• Skip to main content
AlgaeBarn

AlgaeBarn

Marine Aquariums Made Easy!

  • Sign In
  • Cart
    • Shop See All
      • Ultimate Packs See All
      • Ultimate Refugium Starter
      • Clam Keeper Kits
      • Ultimate Ecopack
      • Mandarin Feeder Kit
      • Hair Algae Killer Kit
      • See All Ultimate Packs
      • Live Foods See All
      • Copepods
        • Ecopods
        • 5280 Pods
        • Galaxy Pods
        • Poseidon's Feast
        • Tisbe Pods
        • Tig Pods
      • Food Combos
        • Ecopods & Phyto
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto
        • Poseidon's & Phyto
        • Tig Pods & Phyto
        • Tisbe Pods & Phyto
      • Phytoplankton
        • Oceanmagik
      • Brine Shrimp
        • Simple Brine
        • Nano Brine Shrimp
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Galaxy Pods 5 Species Copepod Blend

          Galaxy Pods

          $66 – $139
          Shop Now
        • Ecopods 4 Pack Special

          $99
          Shop Now
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto Combo

          $80
          Shop Now
        • 5280 Pods

          $45
          Shop Now
      • Macroalgae See All
      • Clean Macro Series
        • Clean Chaeto
        • Clean Sea Lettuce
        • Clean Green Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Spike Sphere
        • Pom Pom
        • Red Ogo
        • Red Spike Sphere
        • Red Spaghetti
        • Red Mangrove
      • Premium Rare Macro
        • Leafy Ogo
        • Blue Hypnea
        • Dragon's Tongue
        • Thick Ogo
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Clean Chaeto

          $40 – $125
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Clean Sea Lettuce

          $30 – $95
          Shop Now
        • Red Ogo

          $30 – $80
          Shop Now
        • Red Mangrove

          $13
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Fish See All
      • Gobies
        • Green Mandarin
        • Court Jester Goby
        • Watchman Goby
        • White Spotted Goby
      • AngelFish
        • Biota Coral Beauty
        • Maculosus Angel
        • Majestic Angel
        • Swallowtail Angel
      • Tangs
        • Yellow Tang
        • Blue Tang
      • More Species
        • Grammas
        • FileFish
        • Blennies
        • Damsel
        • ClownFish
        • RabbitFish
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Blue Mandarin

          BIOTA Green Mandarin

          $99
          Shop Now
        • ORA Neon Goby

          $35
          Shop Now
        • Captive Bred Yellow Tangs by BIOTA

          BIOTA Yellow Tang

          $239
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Premium Picasso

          $145 – $300
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Invertebrates See All
      • Clams
        • Ora Derasa Clam
        • Squamosa Clam
        • Ora Gigas Clam
        • Ora Maxima Clam
        • Ora Hippopus Clam
      • Shrimp
        • Ora Peppermint Shrimp
        • Harlequin Shrimp
      • Snails
        • Cerith Snails
        • Trochus Snail
        • Nassarius Snails
      • Urchins
        • Ora Tuxedo Urchin
        • Ora Pincushion Urchin
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Animated gif of peppermint shrimp

          Peppermint Shrimp

          $49 – $119
          Shop Now
        • 10 Cerith Snails

          Cerith Snail

          $25 – $39
          Shop Now
        • pincushion urchin lytechinus variegatus reef safe and captive bred by ora for sale at algaebarn

          Pincushion Urchin

          $29 – $55
          Shop Now
        • Gold Maxima Clam Bed

          ORA Maxima Clam

          $80 – $150
          Shop Now
      • Corals See All
      • LPS Corals
        • Biota Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Marshall Island Goniopora
        • ORA Marshall Island Hammer
      • SPS Corals
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Imperial Acropora
        • ORA Turquoise Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Yellow Porites
      • Soft Corals
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool
        • ORA Long Polyp Leather Coral
        • ORA Silver Xenia
        • ORA Pulsing Xenia
      • Frag Packs
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Biota Pearl Bubble Coral

