Bare bottom reef?

[coachV]

After struggling with nitrate for almost 3 years, I’m taking down the reef, removing the gravel I have. I chose a coarse gravel because I liked the look but didn’t realize how much it was going to trap detritus.

do I’m thinking of going care bottom instead of sand. Any suggestions? Any recommendations? I figure I can always add sand afterwards if I don’t like the experience.
Thank you.

 

[Luke_L]

I ran bare bottom for a while, found a huge difference in nitrates and phosphates, but if I remember correctly my alk wasnt too stable... eventually I couldn't handle the bare bottom any longer...

 

[Rookie]

What about a compromise? Egg crate on bottom, place rocks in, put in just enough sand to cover the egg crate out front?

 

[Luigi]

What about a compromise? Egg crate on bottom, place rocks in, put in just enough sand to cover the egg crate out front?

I ran DSB for years, then eggcrates. like you mention above..
Ran bare bottom and now sugar size sand and I have to say that
eggcrate and rocks. they still will trap detritus .. bare bottom is the cleanest one...but after awhile get bored ..I have to say that I love sugar sand ..i have to keep the powerhead. at medium speed or sand. goes left and right

 

[Philip]

I went bare bottom after years of sand, it’s just too difficult to keep clean with rocks and coral getting in the way so I switched to bare bottom, kind of.
Went with white marine board, siliconed in place, then sanded the board to create more surface area for bacteria. Been happy with the result so far, snails love keeping it clean and can have wave makers closer to the bottom which gave me better movement at all levels and keeps it relatively clean.
Issue one - I had the remove my mechanical filtration and rely more on the skimmer, so in my case, the water column always has particles in it and mechanical filtration blocks up way faster than it did when I had sand. Removed the roller mat and use socks sometimes, mostly just overflowing tbh.
Issue two - sump really becomes the trap and cleaning is okay but I have a refugium and lots of pods, a good clean wipes out most of that which I hate doing.

 

[Luigi]

thats a good idea..
could you post a few pictures?

 

[Philip]

After being almost poisoned by silicone fumes (wearing a respirator is recommended), I sanded it and filled with water, still has the whitish appearance without the detritus trap that I wanted to avoid. Happy with it.

 

[Luigi]

wow very nice tank. Congrats