I have an idea about the substrate in my new frag tank.

I am starting a 20 gallon long frag tank. The tank is going to mainly house zoas and a few sps. Some people have been telling me i need a substrate and others no.

I was thinking that I would go barebottom and make it really easy to siphon out any detritus. Now thinking about it sand does help filter the water abd grow beneficial bacteria. Would it be a good idea to maybe get a tupperware container and fill it with sand. That way I could take it out and clean it if need be. Then I wouldnt need a sand bed covering the entire floor of my tank, just inside of a tuperware with the lid off.

Would there be any benefit to doing it this way?

 

I'd be concerned with the possible effect of suddenly removing that much of your bio-filter. Vacuuming the sand bed periodically will keep it stirred, aerated, and clean for as long as you have the tank.

 

It's a frag tank. Go bare-bottom.

 

I suppose you could do the Tupperware idea, though I really don't know how much bacteria that will add.

 

just do a 1-1 1/2 inch sand bed in the entire tank!!

 

My display tank has maybe a 1" or 3/4" sandbed. That's it. The tank's crawling with pods, worms, and bacteria.

 

well like you said it is a frag tank so it should be bare bottom but do u have a sump with rock and stuff??

 

Oh, I guess I should have addressed that...you'll need a fuge or some kind of filtration. A refugium will be the simplest and most economical.

 

sand is a whole different story. all personal preference and what you are trying to achieve but the more i think this is a frag tank. not a tank with frags in it.

dont do any sand in the 20 maybe do a fuge if you want.

 

^My point exactly. Display tank not = frag tank. KISS.