The great bare bottom debate

[anthonys51]

Originally Posted by GOSKN5

My issue with sand was keeping it as clean as I wanted... it always seemed to have some diatoms or cyano in spots..

I painted the bottom white on a couple tanks and haven't looked back... still not sand... but gives a decent look..

With the amount of stuff I suck out weekly I can't imagine going back to sand....





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I first thought it was a nice tank. But I been looking at the pictures again. There is no way this tank is a year old

I mean not one drop of coralline algae not even on the inside of the mp40. Not one drop on the bottom of the tank. No one is that good to get every last drop of coralline algae out of there tank




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[GOSKN5]

Originally Posted by anthonys51

I first thought it was a nice tank. But I been looking at the pictures again. There is no way this tank is a year old

I mean not one drop of coralline algae not even on the inside of the mp40. Not one drop on the bottom of the tank. No one is that good to get every last drop of coralline algae out of there tank




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Hahaha... you can't be serious??? Do I need to find pictures of TONS of tanks without coraline? Some which are many years old?

And since when does having coraline make a tank nice or not? Thanks for your input, which added nothing to the conversation whatsoever.

Scrape the glass often, clean the power heads in vinegar often... it works...

Also, in my current tank.. the 120 above.. there is absolutely coraline present.. but scraping the bottom and sides has kept it in check... the overflow shows coraline as do some of the rocks....

Still not sure what coraline has to do with the topic of this thread??

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[anthonys51]

I think it's a fake picture. It has nothing to do with the bare bottom debate. But send me a picture of your tank. I will see some type of algae somewhere in the tank. Even those powerheads are spotless. Now you can believe if you want. But as for me and grandpa we don't believe


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[GOSKN5]

Haha ok.. they are both certainly real... both my tanks at one time or another... I have tons of pictures of each coral, tank and fish.. several build threads on numerous forums locally and nationally for both tanks...

I also never said they were algae free.. I have some bubble algae I battle with as well as dusting on the glass and equipment.. and there is coraline present..

BUT.. I pride myself in putting in a lot of work to keep the glass clean and the tank as clean as possible..thus my reason for barebottom..

Weekly water changes, siphon out all detritus each week, scraping back and sides and bottom, filter sock, large skimmer, GFO, and other methods... it's all in what you put it in... but don't say they are fake pictures haha.... not even sure how I would fake it...

Yes the tanks are both fairly young.. the shallow was probably 18 months in and the 120 will be a year old in a week or so..

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[ca1ore]

I will tell you that I have seen countless incredibly colorful photos of peoples tanks ... yet I have seen none so well colored in person. Hmmn! Not suggesting they are 'fake' necessarily, but many (most?) are not 'honest' representations. Also not suggesting they are all done intentionally, my own limited photographic skills (and tools) has made my tank pictures a challenge in terms of the photo accurately representing what I see with my own eyes. Caveat emptor!

[Wazzel]

I like bare bottom tanks. It allows me to run my flow high and syphon out detritus during water changes easily. They only look sterile for a few months. I would not put encrusting corals on the bottom. Removing them becomes a destructive process. Non-encrusting LPS corals are what I use. From a health of the tank angle, I really do not see one being better than the other, if properly maintained. If you do use sand just remember there is only so much you can actually clean in a grown in reef tank.

Here is my 7 month old BB tank.

[juniorrocketdad]

Originally Posted by anthonys51

I first thought it was a nice tank. But I been looking at the pictures again. There is no way this tank is a year old

I mean not one drop of coralline algae not even on the inside of the mp40. Not one drop on the bottom of the tank. No one is that good to get every last drop of coralline algae out of there tank




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First if all if you look closely you can see coralline here and there

Secondly why do you feel the need to derail this thread to start an argument?

Thirdly have you considered that before he goes to take pictures of his tank he gives it an extra scrub down so it looks better on camera?

[GOSKN5]

I have sent the opposite... in most cases the tanks look a ton better in person than in photos... these tanks aren't easy to photograph...

These pics are all cell phone shots with adjusted white balance to remove the blue.. I really have nothing to hide haha... if I did I would enhance the bleached frogs pawn or the faded pocillipora...

I never said it was perfect or said it didn't have algae.. I was simply showing the white painted bottom for the barebottom debate haha... now my photos are fake

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[CrayolaViolence]

Originally Posted by EdgeN

While everything does look healthy in that tank above, I just don't understand why you would put tiles in the tank? All you've really done IMO is traded a pink bottom for a pink bottom with lines it. To each their own though.

Do you really need to understand? It's their vision, their expression, their creation. Tanks are quite often works of art, even when people don't mean for them to be.
Just enjoy the view.

