BB or DSB, I am Confused

[Fl_Seagull]

OK...which way is the tide turning?

Ten years ago Bare Bottom (BB) was in and now DSB are widely promoted.

Except the voice of disent cries out BB.

I am looking to set up a 120 gal fish/LPS reef tank. If I go with Stay away form Jawfishs, is there any reason to go with a DSB?

 

[Arch01]

Why does it have to be one or the other? Not that I have any experience with either, but I think people worry about it too much. They both have their benefits and their uses. Do some reading and try to figure out what would work best for you. Probably not much help, but that's my thought on it.

Alex
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[ChrisRD]

I say use what you want. IME, I've never had a problem with nitrates in any system that had plenty of liverock, good circulation and a good skimmer with/without a sandbed (deep or otherwise) so IMO they're optional.

FWIW, personally I wouldn't bother with one again. I tried one for a couple of years and didn't really see any benefit. I also felt I was more limited on circulation options because of the fine sand. I like BB or a little bit of medium-fine sand because the tank is easier to clean that way and there's no super fine sand to blow around if you want to crank up the flow. Also, I don't like the look of a DSB.

That said, I don't feel there's any "right" way as I've seen lots of beautiful tanks with DSBs that have been up for years and years.

JME/JMO...

 

[PeeJ]

I agree with Arch....

I mean BB and DSB aren't the only choices out there....

 

[Anonymous]

I like a couple of inches of sand myself. I'm using Southdown, but something a heir bigger would blow around a lot less.

 

[Fl_Seagull]

I appreciate the input. Since I have only a 20” deep tank, I did not want to just fill it with sand .

It would make sense that LR should be able to handle the nitrates so the argument for DSB seemed a little off. Clearly if I want fishes that need a deep bed, than DSB would be better justified. However, the arguments that DSB are Phosphate sinks would tend to indicate that LR is just as likely to be a phosphate sink. Make me wonder if the reefs go through a similar cycle of growth and decline that forest go through.

 

[Arch01]

Good call, maybe we should all go burn our tanks down
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[Jolieve]

Or possibly, just maintain the sandbeds by replacing a portion of the sand every so often... or...

Who knows?

I think, you should go with what you like and what is going to make your life easier. Plenty of live rock will help matters.

J.