bare bottom

Hans-moleman · 02/20/2006, 04:26 PM

What is the best way to covert to bare bottom? Just put all the rocks and corals in a budget and vacuum out all the sand?

Also, I heard you have to put some kind of mat on the bottom of the tank. Is this true?

Just want to experiment if this will be easier to maintain.

amorpnai · 02/20/2006, 04:39 PM

if you already have sand in ur tank, make sure that you don't vaccuum out all the sand too quickly or the tank may crash. Take out the sand half at a time till your done with all the sand. Depending on how big ur tank is and how much sand you have, it should take about 2 weeks for 100 gallon tank.

Whether or not you have a base board on the bottom doesn't matter... It is up to what you want. If you dose alot of calcium and you have bare bottom, you can have a good coralline growth on the bottom of your tank (that is if you want it).

With good circulation in your tank, top and bottom of the tank, debri build-up should not be too much of a problem. The debri can accumulate in one area where you can easily siphone.

I have a barebottom and i like it.

MiddletonMark · 02/20/2006, 04:41 PM

What do you run for filtration on the tank?
What kind of bioload do you have in there?

Hans-moleman · 02/20/2006, 04:59 PM

I have a 40 gallon tank with about 2'' sandbed. I fought the battle with cyano and now with hair algae. All seems to be growing on the top layer of the sand. I know the sand is not the source, but that maybe a barebottom tank would be easier for me to maintain.

I have various corals with 2 percs, sixline, and a watchman goby.

filtration includes a remora hang on and a cpr fuge trying to grow macro.

would be best to take out the sand part by part?

also, what is this starboard people talk about?

dryice · 02/20/2006, 05:33 PM

starboard is the stuff that cuting boards are made from.

Hans-moleman · 02/20/2006, 06:08 PM

any benefits with using the starboard?

MiddletonMark · 02/20/2006, 06:13 PM

If a rock falls, it's a little less likely to smash the bottom. Nothing's impossible, though.

Also, the white reflective nature [until coralline covered] reflects light up, increasing overall light in the tank for a while.

It also is a little less `slippery' than glass when aquascaping.

That said, my 58 is truly bare bottom [no starboard]. If I upgrade and still want BB, then I'll do starboard [bigger rocks, higher up].

For my setup, livestock - I'm happy with it. I'm also really happy with the DSB tub I have in the basement ... just depends what you're doing with it, what equipment you have [BB requires well tweaked export].

02/20/2006, 04:26 PM	#1
Hans-moleman Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: SGV Posts: 120	bare bottom What is the best way to covert to bare bottom? Just put all the rocks and corals in a budget and vacuum out all the sand? Also, I heard you have to put some kind of mat on the bottom of the tank. Is this true? Just want to experiment if this will be easier to maintain.

02/20/2006, 04:41 PM	#3
MiddletonMark Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 14,441	What do you run for filtration on the tank? What kind of bioload do you have in there? __________________ read a lot, think for yourself Current Tank Info: 58g stony reef [250w10k, 250w 20k MH, 2x vho act, Octopus150, 6060 + 6000] ; 60g mixed tub

02/20/2006, 06:13 PM	#7
MiddletonMark Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 14,441	If a rock falls, it's a little less likely to smash the bottom. Nothing's impossible, though. Also, the white reflective nature [until coralline covered] reflects light up, increasing overall light in the tank for a while. It also is a little less `slippery' than glass when aquascaping. That said, my 58 is truly bare bottom [no starboard]. If I upgrade and still want BB, then I'll do starboard [bigger rocks, higher up]. For my setup, livestock - I'm happy with it. I'm also really happy with the DSB tub I have in the basement ... just depends what you're doing with it, what equipment you have [BB requires well tweaked export]. __________________ read a lot, think for yourself Current Tank Info: 58g stony reef [250w10k, 250w 20k MH, 2x vho act, Octopus150, 6060 + 6000] ; 60g mixed tub

02/20/2006, 04:39 PM	#2
amorpnai Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Lincoln Park, NJ Posts: 185	if you already have sand in ur tank, make sure that you don't vaccuum out all the sand too quickly or the tank may crash. Take out the sand half at a time till your done with all the sand. Depending on how big ur tank is and how much sand you have, it should take about 2 weeks for 100 gallon tank. Whether or not you have a base board on the bottom doesn't matter... It is up to what you want. If you dose alot of calcium and you have bare bottom, you can have a good coralline growth on the bottom of your tank (that is if you want it). With good circulation in your tank, top and bottom of the tank, debri build-up should not be too much of a problem. The debri can accumulate in one area where you can easily siphone. I have a barebottom and i like it.

02/20/2006, 04:59 PM	#4
Hans-moleman Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: SGV Posts: 120	I have a 40 gallon tank with about 2'' sandbed. I fought the battle with cyano and now with hair algae. All seems to be growing on the top layer of the sand. I know the sand is not the source, but that maybe a barebottom tank would be easier for me to maintain. I have various corals with 2 percs, sixline, and a watchman goby. filtration includes a remora hang on and a cpr fuge trying to grow macro. would be best to take out the sand part by part? also, what is this starboard people talk about?

02/20/2006, 05:33 PM	#5
dryice Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: labrador Posts: 51	starboard is the stuff that cuting boards are made from.

02/20/2006, 06:08 PM	#6
Hans-moleman Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: SGV Posts: 120	any benefits with using the starboard?