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NanoReefNoob
03/26/2013, 09:41 PM
What is the diffrence, I am looking into doing a shallow cube, is there a difrence going bare bottom or less then an inch of sand.?

Reefmedic79
03/26/2013, 10:01 PM
With less of an inch of sand it's mostly asthetics. Depends on what you want or like.

thegrun
03/27/2013, 06:39 AM
+1, there are some minor buffering advantages to having sand but it really boils down to personal preferences.

rogermccray
03/27/2013, 08:11 AM
Also there are some fish that require a sandbed.

Patagonia
03/28/2013, 07:36 AM
I prefer going w/ no sand in nano tanks since it's easier to keep them clean. Also, no sand storms.

Deinonych
03/28/2013, 07:40 AM
I personally like the look of a sandy bottom. A bare bottom seems too artificial to me. But again, personal preference.

dkh0331
03/28/2013, 08:49 AM
My bottom has been bare for years.

reeftobe
03/28/2013, 08:59 AM
Sand for me! but just enuf to cover the bottom. I can't get over no sand look yet.
It's really preference.

As noted some fish need sand to sleep like wrasses.

TimeConsumer
03/28/2013, 09:51 AM
Or have GSP grow across your bottom glass like a lawn. I saw a tank like that once and I loved it.

danil
03/28/2013, 12:15 PM
I can't stand this nasty 4-6'' sand belt around my tank in DSB system. I tried it once and I hate it. I really don't understand people sacrificing the look of their aquarium for some 'filtration' benefit. So to answer your question - go with a look. Modern methods of filtration are sufficient enough to keep your aquarium clean with or without DSB, SSB or BB.

saltwater2999
03/28/2013, 01:43 PM
I have sand in my DT and bare bottom in my sump and quarantine tank

coralsnaked
03/28/2013, 01:57 PM
+1, there are some minor buffering advantages to having sand but it really boils down to personal preferences.

Bare bottom and < 1" sand makes about the same difference in buffereing.
None!
It is just for the look and that's all, but is what i would recommend if you use sand, unless you want burrowing critters.

Just use a good medium gradfe aragonite because you will still need to vacuum it regularly and dont want to suck it up