Reasons not to go bare bottom?

widmer · 04/21/2008, 11:49 AM

I'm about to set up a new reef. Part of me wants to go bare-bottom because I know I'll be moving in just over a year. And I can kind of picture a bare-bottom looking cool when the bottom glass covers with coralline.

So how again would I be restricted if I went bare-bottom? Are there any cool organisms I wouldn't be able to keep that I can't think of right now?

Thanks a bunch...

Toddrtrex · 04/21/2008, 11:52 AM

I went with a shallow sand bed for two reasons, looks and my anemones wouldn't be happy in a BB tank. I have Haddonis ( carpets ) and LTAs.

widmer · 04/21/2008, 12:06 PM

Hey thanks for the input. Keep em comin'

tbone28 · 04/21/2008, 12:27 PM

If you like to keep wrasses, you need sand for them

Mattmcf · 04/21/2008, 12:50 PM

I have a bb and my yellow coris wrasse doesn't seem to mind.

Toddrtrex · 04/21/2008, 12:59 PM

Not all wrasses sleep in the sand, my fairy wrasse never has.

kar93 · 04/21/2008, 01:01 PM

It doesn't look natural and SSB are more aesthetically pleasing.

Jeff · 04/21/2008, 01:03 PM

The number one reason (IMO): It just looks dumb

Amoore311 · 04/21/2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

The number one reason (IMO): It just looks dumb

This is my reasoning for keeping a shallow sand bed as well.

The point of BB set up is you can pummel the tank with tons of flow and keep detritus from accumulating on the bottom of the tank. If you don't have intense flow loving corals, then it pretty much defeats the purpose.

natan · 04/21/2008, 01:42 PM

cant see any valid reasom not to go BB. I did, and am happy about it. Detritus is super-easy to remove, no need for strong flow (which is good in my case), looks fime to me. In fact i am in the pricess of tialing the bottom with zoo frags on thin paces of tial, with the goal of it being covered eventually.

sherm71tank · 04/21/2008, 01:59 PM

If you don't have proper flow AND proper filtration (large skimmer) then you'll have problems with it. A sand bed offers you a "buffer" that isn't there with BB. If I were only going to have the tank set up for a year I would use sand. BTW, I have a 90 gallon BB tank.

burton14e7 · 04/21/2008, 02:53 PM

Sand sucks to move. Some wrasses and gobies will be out of the picture. And any inverts like conches.

sherm71tank · 04/21/2008, 03:06 PM

I wouldn't reuse the sand at all.

widmer · 04/21/2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff
The number one reason (IMO): It just looks dumb

For a long time I absolutely thought this was true. But I think that once the coralline establishes against the glass on the bottom it still gives you that nice feeling of having a foundation. But then again...coralline growth is unpredictable so it would be kind of dumb if I went BB and then just had glass to show for it...

widmer · 04/21/2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by natan
In fact i am in the pricess of tialing the bottom with zoo frags on thin paces of tial, with the goal of it being covered eventually.

That sounds like a lot of fun, kind of like a lawn. Maybe you want to make sure to use some "grout" per se so that they don't grow over the sides of the tile and attach to the glass?

widmer · 04/21/2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sherm71tank
I wouldn't reuse the sand at all.

Oh I don't see why not to reuse it, especially if it wasn't a DSB. It could just be rinsed and "cured" a little bit if necessary when it's going to be reused.

SeanT · 04/21/2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kar93
It doesn't look natural and SSB are more aesthetically pleasing.

I have to disagree, I go snorkeling off the coast of Mexico every year and while there is obviously sand on the ocean floor, I have yet to see it anywhere near the corals on the reefs.
My BB is more pleasing to my eye than my DSB ever was.

sherm71tank · 04/21/2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by widmer
Oh I don't see why not to reuse it, especially if it wasn't a DSB. It could just be rinsed and "cured" a little bit if necessary when it's going to be reused.

Suit yourself. It's an unnecessary risk and not worth the trouble.

Musho3210 · 04/21/2008, 04:13 PM

i would if i could, but i got a pistol shrimp and a goby, otherwise id just put some gsp or zoas on the floor and have them make a bed.

SeanT · 04/21/2008, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Amoore311
The point of BB set up is you can pummel the tank with tons of flow and keep detritus from accumulating on the bottom of the tank. If you don't have intense flow loving corals, then it pretty much defeats the purpose.

