Contemplating and Planning for a 75g-->125g Transfer

nosferatu51 · 09/01/2007, 12:40 PM

I was hoping there was an "Official Barebottom Thread" I could read since I'm sure this kind of question has been asked a million times, but I couldn't find one with the search tool.
I'm moving into a 125 in the next week or 2 when I move to my new condo. I plan to transfer everything from my 75g into the new 125g and essentially let it amount to a very large water change. I'm trying to decide whether I want to go barebottom or not though and if I did, what I should consider.
My rock structure is going to be 2 towers with an arch between them in the middle of the tank to allow for lots of swimming room. Think of the Petronas Towers as a model I guess.... as long as I can get my current rock and the few extra pieces I'm adding to do what I want.
Plumbing wise it will have 4 Koralia 4s (1 in each corner) at about 45deg angles off the corners towards the center of the tank. I will also have dual Oceanrunner 3500 pumps (900gph I think) returning to the 2 overflow returns from the sump and fuge. One will run through the chiller and output at the water's surface, perhaps split into 2 outputs. The other I'm planning on running down to the bottom of the tank. If I go BB, then I would split it into 4 in the middle of the tank and have the 4 outputs shoot across the floor of the tank. If I went with sand I was contemplating having them run under the sand and then shooting upwards in a couple spots (like rising currents).
Although I do find sand prettier, I hate how I have to worry about blowing it around all the time. I'm also wondering whether it might be the source of some of the occasional oddities that occur in my tank even though the water tests perfectly. I would have sand in the fuge (a gasless fuge setup where the bottom is like a plenum), I just can't decide on whether I would have it in the main tank.
Any input on any of these ideas, alterations, etc would be appreciated. I want to make sure I know exactly how I'm setting this up when the time comes.

PS: This is a mixed SPS/LPS and a few softies reef (2 leathers and a rock of bright red shrooms).

nosferatu51 · 09/02/2007, 12:41 PM

Bumpy ride to the top.

09/01/2007, 12:40 PM	#1
nosferatu51 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 362	Contemplating and Planning for a 75g-->125g Transfer I was hoping there was an "Official Barebottom Thread" I could read since I'm sure this kind of question has been asked a million times, but I couldn't find one with the search tool. I'm moving into a 125 in the next week or 2 when I move to my new condo. I plan to transfer everything from my 75g into the new 125g and essentially let it amount to a very large water change. I'm trying to decide whether I want to go barebottom or not though and if I did, what I should consider. My rock structure is going to be 2 towers with an arch between them in the middle of the tank to allow for lots of swimming room. Think of the Petronas Towers as a model I guess.... as long as I can get my current rock and the few extra pieces I'm adding to do what I want. Plumbing wise it will have 4 Koralia 4s (1 in each corner) at about 45deg angles off the corners towards the center of the tank. I will also have dual Oceanrunner 3500 pumps (900gph I think) returning to the 2 overflow returns from the sump and fuge. One will run through the chiller and output at the water's surface, perhaps split into 2 outputs. The other I'm planning on running down to the bottom of the tank. If I go BB, then I would split it into 4 in the middle of the tank and have the 4 outputs shoot across the floor of the tank. If I went with sand I was contemplating having them run under the sand and then shooting upwards in a couple spots (like rising currents). Although I do find sand prettier, I hate how I have to worry about blowing it around all the time. I'm also wondering whether it might be the source of some of the occasional oddities that occur in my tank even though the water tests perfectly. I would have sand in the fuge (a gasless fuge setup where the bottom is like a plenum), I just can't decide on whether I would have it in the main tank. Any input on any of these ideas, alterations, etc would be appreciated. I want to make sure I know exactly how I'm setting this up when the time comes. PS: This is a mixed SPS/LPS and a few softies reef (2 leathers and a rock of bright red shrooms).

09/02/2007, 12:41 PM	#2
nosferatu51 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 362	Bumpy ride to the top.