Just start the tank BB for the first 2 months. Add a thin layer of sand afterwards. This is my standard startup routine for service accounts and installations. Works great.

Thank You all. I will add an ingredient now that might swing the argument 180 degrees....my new display will be acrylic.....which most likely solidifies my decision to go BB with a ton of cover corals. BB would greatly reduce the potential for scratches me thinks, unless there are some acrylic veterans out there who may offer some pointers on keeping a sand bed in an acrylic tank.

So what was the final outcome on this? Be great to see which way you went and ultimately why. ;)
I just finished setting up a new shallow tank on Sunday and Having the same issue. It's BB right now with painted back and bottom, looks pretty good just never had BB before. lol

sand
 

I prefer coral sand because a nitrifying biofilm growing on a base containing calcium carbonate does not influence alkalinity.

Went BB. Fewer places to hide excess nutrients and less likely to scratch the acrylic


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I tried the BB for a few weeks and just couldn't get used to it. I'm running a gyre so I went with a very thin layer of crushed coral on Sunday. 50lb bag for a 42X22.5 area so not thick at all. lol Brightened up the tank immensely

https://images2.imgbox.com/ab/18/4TTzuQuX_o.jpg