Deep Sand Bed or Bare bottom?

G

guitareefs

Premium Member
What are the pros and cons of the following:

DSB

Barebottom

I've noticed a few people doing barebottoms with SPS tanks. Any relation? Thanks.

Jeff
 
A DSB is really best for new to the hobby, as it is part of your natural filtration. And I'm still running a tank with a DSB all these years later because I don't like the look of a barebottom tank.

DSBs denitrify the water. The rock can sit on the sand or be in the sand. Detritus can collect, but the microfauna in the sand help decrease its volume as they consume some of it. If there is an extended power outage, DSBs suck up the oxygen quickly, so it is important to have a back up plan to provide circulation.

Barebottom tanks allow for more flow. Rock needs to be placed on something like starboard (HDPE material like cutting board) to keep it from shifting and it helps avoid breaking the bottom panel of glass. Barebottom tanks don't help with filtration, and require the hobbyist to regularly siphon out detritus because it is an eyesore and adds to nitrate & phosphate issues.
 
With a sump/fuge, you get your water flow strength from your return pump? Is that right?

And I like the DSB look. I don't care much for the barebottom look, but I was willing to sacrafice my pleasure for the health of my SPS tank. But if SPS can have a DSB, I'll go the DSB route in the display. I thought about the DSB in the fuge only, but I'll keep it in the display.

And I still keep sand in my fuge?
 
No, you don't want all your flow from the return pump. The job of the return pump is to push water back up to the display tank from the sump. Those that have used larger pumps to generate tons of flow often complain of microubbles in the display tank. Slower flow solves that.

A DSB in the display and a 1" sand bed in the refugium is what I've been doing for years.
 
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