.
You can have as much flow as you want without having to worry.
You can vacuum waste debris once in a while.
Again this is good for a tank that doesnt have sand dwelling critters.
Sure the Ocean has sand but coral reefs are isolated from it, Corals die and other corals grow on top of them and they sort of create a rocky foundation.
This is my little cube with cutting board bottom. I also had a 72G with cutting board bottom.
You can have as much flow as you want without having to worry.
You can vacuum waste debris once in a while.
Again this is good for a tank that doesnt have sand dwelling critters.
Sure the Ocean has sand but coral reefs are isolated from it, Corals die and other corals grow on top of them and they sort of create a rocky foundation.
This is my little cube with cutting board bottom. I also had a 72G with cutting board bottom.
Bare bottom. Sand is for horseshoes and sandcastles. How can you even compare ocean to home aquarium???? Not even close.
I put eggcrate on the bottom to distribute the weight of my rocks but I also have sand
i currently have a bare bottom with a fuge with 2 inches mud and inch of sand on that.
DSB= Algae
Algae= Headaches
Headaches= Me getting out of this hobby
Me getting out of this hobby= Getting back into my old hobby
Me getting back into my old hobby= Me buying another race car
Me buying another race car= 40k plus about $400 a weekend on fuel and tires!
40k plus $400 a weekend= Me staying bare bottom ;D ;D ;D
Algae= Headaches
Headaches= Me getting out of this hobby
Me getting out of this hobby= Getting back into my old hobby
Me getting back into my old hobby= Me buying another race car
Me buying another race car= 40k plus about $400 a weekend on fuel and tires!
40k plus $400 a weekend= Me staying bare bottom ;D ;D ;D