On tanks like yours, where the exterior has such a modern feel with everything being white, sleek, and overall very clean and elegant, I think a bare bottom pairs especially well. I’ve really learned to love a bare bottom reef in recent years, but for the longest time, I absolutely hated the look in a privately owned home aquarium. I started reefing in the early 2000s, so a bare bottom reef just felt very taboo for the longest time. For many years, I saw it as something you’d do in shops or frag/farming setups. Today, it’s my preferred method due to the benefits you mentioned in the video, and also because I just love the modern appearance it brings to a reef aquarium. I think the tanks look awesome, dude! I hope you learn to love the new look, though, since they are yours. If worst comes to worst, you can always go back and add some sand to the displays.
Thanks bud. I definitely see your point and agree with it 100%…it’s just so different to what I’m used to. It would seem that we have had the same progression in terms of starting point…I just hope that my preference will shift like yours did. A bare bottom is definitely the way to go from a strictly logical standpoint :)
Excellent choice on going bare bottom! For flow, I don’t like the idea of putting a gyre and 2 MP40s right next to the overflow as it will be blowing all the detritus away from getting into your sump. The overflow intake area should intentionally be the lowest flow spot of the tank. I would definitely be tempted to put 1 MP40 on the right glass pane at the bottom back of the glass. This keeps detritus pushed toward the overflow and hopefully it would be strong enough to make sure detritus does not settle in the back of the tank as it’s much easier to remove the detritus if it piles up somewhere near the front side of the tank. You might also consider putting an MP40 on that right panel at the bottom front of the glass. A final suggestion: If a Tunze Stream 3 is placed vertically and the deflector is used, it creates a sheet of flow across the top of the water much like a gyre. So you could put 2 of these on the left back panel and if pointing them straight at the front glass is a 0 degree angle, you could adjust them to aim right somewhere in the 45 -60 degree range. That way they can help provide some alternative flow towards the right side MP60 vs everything just flowing to the left. Also the Tunze’s require much less maintenance vs a gyre. Tunze recommends 1x per year cleaning whereas gyres seem to require monthly maintenance and they are an absolute pain to take apart and clean. Tunze Stream 3s are large in tank powerheads, but they can be almost entirely strategically hidden behind rocks.
Good point about the overflow. Honestly didn’t really consider that! Yeah, a mp40 on the right side might actually be a very good idea. That’s what I love about being on RUclips. I can always get awesome feedback like this!!
I tried going bare bottom and only lasted about a month. I just couldn't get use to the look. Like you mentioned, over time it will get covered in Coraline and it will look nicer. I have kept a NERO magnet inside my overflow box for 3 or so years and I've never seen any signs of the magnet swelling or corroding. Cheers!
I’m thinking that I’m going to give it like 6 months and won’t make a decision before the bottom has been covered by coraline. Good to know regarding the Nero!
Nice video. I think it comes down to personal opinion whether you like a sanded or bare bottom personally I think a Sand bed is more aesthetically pleasing, but it is a little more difficult to keep clean. However, if you have the right cleanup crew, it makes it easier. 🙌
I prefer a bare bottom. My aquarium has a black PVC layer on top of the glass bottom which looks way better than the glass. Plus coraline algae and corals grow on it very fast.
Yeah, I wish I would have put down star board or something like that when I started the tank…but at that point I would never had imagined that I would ever go bare bottom lol
I think bare bottom can look better when they are blacked out from either underneath or inside the tank. They can also look amazing if the bottom itself is covered with corals like blastos, mushrooms, acans, montiporas, GSP, etc. Your tanks look amazing by the way, well done man!
I can’t really have most of those kinds of corals in my big DT unfortunately. To much of a risk with the angels and stuff. It’s probably gonna be some more rock and acros hehe
For the wrasse sand pond, you might try a taller tray and a larger/heavier substrate that will have less of a chance of being dislodged from the container.
A taller tray was something I was considering but my worry was that they would have difficulty finding it and it could be a challenge to hide…however I might do some A and B testing :)
You generally don’t see sand when diving on reefs either. I think it’s gonna look better with more base rock and coraline. But I get it. I don’t like the look either.
Sand does not have the bilogical effect as many people think, good Liferock is more important. Never the less, I like my Sandbed even if I have raised PO4 level because of it.
@@viking_reefing Put some plating corals on the base or wait for the coraline algae to start growing on it. It's actually quite pretty if things start to grow on it. Keep the faith I used only like sand you should get over it in time.
That sucks man. I’ve been thinking about that subject for a while. I think I’m going to make a comparison with what the tank I started with nearly 25 years ago as a 13 year old kid cost ten vs now. I certainly have spent a lot of money on my current system but the gear is a lot better as well…so it should be interesting to do a 1:1 comparison.
