Sand is nice, but you have to have alot of it or very little. The less you have the less problems with dead spots and things decaying on you. On the other hand, if you have a really thick sand bed, it well help support alot of worms, snails and living things that will help keep the sand clean.
On the other hand, some ppl just decide to have no sand. If the tank is just to grow corals, i would go that way, bc sand can also host things like ich and other parasites. As for me, sand makes it look more like a reef, and to support all the life that a reef needs, i have a thick sand bed.
question of interest
in Forum > Questions & Answers
Okay there is a big debate going on in my household. In aquaruims is it better to have sand or no sand on the bottom? Now if you dont have sand certainly you would have a refug. with sand and rocks etc...
Can I have some opinions on how people feel about this? I have always used sand but more and more I see others getting aways from it and frankly I kinda like the idea, but i would still have live rock just a bare bottom.
Okay shoot, tell me opinions.........................
once again, i agree with my partner in question answering! i swear we think exactly the same when it comes to reef stuff! lol! maxima and reefsurgeon to the rescue!!! lol! anyway, retang, i have a refugium AND a deep sand bed, and it works VERY well together. LOTS of nice critters keeping things clean. for JUST growing out corals, like in a frag tank, i'd say no sand (like maxima said), but for a nice reef tank, again, like maxima said, it just looks funny without a nice thick sand bed...and in a refugium, i recommend Fiji Mud...just my personal preference. it's done wonders for my tank. i love it. if it wasn't so expensive, i wonder how a deep MUD bed would be. now THERE's a debate! what do you think?
I have a deep mud bed in my fuge, but i would really love to make my whole tank like that. My next big tank will have that. I know someone that did that in Titusville and his tank is insane, but he has alot of money.
Yep all that they just said! Ive got a grip of small snails, worms, lil' feather dusters etc..., in the fuge I carry only a 1" base of rock and that supports/ roots all the plant and pod life. Deep sand bed for sure. the only problem i have ever had with a DSB is when/ if you ever move the tank and have to deal with all the waste in that bottom layer. I dont think I will ever change from having a DSB. But let it be noted each time I moved my tank I never had a problem restablishing even when completely turning over the sand bed. Good skimming is the key for me. Its just not a reef without the sand. Refugium with deep sand bed for sure.
that would be AWESOME! if i had the money, i would totally do it. i would probably never use sand again!I have a deep mud bed in my fuge, but i would really love to make my whole tank like that. My next big tank will have that. I know someone that did that in Titusville and his tank is insane, but he has alot of money.
-maxima
