To go BB or not? - Page 2

K' Family Reef · 01/15/2008, 11:50 AM

i am in the same boat as you...
although not considering going bb. prefer the benefits of a dsb (has worked very well for me) and the aesthetics of having a sandbed in the display

have 125 which part of 210 gal system
upgrading to either 240 or 290

the dilemma here was more about
setting up a large(r) reef.. all the LR coral etc etc - then dsb maintanance down the road and/or having to (or choosing) to ever replace it... would also like to be able to gravel vac the sandbed for detritus removal from main display.

decided to go the route of SSB in display and RDSB
but trying to find the space to do it all in becomes the problem now - to be figured out

without a fish room that is

(((or)))

must i build one !!!

(hate these type of decisions)

LockeOak · 01/15/2008, 11:51 AM

A RDSB can be used to gain most of the benefits of a DSB (denitrification, some pH buffering) without most of the hassle (lots of sand filling the tank, etc.).

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...2&goto=newpost

PrangeWay · 01/15/2008, 01:13 PM

I like BB.

b4 I moved I had a cycle of 3 tanks (each set-up for about a year before moving livestock/equipment to next, including 2 Tunze 6000's which keep the flow very high).

It started with a 60gal BB, glass bottom was on a black stand, it sortof "absorbed" the excess light. Easiest tank to keep clean every.

When I upgraded it was 50gal starboard. Looked good for a bit, but even with properly sized and cut starboard, crap got underneath it, I hated this. I think for starboard you'd have to silicone the ends down to totally avoid this

I then updated this tank with a SSB. Worse of the 3 by far, the amount of crap in the sand when I toke the tank down to move across the country was disappointing, even with some 3000gph going in a 50 it was still there...

My tank going up now is glass BB, only this time I first painted the bottom a gloss white (outside bottom of course). It bounces the light back nicely and will be covered with zoos and monti's eventually I'd hope. We'll see if it works the best.

btw the other good option is DSB. I've had luck with these in the 2-3year period, I don't know long-term from first-hand knowledge.

PW

Jetdrvr · 01/15/2008, 01:29 PM

For me DSB is out. My tank now has a 5 yr old 5-6" sand bed an I think I am starting to see the ill effects of it. I have made my decision, I am going BB with the beige colored starboard and will start with a RDSB that I will remove once I get all my rock cooked and the tank stabilized.

joeychitwood · 01/15/2008, 01:34 PM

I have about one inch of sand on the bottom of my tank for esthetic purposes. It looks natural, stays loose and clean and provides enough depth for my Fighting Conch to live happily. I think it is a nice compromise between BB and a DSB.

joeychitwood · 01/15/2008, 01:37 PM

I should add that my current tank with one inch of sand has been much easier to care for than my previous 55 gallon tank with a five inch sandbed. I spend about 1/4 the time doing maintenance compared to the 55, and I attribute this to good MH lighting and a shallow SB. Otherwise, the tanks were fairly identical.

PrangeWay · 01/15/2008, 01:39 PM

silicon the starboard down or detrius will get under it, no matter how tightly or perfectly it fits...

Jetdrvr · 01/15/2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by joeychitwood
I should add that my current tank with one inch of sand has been much easier to care for than my previous 55 gallon tank with a five inch sandbed. I spend about 1/4 the time doing maintenance compared to the 55, and I attribute this to good MH lighting and a shallow SB. Otherwise, the tanks were fairly identical.

How much flow do you have and how do you keep the sand still. For the flow I am planning I don't think I will be able to keep any amount of sand still.

Jetdrvr · 01/15/2008, 01:51 PM

I have heard to silicon it and not to worry about it because a small amount of detritus is no big deal. I will have to give that one some more thought.

Nanz · 01/15/2008, 01:53 PM

Ok.. you guys got me thinking, hehe.

How difficult would it be to go from DSB to SSB? Can I just remove all but 1" of sand and then put everything back in the tank? or do I have to wait for it to cycle before I put everything back?

joeychitwood · 01/15/2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jetdrvr
How much flow do you have and how do you keep the sand still. For the flow I am planning I don't think I will be able to keep any amount of sand still.

I have a Maxi-Jet 1200 driving a Remora skimmer, and the main flow is caused by two Tunze Nano 6025 pumps each modified (from instructions on RC) to put out between 1100-1200 gph. Careful pump aiming has resulted in no sand movement at all. It stays where I have spread it.

Jetdrvr · 01/15/2008, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by joeychitwood
I have a Maxi-Jet 1200 driving a Remora skimmer, and the main flow is caused by two Tunze Nano 6025 pumps each modified (from instructions on RC) to put out between 1100-1200 gph. Careful pump aiming has resulted in no sand movement at all. It stays where I have spread it.

I don't think I will be able to get away with that with the flow I am planning.

Jetdrvr · 01/15/2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nanz
Ok.. you guys got me thinking, hehe.

How difficult would it be to go from DSB to SSB? Can I just remove all but 1" of sand and then put everything back in the tank? or do I have to wait for it to cycle before I put everything back?

How old is your SB? I would be cautious about stirring it up if it is old. You don't know what it could release into your tank. If you want to change over to BB I would read this thread.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=650985

It has great step by step instructions for how to do it. It is what i am going to follow when I change over to my new tank.

joeychitwood · 01/15/2008, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jetdrvr
I don't think I will be able to get away with that with the flow I am planning.