Depends on what you're going for. Your reef can be as expensive or inexpensive as how u want it to be. The technology we have today is also much more advanced than what we had in the previous decade. I do also believe that hobbbyists are much more willing to overcomplicate things with technology. I still remember the trend of deep sand beds and ultra-low nutrient approaches to reef-keeping. Nowadays folks are having issues with water that is too clean.
@ I wrote the comment seeing the goby on your small tank in the first half of the video. Now you mentioned that at the very end when showing the large tank. My comment was already sent. I remember months ago seeing that goby in the large tank with only a very thin layer of sand. That was already too less for the goby, in my opinion. If you are posting videos on RUclips, you have to accept all the respectull comments, no only the “well done, mate” ones. But yes, keep doing videos, please, I’ve learned from your tanks and will keep watching 👍🏻
@ that was my point: one should hold of on making statements without knowing all the facts ;) I can assure you that I have no problem with valid criticism.
Oh I agree. At least to some extent. I don’t like the look at all (as of now at least). However, I’ve been doing a lot of diving and I wouldn’t say that sand is natural as you hardly ever see it on most reefs. It’s just rock and corals for the most part. Wrasses can be kept without issue with the addition of a sand box like I put in there.
On tanks like yours, where the exterior has such a modern feel with everything being white, sleek, and overall very clean and elegant, I think a bare bottom pairs especially well. I’ve really learned to love a bare bottom reef in recent years, but for the longest time, I absolutely hated the look in a privately owned home aquarium. I started reefing in the early 2000s, so a bare bottom reef just felt very taboo for the longest time. For many years, I saw it as something you’d do in shops or frag/farming setups. Today, it’s my preferred method due to the benefits you mentioned in the video, and also because I just love the modern appearance it brings to a reef aquarium. I think the tanks look awesome, dude! I hope you learn to love the new look, though, since they are yours. If worst comes to worst, you can always go back and add some sand to the displays.
Thanks bud. I definitely see your point and agree with it 100%…it’s just so different to what I’m used to.
It would seem that we have had the same progression in terms of starting point…I just hope that my preference will shift like yours did. A bare bottom is definitely the way to go from a strictly logical standpoint :)
I have a bare bottom frag tank and a sand bed for the display. Both take maintenance to look good. Bare bottom sucks scraping the coraline algae.
Haha I want coraline to cover the bottom to get rid of that reflective pane.
Excellent choice on going bare bottom! For flow, I don’t like the idea of putting a gyre and 2 MP40s right next to the overflow as it will be blowing all the detritus away from getting into your sump. The overflow intake area should intentionally be the lowest flow spot of the tank. I would definitely be tempted to put 1 MP40 on the right glass pane at the bottom back of the glass. This keeps detritus pushed toward the overflow and hopefully it would be strong enough to make sure detritus does not settle in the back of the tank as it’s much easier to remove the detritus if it piles up somewhere near the front side of the tank. You might also consider putting an MP40 on that right panel at the bottom front of the glass. A final suggestion: If a Tunze Stream 3 is placed vertically and the deflector is used, it creates a sheet of flow across the top of the water much like a gyre. So you could put 2 of these on the left back panel and if pointing them straight at the front glass is a 0 degree angle, you could adjust them to aim right somewhere in the 45 -60 degree range. That way they can help provide some alternative flow towards the right side MP60 vs everything just flowing to the left. Also the Tunze’s require much less maintenance vs a gyre. Tunze recommends 1x per year cleaning whereas gyres seem to require monthly maintenance and they are an absolute pain to take apart and clean. Tunze Stream 3s are large in tank powerheads, but they can be almost entirely strategically hidden behind rocks.
Good point about the overflow. Honestly didn’t really consider that!
Yeah, a mp40 on the right side might actually be a very good idea. That’s what I love about being on RUclips. I can always get awesome feedback like this!!
I tried going bare bottom and only lasted about a month. I just couldn't get use to the look. Like you mentioned, over time it will get covered in Coraline and it will look nicer. I have kept a NERO magnet inside my overflow box for 3 or so years and I've never seen any signs of the magnet swelling or corroding. Cheers!
I’m thinking that I’m going to give it like 6 months and won’t make a decision before the bottom has been covered by coraline.
Good to know regarding the Nero!
Nice video. I think it comes down to personal opinion whether you like a sanded or bare bottom personally I think a Sand bed is more aesthetically pleasing, but it is a little more difficult to keep clean. However, if you have the right cleanup crew, it makes it easier. 🙌
Sure thing. I don’t like the bare bottom look but from a strictly logical point of view there are basically only benefits to not having sand.
