Bare bottom - What are the benefits?

NanoReefNoob · 08/14/2012, 06:59 PM

Ok so I have a quick question. What is the Pros and Cons to going Bare Bottom. I know that I have seen a few people do it, I am mainly wondering the purpose behind it. It some one could let me know or point me in a right direction that would be great.

shaginwagon13 · 08/14/2012, 07:13 PM

With no sand bed you have the advantage of seeing debris and easily removing it before it breaks down. With a shallow sand bed it appears more natural at least IMO, but needs to be siphoned on a regular basis usually at water change time. Some reef occupants do better with a sand beds. There are pros and cons to each.

thegrun · 08/14/2012, 08:42 PM

It is more a matter of ascetics than anything else. Sand does offer some limited buffering that bare bottom does not. It is easier I suppose to clean a bare bottom but any dirt or detritus shows up more in a bare bottom tank. I don't really care for the bare bottom look myself (I've kept my frag tanks in the past bare bottom) so my DTs have always had sand beds.

Mavrk · 08/14/2012, 08:56 PM

Sand also has more places for bacteria and critters to live. Bare bottom never gets "sand storms" with high flow (you can even have a powerhead on the bottom to keep things from settling easily. That said, the difference between the two probably doesn't amount to much. If you are not keeping anything that needs sand, then it is really about aesthetics. People used to debate the two pretty heavily, but lately most posts seem to agree that it is about preference.

NanoReefNoob · 08/15/2012, 05:40 AM

Ok with all that being said I have a second question. I was thinking about doing a bare bottom tank, how ever i do not like the look of the tank floor. While I was haveing fun at lowes I found some tile that is made to look like sand, Its ment to go outside for decorations i guess. I was thinking of using this as my floor so it looked like there was sand ... however it ends up being a bare bottom. Does anyone see this as a problem.

andy2966 · 08/15/2012, 05:42 AM

The only problem I could see is if the tile would leak chemicals into the tank. But I am no expert.

VectorAKA · 08/15/2012, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy2966

The only problem I could see is if the tile would leak chemicals into the tank. But I am no expert.

Who in this hobby can be considered a "real" expert,lol.

If you read the article for this months "Tank of the month" he talks about his bare bottom tank....why it is and what he did to create a tank that looks like he has sand in the bottom (on my tab so it'd be a pain to post the link). Just thougt I'd tell ya where to look fo other suggestions since it would be extremely hard to find out if that "sand" tile would leech anything into your tank after so much time. The guy has been in this hobby for a while and good looking coral...so he has to be pretty well versed in it...though I prefer a DSB...guess I'll have to learn through experiance...plus I have a Jawfish so the DSB is kinda required, lol.

Mavrk · 08/15/2012, 09:50 AM

Bare bottom tanks will usually end up with coralline bottoms, so it will not look totally bare. Some people grow mushrooms on the bottom or green start polyps or something. Personally, I worry about those spreading too fast but I guess you could just give them a trim. Now I feel like searching the forums for pictures of what people have done with the bottoms of the bare bottom tanks

Pete H. · 08/15/2012, 11:40 AM

I know someone who used a solid surface countertop (It was verified as 100% acrylic) in the bottom of their freshwater tank. The solid surface had the tan speckled look just like sand. The pieces were cut to fit and then cemented into place in the tank. So, he had the bare bottom ease of use and still the look of sand. It turned out quite slick I thought.

NanoReefNoob · 08/15/2012, 12:29 PM

Ya that is what I am going for. The Good looks of the sand yet the ease of the bare bottom. The Reef of the month tank (december 2011) is absalutly beautifull!!! I love it. His tank has really inspired me.

ddelozier · 08/15/2012, 12:45 PM

Do NOT use finished tile. raw tile is just ceramic. Finished tile has LEAD in it, and Chromium and other nasty stuff u DONT want in your aquarium.

Agu · 08/15/2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete H.

I know someone who used a solid surface countertop (It was verified as 100% acrylic) in the bottom of their freshwater tank. The solid surface had the tan speckled look just like sand. The pieces were cut to fit and then cemented into place in the tank. So, he had the bare bottom ease of use and still the look of sand. It turned out quite slick I thought.

In a marine tank environment people have used HDPE more commonly called starboard as an alternative bottom in tanks. You can get it sand colored too.

Crazyfingerz · 08/15/2012, 01:58 PM

If i were you i would just go with a shallow sand bed. I like to see some of the critters in the sand bed and it gives the tank a more natural feel to it. IMO bare bottom looks good if you have some super nice, clean setup.