Wouldn't any flow rate sufficient to blow the surface sand of a one inch sand bed around do the same to a deeper sand bed?

sdkohio · 01/15/2008, 03:41 PM

Ok I think I am going with a half inch of CC.

Benefits
-I like the look of some sort of cover
-Heavier than sand which means flow direction isn't as much of a concern
-I can vacuum if needed
-Ph buffer

joeychitwood · 01/15/2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sdkohio
Ok I think I am going with a half inch of CC.

Benefits
-I like the look of some sort of cover
-Heavier than sand which means flow direction isn't as much of a concern
-I can vacuum if needed
-Ph buffer

Check the recent threads on people's experience with crushed coral before you do it.

Jetdrvr · 01/15/2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by joeychitwood
Wouldn't any flow rate sufficient to blow the surface sand of a one inch sand bed around do the same to a deeper sand bed?

Yeah that is why I am going BB!

joeychitwood · 01/15/2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jetdrvr
Yeah that is why I am going BB!

Oh, I get it!

Perhaps I should have re-read the thread title.

01/15/2008, 01:13 PM	#28
PrangeWay Duke of Monte Fisto Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 722	I like BB. b4 I moved I had a cycle of 3 tanks (each set-up for about a year before moving livestock/equipment to next, including 2 Tunze 6000's which keep the flow very high). It started with a 60gal BB, glass bottom was on a black stand, it sortof "absorbed" the excess light. Easiest tank to keep clean every. When I upgraded it was 50gal starboard. Looked good for a bit, but even with properly sized and cut starboard, crap got underneath it, I hated this. I think for starboard you'd have to silicone the ends down to totally avoid this I then updated this tank with a SSB. Worse of the 3 by far, the amount of crap in the sand when I toke the tank down to move across the country was disappointing, even with some 3000gph going in a 50 it was still there... My tank going up now is glass BB, only this time I first painted the bottom a gloss white (outside bottom of course). It bounces the light back nicely and will be covered with zoos and monti's eventually I'd hope. We'll see if it works the best. btw the other good option is DSB. I've had luck with these in the 2-3year period, I don't know long-term from first-hand knowledge. PW __________________ Dumbest Quotes Ever..... "Great color, great growth" closely followed by "all water parameters fine"

01/15/2008, 01:39 PM	#32
PrangeWay Duke of Monte Fisto Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 722	silicon the starboard down or detrius will get under it, no matter how tightly or perfectly it fits... __________________ Dumbest Quotes Ever..... "Great color, great growth" closely followed by "all water parameters fine"

01/15/2008, 01:53 PM	#35
Nanz Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,389	Ok.. you guys got me thinking, hehe. How difficult would it be to go from DSB to SSB? Can I just remove all but 1" of sand and then put everything back in the tank? or do I have to wait for it to cycle before I put everything back? __________________ S.G. = 1.025, Temp = 78.5, pH = 8.00 Ca = 550 ppm, Alk = 176 ppm (9.85 dKH), Mg = 1300 ppm NO3 = 0.97 ppm, PO4 = 0.07 ppm Nuvo 30, Razor Nano LED, Tunze ATO, Tunze 9004 skimmer, Vortec mp10,

01/15/2008, 11:50 AM	#26
K' Family Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,966	i am in the same boat as you... although not considering going bb. prefer the benefits of a dsb (has worked very well for me) and the aesthetics of having a sandbed in the display have 125 which part of 210 gal system upgrading to either 240 or 290 the dilemma here was more about setting up a large(r) reef.. all the LR coral etc etc - then dsb maintanance down the road and/or having to (or choosing) to ever replace it... would also like to be able to gravel vac the sandbed for detritus removal from main display. decided to go the route of SSB in display and RDSB but trying to find the space to do it all in becomes the problem now - to be figured out without a fish room that is (((or))) must i build one !!! (hate these type of decisions)

01/15/2008, 11:51 AM	#27
LockeOak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 839	A RDSB can be used to gain most of the benefits of a DSB (denitrification, some pH buffering) without most of the hassle (lots of sand filling the tank, etc.). http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...2&goto=newpost

01/15/2008, 01:29 PM	#29
Jetdrvr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Howland OH Posts: 445	For me DSB is out. My tank now has a 5 yr old 5-6" sand bed an I think I am starting to see the ill effects of it. I have made my decision, I am going BB with the beige colored starboard and will start with a RDSB that I will remove once I get all my rock cooked and the tank stabilized.

01/15/2008, 01:34 PM	#30
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	I have about one inch of sand on the bottom of my tank for esthetic purposes. It looks natural, stays loose and clean and provides enough depth for my Fighting Conch to live happily. I think it is a nice compromise between BB and a DSB.

01/15/2008, 01:37 PM	#31
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	I should add that my current tank with one inch of sand has been much easier to care for than my previous 55 gallon tank with a five inch sandbed. I spend about 1/4 the time doing maintenance compared to the 55, and I attribute this to good MH lighting and a shallow SB. Otherwise, the tanks were fairly identical.

01/15/2008, 01:51 PM	#34
Jetdrvr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Howland OH Posts: 445	I have heard to silicon it and not to worry about it because a small amount of detritus is no big deal. I will have to give that one some more thought.

01/15/2008, 03:41 PM	#40
sdkohio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: BG, OH Posts: 24	Ok I think I am going with a half inch of CC. Benefits -I like the look of some sort of cover -Heavier than sand which means flow direction isn't as much of a concern -I can vacuum if needed -Ph buffer