New tank should I go DSB or BB?

T

ThomasTibbettsV

I'm starting a 330 gallon(84in x 30in x 30in) tank and was wondering what your opinions were on going deep sand bed or bare bottom... I have done some research and have been leaning towards DSB, however I'm not sure if this is as good of an idea as i think, thoughts?
 
I would personally stay away from a dsb, just because I've had bad experiences with. At one point my sand had flown into huge piles on the end of my tank. Then recently I had a diamond goby that would cloud up the tank and throw sand all over the rock and corals. If anything I would go with a very shallow sand bed, may even crushed coral.
 
Are your only two choices DSB or BB? If so, I guess I'd suggest BB because DSBs can be beneficial in theory but I've read too many stories of people who have had bad experiences.

But I'm with Txmade -- a shallow sand bed is (imo) far more aesthetically pleasing than BB, and a lot of helpful critters can grow in there. I think my pistol shrimp would be bored out of his mind if he didn't have sand to move around all day.
 
There are many successful tanks running BB, SSB, DSB or Plenum. Aesthetically pleasing, the SSB would be my choice pending on what your are trying to keep. My current and previous tanks run a Plenum.
 
Yeah that is why I was trying to get your guys opinions, i thought DSB would be good but then i have been reading so many not so good stories with them. What is plenum have not even come across that when i was researching which one to do? haha
 
Have you read Ron Shimeks articles on it yet? If not take a look at his website. http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html. The most common issue with a deep and bed is people who leave it alone. You need to add stuff to it often to keep it healthy. I do it about once a year on my sand bed.

A shallow sand bed can be a lot more aesthetically pleasing than bare bottom IMO, and you can siphon it if you ever thought it was getting dirty without issue. I would not go crushed coral ever because it will trap detritus badly if you do not clean it very regularly.

As for bare bottom, it can be used very successfully but I really like all the creatures a sand bed compliments. My conchs and cucumbers and spaghetti worms etc are very interesting to watch. Not to mention the fish that need (prefer) it like gobies or wrasses.
 
I have a big tank and went dsb; i do have 2 gobys that do all kinds of mess lol... but that is the fun of it IMO; plus nothing that can't be fixed by one of those plastic utensils to clean the glass... I just put it back where it was and here they go the gobys again.

As a recommendation if you go dsb make sure you attach your live rock; I drilled my LR and made sure to place it before the sand because other wise as the goby dig the sand your LR will collapse.

I also heard from people that it may raise the phosphate levels mine has not done that at all and have had it for 2 years; I also have noticed that fish are less stressed with sand than watching themselves in the bottom mirror .

I did pink Fiji on mine both fine and almost crushed coral; 3 parts of fine went first then crushed coral at the top. Hope this helps!
 
Thanks after reading some more articles i have decided that i am going to give DSB a try! I have the inches to give on the bottom and i think it will do more good than harm.
 
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