I am really leaning to a bare bottom, I would like to get GSP established on the bottom. I have 3/4" acrylic and I'm really thinking about lifting the rock off the bottom. Does anyone have pro or cons with bare bottoms.
And the debate begins..lol.. I entertain the same question also with my last set up. I do really like the sand look so that's why I went with a shallow sand bed. It does help reflect some light back up underneath sps colonies in theory .. How much?, not sure. ..enough to matter, your guess is as good as mine. I haven't noticed a different one way or another. But aside from looks I can see how having no sand makes it so much easier to detritus from building up within the sand and exporting it much easier with adequate flow. Many of beautiful tanks have employed both. I am sure no matter which option you decide to go with it will have the potential to be and amazing system . I am interested to hear others input on this. Best of luck to you.
I am of the same mindset as Jake. I have sand in both my main tank and the wife's puffer cube, but bare bottom in my 20 long frag tank.
I'm debating it mainly to keep the system cleaner. I know I won' be able to have some species of fish but over all I see it just being easier to prevent detritus build up over time.
Either way can work. I like the look of sand as it looks more like a real reef. I also don't think I could deal with looking at coralline algae growing on the bottom. I would advise against GSP on the bottom as it will be hard to control it. I like it on an isolated rock where I can keep it from spreading. I'll have to take a picture of a tank here in Conway of a tank where GSP got away from them. It's epic!
If I go with sand I may still lift the rock off the sand bed. Only reason I like sand is some of the gobies are fun fish to watch.
Hiya, If you want to do gobies, you'll want to set the rock directly on the grass or put it on egg crate. When the gobies dig they will adjust your rock.
I cant the the pictures at the right angle, i built and acrylic stand, but im thinking about setting the rock flat to the glass. I cut the bottom flat and trued it up completly flat with a file. It sets solid to the glass
That is close to the way I want to build mine. Im not looking for a large lift but enough that i can keep water flow under it.