Why not stones for bottom of tank?

scottpanek · 08/11/2014, 09:49 AM

Hello, I am meticulously planning my first attempt at a marine tank. I want a acrylic tank but I don't want to do sand because I don't want to create more opportunities for scratches. Could I use stones at the bottom of the tank? I want it to look natural and I'm not sure a bare bottom would achieve that. If I put a thick (4") bed of sand in my sump would I be able to take advantage of having beneficial bacteria live there for added filtration? Thanks in advance!

Xavibear · 08/11/2014, 09:55 AM

Bare bottom would more natural than stones imo.

thegrun · 08/11/2014, 09:59 AM

If you were going to use stones you would want them to be aragonite based rock. Other rock could leach metal and other contaminates into the tank. The other problem I would see is the stones would be likely to trap detritus which would lead to nitrate problems.

scottpanek · 08/11/2014, 10:20 AM

Both excellent points. Would sand in the sump help the overall system filtration?

Sk8r · 08/11/2014, 10:21 AM

Yes. Sand. Rock. Cheatomorpha algae.

RocketEngineer · 08/11/2014, 11:04 AM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2420434&page=2
See post #41

whiteshark · 08/11/2014, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocketEngineer

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2420434&page=2
See post #41

Still going strong

Yes, all three of those MP10s run. I have two on about 50% reef crest and the other one about 25% reef crest.

Coralline is taking hold on the sand, though.

andex23 · 08/11/2014, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiteshark

Still going strong

Yes, all three of those MP10s run. I have two on about 50% reef crest and the other one about 25% reef crest.

Coralline is taking hold on the sand, though.

That was a cool link. I think once the coralline takes over it will be hard to keep it looking like sand. It is essentially a rock at this point. Aside from a vinegar bath every 6 months this may be a short term look.

whiteshark · 08/11/2014, 04:31 PM

Yes but I would still prefer sandy looking coralline than BB or a loose sandbed. I was fully aware going in that it would get covered on coralline and I actually think it will look fine. The upside is NO detritus collects and that was worth it to me.

Timfish · 08/11/2014, 04:40 PM

You could use flat limestone pieces. I use it for shelves all the time in my tanks ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjMFWHC4uBM ). The bottom is going to get covered in algae pretty quick so I'd say it's more an issue of aesthetics. Detritus will collect no matter what you do but if I was to guess what collects and holds the most it would be course gravel not large rocks. And keep in mind not only is fish poop an important food source for corals it's also an important source of calcium and magnesium carbonate ( http://www.pnas.org/content/108/10/3865 ). Here's a video of one of my tanks established in 1997 that has not had any effort to remove any detritus since it was moved 8 years ago, filter is just an empty 75 gallon tank: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AnmQXmE8d0

08/11/2014, 09:49 AM	#1
scottpanek Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 13	Why not stones for bottom of tank? Hello, I am meticulously planning my first attempt at a marine tank. I want a acrylic tank but I don't want to do sand because I don't want to create more opportunities for scratches. Could I use stones at the bottom of the tank? I want it to look natural and I'm not sure a bare bottom would achieve that. If I put a thick (4") bed of sand in my sump would I be able to take advantage of having beneficial bacteria live there for added filtration? Thanks in advance!

08/11/2014, 09:55 AM	#2
Xavibear Crazy Prophet Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 1,008	Bare bottom would more natural than stones imo. __________________ 36g bowfront Current Tank Info: Pair of Occellaris clowns, Royal gramma, Yellow Watchman Goby/Tiger Pistol Shrimp, Blue tuxedo urchin, Fire shrimp, Trochus snails, Cerith snails, Nassarius snails, Ricordea mushroom, Kenya tree, Acan brain & Frogspawn

08/11/2014, 10:21 AM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Yes. Sand. Rock. Cheatomorpha algae. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/11/2014, 11:04 AM	#6
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2420434&page=2 See post #41 __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

08/11/2014, 04:31 PM	#9
whiteshark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 3,024	Yes but I would still prefer sandy looking coralline than BB or a loose sandbed. I was fully aware going in that it would get covered on coralline and I actually think it will look fine. The upside is NO detritus collects and that was worth it to me. __________________ Deep Blue 60 gallon cube: Setup in progress.

08/11/2014, 09:59 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	If you were going to use stones you would want them to be aragonite based rock. Other rock could leach metal and other contaminates into the tank. The other problem I would see is the stones would be likely to trap detritus which would lead to nitrate problems.

08/11/2014, 10:20 AM	#4
scottpanek Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 13	Both excellent points. Would sand in the sump help the overall system filtration?

08/11/2014, 04:40 PM	#10
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	You could use flat limestone pieces. I use it for shelves all the time in my tanks ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjMFWHC4uBM ). The bottom is going to get covered in algae pretty quick so I'd say it's more an issue of aesthetics. Detritus will collect no matter what you do but if I was to guess what collects and holds the most it would be course gravel not large rocks. And keep in mind not only is fish poop an important food source for corals it's also an important source of calcium and magnesium carbonate ( http://www.pnas.org/content/108/10/3865 ). Here's a video of one of my tanks established in 1997 that has not had any effort to remove any detritus since it was moved 8 years ago, filter is just an empty 75 gallon tank: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AnmQXmE8d0 __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek