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sand or bare bottom?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by jstngates, Mar 1, 2013.

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  1. jstngates

    jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    Which is better? Just bought an acrylic and I'm kind of tired of sand blowing around.
     
    jstngates, Mar 1, 2013
    #1
  2. erayk1

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    I love bare bottoms.... /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/tongue.gif
     
    erayk1, Mar 1, 2013
    #2
  3. jstngates

    jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    Do you paint the bottom black?
     
    jstngates, Mar 1, 2013
    #3
  4. erayk1

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    Nope, I like looking up through the bottom to see my critters.
     
    erayk1, Mar 1, 2013
    #4
  5. jstngates

    jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    What do I do with my pistol shrimp? Also I think i like the idea of zoas growing on the acrylic bottom.
     
    jstngates, Mar 1, 2013
    #5
  6. Travis G

    Travis G Experienced Reefkeeper

    What size tank u get???
     
    Travis G, Mar 1, 2013
    #6
  7. jstngates

    jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    A 60 inch 125 acrylic
     
    jstngates, Mar 1, 2013
    #7
  8. ShaneP

    ShaneP Well Known Hawkfish

    Bare bottom for the win! You can't see through the bottom unless looking from underneath or from the top. Otherwise it's either a mirror reflection of your rock or it turns purple! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/wink.gif. Either way, maintenance is so much easier.
     
    ShaneP, Mar 1, 2013
    #8
  9. Travis G

    Travis G Experienced Reefkeeper

    Nice!!!!!
     
    Travis G, Mar 1, 2013
    #9
  10. jstngates

    jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    K gonna do it. I wasn't looking forward to the cloudy water from sand. Is my old rock gonna be okay to just put in?
     
    jstngates, Mar 2, 2013
    #10
  11. xroads

    xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

    Lots of pros and cons to both.

    Sand- Many species of fish, corals, and inverts require sand
    Helps buffer PH
    More Natural look

    BB Sand wont blow around
    Sand wont scratch acrylic if it isnt there
    possibility of growing corals right on bottom
     
    xroads, Mar 2, 2013
    #11
  12. blackx-runner

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

    I think my next tank will be a bare bottom. And the good thing about starting with bare bottom is if you decide you don't like it you can just add sand.
     
    blackx-runner, Mar 2, 2013
    #12
  13. jstngates

    jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    Hey Craig if it were you what would you do? Also if I stayed with my sand could I put water and switch live rock and corals over then switch my sand over?
     
    jstngates, Mar 2, 2013
    #13
  14. ShaneP

    ShaneP Well Known Hawkfish

    The biggest advantage to being bare bottomed is that you can see exactly where you have detritus hanging out. Makes for easy cleaning and nutrient control. Need more nutrients? Leave it sit longer. Need more nutrient export? Siphon aggressively, or blast the bottom with flow so that it heads for the sump.

    Sand hides SO much stuff. I don't have any pH problems with my BB tank. It sits at 8.1.

    If you wanted to stick with sand, use new sand when you transfer. There's no point in keeping the old stuff.
     
    ShaneP, Mar 4, 2013
    #14
  15. Travis G

    Travis G Experienced Reefkeeper

    Not to hijack but ive contemplated gon BB. I dont like the mirror reflection. Can u use krylon fusion and paint the inside of the bottom? I was thinking black or white...
     
    Travis G, Mar 4, 2013
    #15
  16. blackx-runner

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

    I would paint the outside, not the inside of the tank....
     
    blackx-runner, Mar 4, 2013
    #16
  17. Travis G

    Travis G Experienced Reefkeeper


    If I paint the outside wouldn't I still get the mirror affect?
     
    Travis G, Mar 4, 2013
    #17
  18. blackx-runner

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

    If you paint the inside you're bound to loose some paint over time, I'd keep that crap out of an aquarium if I were you.
     
    blackx-runner, Mar 4, 2013
    #18
  19. Nik

    Nik Experienced Reefkeeper

    Matt (ninja) used a piece of countertop that looks like sand. It looks reealy good.
     
    Nik, Mar 4, 2013
    #19
  20. Travis G

    Travis G Experienced Reefkeeper


    Got a link??
     
    Travis G, Mar 4, 2013
    #20
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