Bare-bottom vs sandbed in mid-sized reef tanks: pros and cons?

[bardia]

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.

 

[casper75]

Over the last 30+ years I have had bare bottom , shallow sand bed and deep sand bed . Each has their own pros and cons . If your going acro dominant bare bottom all the way . If you’re going mixed then sand . I just redid my 150 and I am wishing I would have went deeper with the sand bed . Reed up on the different types and see which one you think will work the best for your set up . So you know what to expect with either choice you go with . All 3 work and work well

 

[MisterHuma-Huma]

I am building a reef system and have thought about it a lot. my conclusion,for me ,because i like the look of sand,is to create a reef substructure to build the reef on that is higher in the middle and back of the reef area with no sand and creates a natural lagoon type bay with sand in the front. it will be easy to vacuum and clean right in front of the. glass. I like wrases and gobies that need it and the bacteria benefits I feel stabalize the system. I don't want the sand too high on the front of the glass because light shinning through the glass make it green and funky dirty algae on the glass that you cant scrape , but i am building a built in the wall tank and will frame wood higher than the sand level to cut off incoming light so I won't get that grungy algae look on the front glass below sand line. kind of the best of both worlds no sand in mid to back with high flow and sand in front only.

 

[billyocean]

I have acro dominate and have sand. Its purely for looks. Wrasse need a sand also but there are ways around it. In the short term I think sand is better for the biome and you could slowly remove it over time. In the long run BB is easier..just takes longer to mature.