This has missed the mark as well.
BB has nothing to do with intense flow loving corals.

Keeping detritus from accumulating is PART of the reason for going BB but not all of it.

The number one reason for implementing a BB system is that YOU, the reefkeeper and not a pile of sand, have the greatest CONTROL of the nutrients in your system.

If I don't siphon the pile of accumulating detritus in my system for 3-4 weeks (a 5 minute job BTW) you can tell, my water doesn't look super polished.
Literally 30 minutes after I do siphon it though, it is like looking through glass,

In a properly setup BB system (and yes, properly IMO means that you "cook" your rock first) there really are no algae problems as you have limited the amount of phosphate.

A larger skimmer and skimming "wet" helps to remove organics BEFORE they break down.

I could go on and on and it appears I have lol.

I like to control my tank so I went BB, you can run a successful DSB as well.

Keep this in mind though, doesn't it take at least 6 months for a DSB to become alive and a part of your filtration system to its fullest?

seacreatures · 04/21/2008, 04:20 PM

have to disagree, I go snorkeling off the coast of Mexico every year and while there is obviously sand on the ocean floor, I have yet to see it anywhere near the corals on the reefs.
My BB is more pleasing to my eye than my DSB ever was.

__________________

get certified learn to dive and you will see sand all around the coral

04/21/2008, 11:49 AM	#1
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	Reasons not to go bare bottom? I'm about to set up a new reef. Part of me wants to go bare-bottom because I know I'll be moving in just over a year. And I can kind of picture a bare-bottom looking cool when the bottom glass covers with coralline. So how again would I be restricted if I went bare-bottom? Are there any cool organisms I wouldn't be able to keep that I can't think of right now? Thanks a bunch...

04/21/2008, 11:52 AM	#2
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I went with a shallow sand bed for two reasons, looks and my anemones wouldn't be happy in a BB tank. I have Haddonis ( carpets ) and LTAs. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

04/21/2008, 12:59 PM	#6
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Not all wrasses sleep in the sand, my fairy wrasse never has. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

04/21/2008, 01:03 PM	#8
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	The number one reason (IMO): It just looks dumb __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

04/21/2008, 01:42 PM	#10
natan Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 356	cant see any valid reasom not to go BB. I did, and am happy about it. Detritus is super-easy to remove, no need for strong flow (which is good in my case), looks fime to me. In fact i am in the pricess of tialing the bottom with zoo frags on thin paces of tial, with the goal of it being covered eventually. __________________ "Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm." Sir Winston Churchill

04/21/2008, 12:06 PM	#3
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	Hey thanks for the input. Keep em comin'

04/21/2008, 12:27 PM	#4
tbone28 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 6,503	If you like to keep wrasses, you need sand for them

04/21/2008, 12:50 PM	#5
Mattmcf Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando Posts: 299	I have a bb and my yellow coris wrasse doesn't seem to mind.

04/21/2008, 01:01 PM	#7
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	It doesn't look natural and SSB are more aesthetically pleasing.

04/21/2008, 01:59 PM	#11
sherm71tank Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,670	If you don't have proper flow AND proper filtration (large skimmer) then you'll have problems with it. A sand bed offers you a "buffer" that isn't there with BB. If I were only going to have the tank set up for a year I would use sand. BTW, I have a 90 gallon BB tank.

04/21/2008, 02:53 PM	#12
burton14e7 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Keller, Tx Posts: 2,009	Sand sucks to move. Some wrasses and gobies will be out of the picture. And any inverts like conches. __________________ Go Lakers! Current Tank Info: Currently awaiting relapse.

04/21/2008, 03:06 PM	#13
sherm71tank Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,670	I wouldn't reuse the sand at all.

04/21/2008, 04:13 PM	#19
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	i would if i could, but i got a pistol shrimp and a goby, otherwise id just put some gsp or zoas on the floor and have them make a bed. __________________ Ryan

04/21/2008, 04:20 PM	#21
seacreatures Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1	have to disagree, I go snorkeling off the coast of Mexico every year and while there is obviously sand on the ocean floor, I have yet to see it anywhere near the corals on the reefs. My BB is more pleasing to my eye than my DSB ever was. __________________ get certified learn to dive and you will see sand all around the coral