08/14/2012, 06:59 PM	#1
NanoReefNoob Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Yuma, AZ Posts: 241	Bare bottom - What are the benefits? Ok so I have a quick question. What is the Pros and Cons to going Bare Bottom. I know that I have seen a few people do it, I am mainly wondering the purpose behind it. It some one could let me know or point me in a right direction that would be great. __________________ This is only a hobby if you are having fun, ether wise it is work. Current Tank Info: 72G fresh water, Reef tank build in progress.

08/14/2012, 07:13 PM	#2
shaginwagon13 Chartered Accountant Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,219	With no sand bed you have the advantage of seeing debris and easily removing it before it breaks down. With a shallow sand bed it appears more natural at least IMO, but needs to be siphoned on a regular basis usually at water change time. Some reef occupants do better with a sand beds. There are pros and cons to each. __________________ - Shaginwagon - Current Tank Info: 550 Gallon SPS Reef l 200 Gallon Sump l Skimmer: Vertex Alpha 250 l Return Pump: Reeflo Hammerhead l Tank Circulation: (2) Maxspect Gyre XF280 l Lighting: (3) 400w Halides & (3) AI Hydra 52 HD

08/15/2012, 05:40 AM	#5
NanoReefNoob Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Yuma, AZ Posts: 241	Ok with all that being said I have a second question. I was thinking about doing a bare bottom tank, how ever i do not like the look of the tank floor. While I was haveing fun at lowes I found some tile that is made to look like sand, Its ment to go outside for decorations i guess. I was thinking of using this as my floor so it looked like there was sand ... however it ends up being a bare bottom. Does anyone see this as a problem. __________________ This is only a hobby if you are having fun, ether wise it is work. Current Tank Info: 72G fresh water, Reef tank build in progress.

08/15/2012, 12:29 PM	#10
NanoReefNoob Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Yuma, AZ Posts: 241	Ya that is what I am going for. The Good looks of the sand yet the ease of the bare bottom. The Reef of the month tank (december 2011) is absalutly beautifull!!! I love it. His tank has really inspired me. __________________ This is only a hobby if you are having fun, ether wise it is work. Current Tank Info: 72G fresh water, Reef tank build in progress.

08/15/2012, 01:58 PM	#13
Crazyfingerz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 303	If i were you i would just go with a shallow sand bed. I like to see some of the critters in the sand bed and it gives the tank a more natural feel to it. IMO bare bottom looks good if you have some super nice, clean setup. __________________ Always looking to move foward, yup yup Current Tank Info: 120gal DT, 30gal sump.

08/14/2012, 08:42 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	It is more a matter of ascetics than anything else. Sand does offer some limited buffering that bare bottom does not. It is easier I suppose to clean a bare bottom but any dirt or detritus shows up more in a bare bottom tank. I don't really care for the bare bottom look myself (I've kept my frag tanks in the past bare bottom) so my DTs have always had sand beds.

08/14/2012, 08:56 PM	#4
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	Sand also has more places for bacteria and critters to live. Bare bottom never gets "sand storms" with high flow (you can even have a powerhead on the bottom to keep things from settling easily. That said, the difference between the two probably doesn't amount to much. If you are not keeping anything that needs sand, then it is really about aesthetics. People used to debate the two pretty heavily, but lately most posts seem to agree that it is about preference.

08/15/2012, 05:42 AM	#6
andy2966 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Saint Louis, MO. Posts: 376	The only problem I could see is if the tile would leak chemicals into the tank. But I am no expert.

08/15/2012, 09:50 AM	#8
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	Bare bottom tanks will usually end up with coralline bottoms, so it will not look totally bare. Some people grow mushrooms on the bottom or green start polyps or something. Personally, I worry about those spreading too fast but I guess you could just give them a trim. Now I feel like searching the forums for pictures of what people have done with the bottoms of the bare bottom tanks

08/15/2012, 11:40 AM	#9
Pete H. Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Kansas Posts: 86	I know someone who used a solid surface countertop (It was verified as 100% acrylic) in the bottom of their freshwater tank. The solid surface had the tan speckled look just like sand. The pieces were cut to fit and then cemented into place in the tank. So, he had the bare bottom ease of use and still the look of sand. It turned out quite slick I thought.

08/15/2012, 12:45 PM	#11
ddelozier Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Texas Posts: 15	Do NOT use finished tile. raw tile is just ceramic. Finished tile has LEAD in it, and Chromium and other nasty stuff u DONT want in your aquarium.