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Bare Bottom Fish Tank - Bare Bottom Benefits
Last updated on November 17th, 2023
The Case for No Substrate
Bare bottom fish tanks are a talking point among saltwater fish tank owners. Many of the aquarists that keep bare bottom fish tanks do so to keep the parameters more stable for coral. This can benefit the fish as well! Let's look at why you may keep a bare bottom fish tank.
Benefits of a Bare Bottom Fish Tank
1. Allows Increased Water Flow
By not having any sand, bare bottom fish tanks allow you to have significantly more flow. You can have powerheads at or near the bottom of the aquarium. You can also keep a higher flow without stirring up sand. This increase in water flow can help the health and growth of your SPS corals.
2. Easier to Clean
Without worrying about sand, the bare bottom fish tank makes cleaning a breeze! You can siphon the detritus right off the bottom without needing to worry about disturbing the sand bed. You can see any cleanup crew members and the fish waste. This helps you minimize the missed detritus.
3. Visible Dead Zones
Bare bottom fish tanks let you see where waste builds up. Making dead zones visible so you can add flow if needed.
4. Less Cleanup Crew Needed
Since there is no sand, you won't need to worry about sand sifting cleanup crew members. Some of these critters die in the sand and decay. Leading to a potential buildup of ammonia or nitrate. With a bare bottom fish tank, you won't need to worry about this, making the long term success of your aquarium more likely.
5. May Reduce Ammonia and Nitrate Spikes
Have you ever seen coral or fish die shortly after disturbing the sand bed? Accidentally drop a rock, stir the sand, move the tank, anything really. This is likely due to a short but sudden spike in ammonia and/or nitrate. With no sand bed to disturb, a bare bottom fish tank solves this risk for you!
Concerns of Bare Bottom Fish Tanks
1. Beneficial Bacteria
Beneficial bacteria, or biological filtration, requires a significant amount of surface area to thrive. Often, this is provided by both the sand and live rock. Without a sand bed, bare bottom fish tanks offer limited limited surface area for beneficial bacteria. This can easily be solved with a Brightwell Aquatics Xport BIO Brick or bio balls that add surface area for beneficial bacteria. They can go right in the sump or refugium. If you have a refugium, you likely won't need to worry about this at all.
2. Burrowing Fish
Some fish, such as certain species of wrasse and gobies, are known for burrowing in the sand. Though not all of these fish need the sand, they prefer it as it is part of their natural habitat. There is an easy solution! A small plastic container filled with sand can be placed in a lower flow area in the bare bottom fish tank. Providing a location for these fish to sleep.
3. Appearance
I get it, the sand looks really nice! I agree! One thing to consider though is that coraline algae and encrusting corals can grow on the bottom glass. Making a beautiful, but different appearance for your bare bottom fish tank.
Conclusion
Though you may need to add additional biological filtration, the bare bottom fish tank benefits strongly outweigh any risks. This is why well known hobbyist, such as Randy from BRS and Travis from Fish of Hex, both talk about how they keep bare bottom tanks. The bare bottom aquarium is easier to maintain, allows better flow, and the bottom glass encrusts with coraline algae giving the appearance of a substrate. Meaning all pros!
Thanks for Choosing Reef Stable
If this article was helpful to you, please share it and help someone else that is looking for the best saltwater aquarium parameter levels for their reef tank!
Recommended Reading:
- Saltwater Aquarium Lighting Guide
- How to Use Micro Bubble Scrubbing in the Reef Aquarium
- Determine Flow Rate in the Reef Tank
- Choosing the Best Reef Tank Salt Mix
About the Author
John Krenzer
John is a Software Engineer with a passion for saltwater aquariums, as well as the founder and president of Reef Stable. He started in the aquarium hobby as a child with a 20 gallon freshwater aquarium. His interest in aquarium life grew and in 2008, John set up his first saltwater aquarium.
Today, John maintains an over 300 gallon reef tank system, consisting of a 120g reef and a 210g reef. These large tanks are contained within the same system, sharing a sump as a means to reduce total maintenance and increase total water volume.
John writes articles for the blog as a means to learn about more reef aquarium topics. These articles act as a reference for the readers as well as himself. John updates these articles frequently to provide additional information or make corrections as new information becomes available.
If you would like to request an article, tank tour article, or to collaborate, let me know via the Contact Me Page!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a bare bottom tank better?
A bare bottom fish tank allows for more water flow and better cleaning. It does reduce the amount of surface area for nitrifying bacteria. As such it depends on the goal you are tying to achieve. If you have a refugium, a bare bottom fish tank allows more flow for coral to grow.
How do you clean a bare bottom fish tank?
With no substrate, cleaning a bare bottom fish tank is as easy as it can be. Simply siphon any debris from the bottom of the tank with no worries of disturbing bacteria colonies.
Is gravel necessary in a fish tank?
No, gravel is not necessary in a fish tank. Bare bottom fish tanks can provide the ability for additional flow and easier cleaning if you have enough surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow.
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