[anthonys51]

I didn't start an argument just stating my opinion. In 30 years of keeping tanks and looking at them I never seen a tank that flawless of algae and frags perfectly placed unless it's a brand new tank. Now maybe I am wrong but why doesn't the person who has 2 spotless tanks simple take a video and prove me wrong. I am not always right. Been wrong a few times in my life but don't think I am on this one. But would loved to be proven wrong here


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[CrayolaViolence]

You know, some people are just really good at cleaning house. Just because I'm a slob and a can't clean to save my life, it doesn't mean those who do, don't live in their house, or haven't lived there, etc. Just because the tank is beautifully decorated and balanced it doesn't mean it's fake. It means they just have a skill in life you don't. You're going to encounter a lot of that. We all do.

[juniorrocketdad]

Originally Posted by anthonys51

I didn't start an argument just stating my opinion. In 30 years of keeping tanks and looking at them I never seen a tank that flawless of algae and frags perfectly placed unless it's a brand new tank. Now maybe I am wrong but why doesn't the person who has 2 spotless tanks simple take a video and prove me wrong. I am not always right. Been wrong a few times in my life but don't think I am on this one. But would loved to be proven wrong here


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If if the tanks were fake, it doesn't disprove he point he was trying to make

[GOSKN5]

Originally Posted by anthonys51

I didn't start an argument just stating my opinion. In 30 years of keeping tanks and looking at them I never seen a tank that flawless of algae and frags perfectly placed unless it's a brand new tank. Now maybe I am wrong but why doesn't the person who has 2 spotless tanks simple take a video and prove me wrong. I am not always right. Been wrong a few times in my life but don't think I am on this one. But would loved to be proven wrong here


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I just don't understand what's fake? Find where I said it's flawless? Those are your words, (thanks by the way )

I also said the shallow 80 was taken down after that pic and it was about 18 months old...

The 120 is only a year old and I have said it has bubble algae and other issues...

That said I put a lot of work into my tanks I stay busy cleaning and doing my best to keep it super clean in appearance... sometimes even at the expense of too few nutrients...

What do you need a video of? How can a video be any different than a pic?

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[Mr. Brooks]

Slightly better pic of the tile. One of the benefits is that I can glue coral to the tile and if I want to remove the coral to frag etc. all I have to do is pick up the tile and replace it with a new one.



It will look like this for another year or so. Once SPS frags turn into colonies, the tank will take on a completely different look. I designed this tank with SPS colonies in mind.

[Mr. Brooks]

Ok, finally took a decent photo. THIS is what the tank looks like in person. Please excuse the nori clips.

[MondoBongo]

Originally Posted by GOSKN5

yo i just gotta say i love your tank.

love the rock work, and how every little crevice has something tucked in to it. this is sort of the idea i was going for with my 'scape but wasn't really able to get there.

and typically i'm not a fan of bare bottom (personal preference) but i do like the look with it painted white. gives it a real nice contrast.

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by Mr. Brooks

Ok, finally took a decent photo. THIS is what the tank looks like in person. Please excuse the nori clips.

I for one thing having the vortech on the bottom panel is a pretty cool idea. I assume you have devised a way to support the dryside motors?

[Mr. Brooks]

The magnet holds the dry side in place. No support necessary.

[Stolireef]

Originally Posted by Mr. Brooks

The magnet holds the dry side in place. No support necessary.

That's way cool. Can you make your tank fountain when you turn them all the way up?

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by Mr. Brooks

The magnet holds the dry side in place. No support necessary.

Hmmn, that would fail the Over Engineering Anonymous test.

[Mr. Brooks]

Originally Posted by Stolireef

That's way cool. Can you make your tank fountain when you turn them all the way up?

I get about a 1.5 - 2 inch "fountain" if I crank them up all the way.

[Potatohead]

Originally Posted by mrdss

For the eye and personal preference sand is nice. I went through this when setting up my tank and decided to add a sand bed.

If I were to do it all over again I would NOT use sand. Too much food, debris, fish droppings get in the sand causing disease, rot etc. etc. etc.

A bare bottom tank is a personal eye appealing preference. A bare bottom tank is a clean tank. A bare bottom tank is extremely easy to clean with a simple net. When using a bare bottom tank you REALLY notice all the garbage that settles daily in the tank.

This is NOT opinion based but factual. After 40 years of different tank, sizes etc. etc. etc.

Wut. This is the definition of anecdotal evidence.

[jimmy n]

I choose sand. Love the diversity that comes with. Love sand sifters. I have three cucumbers, two conches and a diamond goby that eats frozen food. I have a small refugium to keep the above fed. Personal choice and I love it.

[CrayolaViolence]

I think bare bottom is cool, but I need substrate to hide my dirt.

[mpsteve]

Originally Posted by Mr. Brooks

Tiles have been in place since the tank was set up about a year ago. I never lift the tiles. There's no cavity underneath so I'm not worried about detritus buildup.

I took a new picture today:



My iPhone is picking up the purple in the LED's. It's much more natural looking in person with a mix of algae including purple coralline.

How do all the purple tangs get a long