I prefer a bare bottom. My aquarium has a black PVC layer on top of the glass bottom which looks way better than the glass. Plus coraline algae and corals grow on it very fast.
Yeah, I wish I would have put down star board or something like that when I started the tank…but at that point I would never had imagined that I would ever go bare bottom lol
I think bare bottom can look better when they are blacked out from either underneath or inside the tank. They can also look amazing if the bottom itself is covered with corals like blastos, mushrooms, acans, montiporas, GSP, etc. Your tanks look amazing by the way, well done man!
I can’t really have most of those kinds of corals in my big DT unfortunately. To much of a risk with the angels and stuff. It’s probably gonna be some more rock and acros hehe
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too + good parametres 😊
Same to you bud :)
For the wrasse sand pond, you might try a taller tray and a larger/heavier substrate that will have less of a chance of being dislodged from the container.
A taller tray was something I was considering but my worry was that they would have difficulty finding it and it could be a challenge to hide…however I might do some A and B testing :)
Shall you create a video on your experience with peroxide dosing in your larger display tank?
Yeah, at some point I will definitely do that. Once I get over my PTSD of the whole thing haha
Merry Christmas to you all , have a great festive season 🎄🎄🥳🥳
Same to you!
Only way I'd go bare bottom, is if i had a white bottom like the cade aquariums.
In the ocean, you dont see glass bottoms either. 😉
You generally don’t see sand when diving on reefs either. I think it’s gonna look better with more base rock and coraline.
But I get it. I don’t like the look either.
Baserock again
Haha you know it’s gonna be sps ;)
Sand does not have the bilogical effect as many people think, good Liferock is more important. Never the less, I like my Sandbed even if I have raised PO4 level because of it.
Send that way. Yeah, I like it as well and will probably go back to sand at some point
Idk man you could never convince me to go bare bottom lol
Hahaha for almost 2,5 decades I thought the aame
I actually like bare bottom and would only do a tank that way now
Interesting. Like I said I only see benefits with a bare bottom but sand looks so much better…hopefully I’ll get used to it haha
@@viking_reefing Put some plating corals on the base or wait for the coraline algae to start growing on it. It's actually quite pretty if things start to grow on it. Keep the faith I used only like sand you should get over it in time.
@@khiburgess5848 yeah, my plan is to add more rock and have acros growing on the bottom as well
That Poor Goby
Did you watch the video? I specifically stated that I will be getting it out lol
Been in the hobby for 16 years, finally I have been outpriced now, it’s just to expensive
That sucks man. I’ve been thinking about that subject for a while. I think I’m going to make a comparison with what the tank I started with nearly 25 years ago as a 13 year old kid cost ten vs now.
I certainly have spent a lot of money on my current system but the gear is a lot better as well…so it should be interesting to do a 1:1 comparison.
Depends on what you're going for. Your reef can be as expensive or inexpensive as how u want it to be. The technology we have today is also much more advanced than what we had in the previous decade. I do also believe that hobbbyists are much more willing to overcomplicate things with technology. I still remember the trend of deep sand beds and ultra-low nutrient approaches to reef-keeping. Nowadays folks are having issues with water that is too clean.
@@viking_reefing and when you come to sell it’s depreciated faster than a Citroen !!
God jul!
Tackar!!!
Are you having a Sand Shifting Goby in a bare bottom tank??? Poor animal!😢
Did you even watch the video? I specifically stated that I will be getting it out lol
@ I wrote the comment seeing the goby on your small tank in the first half of the video. Now you mentioned that at the very end when showing the large tank. My comment was already sent. I remember months ago seeing that goby in the large tank with only a very thin layer of sand. That was already too less for the goby, in my opinion. If you are posting videos on RUclips, you have to accept all the respectull comments, no only the “well done, mate” ones.
But yes, keep doing videos, please, I’ve learned from your tanks and will keep watching 👍🏻
@ that was my point: one should hold of on making statements without knowing all the facts ;)
I can assure you that I have no problem with valid criticism.
With all do respect Bare Bottoms look so ugly..The ocean is not bare bottom.. nowhere for gobies or other fish (wrasses) to hide
Oh I agree. At least to some extent. I don’t like the look at all (as of now at least). However, I’ve been doing a lot of diving and I wouldn’t say that sand is natural as you hardly ever see it on most reefs. It’s just rock and corals for the most part.
Wrasses can be kept without issue with the addition of a sand box like I put in there.
He isn’t disputing any of that. Some people have to go bare bottom to get rid of a lot of maintenance an of those struggling with cyano.