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Post by Sean (90 reef, fw rack sys) on Oct 25, 2017 8:07:58 GMT -5
I’m moving to a new place at the beginning of December and after almost a year with no reef, it’s time. I’m only gonna be living there til the end of March so I’m going small, either 20 long or 15 xtall (probably 20 seeing I already have most of the equipment). I’ve always done dsb’s because I love my microfish (gobies, damsels), but seeing how I’ll have to move it, wondering if I’m better off with bare bottom. Also have always had algae problems across the bed because I have a tendency to not syphon it where it sucks the sand right out. So I guess what I was wondering is rhe pros and cons of bare bottom. I know the obvious aesthetics and nitrifying properties, but is there anything else I should consider?
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Post by steelheader09 on Oct 25, 2017 19:51:53 GMT -5
I have had a deep sand bed and have had nothing but problems. It looks awful and nitrates are near impossible to keep low. Also the fish dig it up so much that its unlikely that its even doing what its supposed to, which is to break down nitrates into Nitrogen gas. I am actually switching it to a shallow sand bed. I have another tank with a shallow sand bed, like 1.5in, and nutrients have not been a problem. 1 water change every 3 weeks and keep 0's across the board. Its also easier to clean a shallow bed and it allows you to still keep gobbies and such. One thing to consider with BB is that waste blows around and is very noticeable unless you keep it siphoned all the time.
This is just my experience with DSB. I'm sure others have had wonderful results, just my 2 cents.
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 26, 2017 15:51:37 GMT -5
I’ve always had great luck with deep sand beds but that said, for your tank where you’ll have it setup for a short term, I’d just go with a shallow coarse sand bed of no more than 1.5 inches deep and just keep it siphoned well.
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Post by moulton712 on Dec 28, 2017 10:14:54 GMT -5
I've done both. i currently have run the past two setups with no sand. its a lot easier to move as i just moved too. honestly a 20G tank is not hard to move sand or no sand.
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Post by Syntax on Dec 28, 2017 18:08:29 GMT -5
Things to consider:
Sand sifting gobies and wrasses: dsb
SPS Only Tank with very high flow: bb or dsb with very carefully placed rock work to avoid sand storms
It really comes down to preference and livestock choices. I'm currently BB because I'm almost all SPS with high flow and I don't want to worry about the sand bed blowing around.... I also have two liters of Matrix media in a phosban 550 to help with bio.
You can't go wrong either way. :-)
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Post by gotareef on Jan 5, 2018 17:30:24 GMT -5
Bare bottom with remote dsb light kills dsb's
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