          $65
          Shop Now
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora

          $290
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool

          $65
          Shop Now
      • Additives & Bacteria See All
      • Live Cultures & Bacteria
        • Turbostart 900 Saltwater
        • Aquarium Cycle Kit
        • Coralline Algae
        • PNS Yellosno
        • PNS Probio™
      • Additives & Chemicals
        • Nitrocycle
        • Clarifier
        • Fritz A.C.C.R
        • Fritz RPM Salt
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • Aquarium Supplies See All
      • Fuge Lighting
        • AI Fuge 16HD Light
        • Kessil A360X Fuge Light
        • Kessil H160
        • Kessil H80
        • Chaetomax
      • Biomedia
        • Marinepure Gems
        • Marinepure Rocks
        • Marinepure Plate
        • Marinepure Cubes
        • Marinepure Spheres
      • Foods
        • Dragon Roe
        • Simple Brine
        • Can'O Cyclops
        • Benereef™
        • Fresco Cyclops
      • Rock & Sand
        • Dry Rock
        • Clam Rocks
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • CADE Aquariums See All
      • Reef Series
        • CADE REEF 500 S2
        • CADE REEF 600 S2
        • CADE REEF 900 S2
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2
        • CADE REEF 1500 S2
        • CADE REEF 1800 S2
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2
      • Frag Series
        • CADE Frag 600 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1200 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1500 S2/F
      • Peninsula Series
        • CADE Peninsula 1200 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1800 S2/P
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2

          $7,225
          Shop Now
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P

          $5,525
          Shop Now
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2

          $4,125
          Shop Now
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F

          $3,275
          Shop Now
    • Contests Win Free Aquarium Supplies!
      No Purchase Necessary*
    • Top Deals Huge Savings!
    • AlgaeBarn Heroes Discount for Military,
      First Responders and more!
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shipping
You are here: Home / Beginners Education / Aquarium Design / Deep Sand Bed or Bare Bottom?

Deep Sand Bed or Bare Bottom?

by Kenneth Wingerter

Aquarists–especially reef aquarists–tend to hold to extremes. We can be quite passionate when it comes to our preferences for husbandry techniques, types of lighting, even brands of salt. And no subject has spawned as much debate over the last quarter century than substrate (or lack thereof). 

In one corner, we have the pro-substrate old-schoolers Dr. Walter Addy and Dr. Jean Jaubert (of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the Monaco Aquarium respectively). In the other corner we have another oldtimer, anti-substrate home aquarist Peter Wilkins.

Substrate is a refuge

Adey, a research botanist, had developed and patented the first algal turf scrubbers in the 70s while serving as Director of the Marine Systems Laboratory at the Smithsonian. Technical and practical issues with scrubbers, particularly among home aquarists, led him to develop the “refugium” (a term he coined himself). While a conspicuous feature of his refugia was, of course, a dense bed of macroalgae, another, inextricable, feature of these systems was a deep sand bed. While one expressed aim was to provide additional “refuge” to small crustacea such as copepods, their typically thick depth was meant also to create a large anaerobic zone. This anaerobic zone, at least in theory, would promote the growth of denitrifying bacteria which would further reduce nutrients by converting excess NO3 into nitrogen gas.

Searching deeper

Jaubert suggested that we could further promote denitrification by constructing what he termed a “plenum system” within the substrate. Curiously, this system (popularized in the early 90s) creates an isolated pocket of water beneath a platform, similar to an undergravel filter screen. A thick bed of gravel was placed over the partition. A very fine screen mesh material was placed between this layer and an upper layer of finer sand (the fine screen was intended to prevent disruption of bed by excluding burrowing activity by fish, shrimp, etc.). Despite having patented this system, Jaubert now hesitates to strongly promote its use. To make a long story short, after years of widespread use and experimentation, it didn’t seem to do a damned thing. Not bad, but not good, either. And, while they were intended to create a naturalistic biological condition in the tank, by preventing the important ecological activity of sand burrowing they inadvertently did just the opposite. Plus, some aquarists (including this author) felt that always needing to be extra careful to not disturb the delicate upper layer was like having to dance on eggshells.

Substrate: The minimalistic approach

Wilkins was a very early proponent of the so-called Berlin system of aquarium keeping. It claimed to employ a natural maintenance philosophy, as it delegated biofiltration exclusively to live rock; however, it nevertheless relied very heavily technology such as protein skimmers. While bare-bottom tanks (i.e. a lack of substrate) weren’t necessarily an essential feature of this approach, Berlin system adherents gradually reduced substrate depth until many examples had none at all. Some keepers simply spread a very thin layer of sand over the bottom glass for aesthetic purposes. The idea here was that detritus is extremely harmful and will accumulate within the tiny interstitial spaces between sand grains. Wilkins himself used a truly bare-bottom approach at least during some period of time; he was known to regularly stir the bottom free of settled particulate organic matter with a long rod. 

Through the mud

Just as the Berlin method was really gaining more ground (perhaps coinciding with the increasing interest in SPS-type corals), Leng Sy threw a curveball with his development of a product called Miracle Mud®. This product is (you guessed it) made primarily of mud (though it is supplemented with certain trace elements). These silty substrates were to be used either in a refugium or in a display system called the Ecosystem Aquarium®. They were said to be especially useful in refugia, and in planted refugia particularly, because they seem to release minerals and trace elements known as essential to many macroalgae. Because these sediments pack tightly as they settle, detritus is much less likely to accumulate within them; yet, they provide an excellent habitat for burrowing animals. At least in theory, they support strict anaerobic zones and thus should encourage growth of denitrifying microbes. Early success with Ecosystem Aquarium® set-ups and an emerging interest in keeping mangroves has kept this–and similar–muds on the market. 

Conclusion

Even though we aquarists can exhibit extremist tendencies, it doesn’t mean that we can’t compromise or even find ways to enjoy the best of both worlds. In the case of substrates, this is especially so. The first thing to consider is which type of substrate makes the most sense for the kind of system we wish to build. Especially if we intend to base the system on some specific natural habitat! For example, if you want to build an SPS-dominated system, then a sandy or muddy substrate might not make sense; for one, these corals come from high-energy reef areas where strong current often carry away much fine sediments and leave only heavy rubble behind. Thus, you might use just a thin layer of course gravel over the bottom or even go bare-bottom. HOWEVER, this same system could include a refugium with a deep sand bed. This would allow you to still have cool burrowing animals and maybe even exert extra control over NO3 levels. Want to keep mangroves? Maybe consider mud instead. 

Point is, we have many more substrate materials available to us today. Just look at the huge variety offered by companies such as CaribSea alone! These additional options come just as aquarists are increasingly focusing on “biotopes” and further help to specialize the living environment as to provide the best possible home for specific ecological categories of livestock. The many experiments carried out by, and products/techniques developed by, aquarium giants of the past have proven that there is more than one way to create a beautiful and highly functional reef aquarium!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

CADE Aquariums: Reef vs. Peninsula

Are you in the research and comparison stage of choosing a new system? Has your reef outgrown it's current home? If you’re just in the market to for a

Read More about CADE Aquariums: Reef vs. Peninsula

A Beginner’s Guide: How Reef Fish Balance the Ecosystem

Reef fish, whether they are predators or grazers, play a huge part in maintaining the balance of the coral reef ecosystem. Coral reefs that are healthy

Read More about A Beginner’s Guide: How Reef Fish Balance the Ecosystem

Calcium Supplementation

Stony corals can use elements in the water to build their skeletons. It is a fantastic process that develops exciting structures. However, in an aquarium,

Read More about Calcium Supplementation

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Browse the AlgaeLab by Category

  • Advanced Education
  • Beginners Education
  • CADE Aquariums
  • Captive Bred Fish
  • Clean Up Crew
  • Company News
  • Copepods
  • Corals
  • Freshwater
  • Freshwater Aquariums
  • Intermediate Education
  • Invertebrates
  • Live foods
  • Macroalgae
  • Our Oceans
  • Phytoplankton
  • Product Info
  • Refugium Education
  • Rock and Substrate
  • Saltwater Aquariums
  • Wholesale

Company

  • About Us
  • The AlgaeLab Blog
  • Our Team
  • FAQ

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us
  • AOA Claim Form
  • Press Inquiries
  • Call Us: 772-444-7637

Policies

  • Legendary AOA Guarantee
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Other

  • Store Locator
  • Wholesale & B2B inquired
  • Business Location

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our mission to build a more sustainable aquarium hobby, one tank at a time!

Copyright 2023, AlgaeBarn LLC - Live Copepods and Phytoplankton

0

Your Cart is Empty

adroll_adv_id = "RWFLKG57L5GR7KGYSOEUOK"; adroll_pix_id = "CH2QRUFHXZELLLCMHAB5GI"; adroll_version = "2.0"; adroll_current_page = "other"; adroll_currency = "USD"; adroll_language = "en_US";