bardia
New Member
Hi everyone,
I’m planning a 75-gallon mixed reef build and am torn between running a bare-bottom tank or using a shallow sandbed. I’ve seen some incredible bare-bottom systems with insane flow and ease of detritus removal, but I also love the natural look of a white sandbed and the biodiversity it supports.
For those of you with tanks in the 60‑90 gallon range, what made you choose one approach over the other? Have you noticed differences in coral health, nutrient control, or maintenance workload? Did you regret going bare-bottom or wish you had ditched the sand sooner?
I’m looking for real-world experiences to help make this decision.
I’m planning a 75-gallon mixed reef build and am torn between running a bare-bottom tank or using a shallow sandbed. I’ve seen some incredible bare-bottom systems with insane flow and ease of detritus removal, but I also love the natural look of a white sandbed and the biodiversity it supports.
For those of you with tanks in the 60‑90 gallon range, what made you choose one approach over the other? Have you noticed differences in coral health, nutrient control, or maintenance workload? Did you regret going bare-bottom or wish you had ditched the sand sooner?
I’m looking for real-world experiences to help make this decision.
