Barebottom

dwhit0102 · 01/27/2006, 10:33 PM

I'm about to start up my new 65g. i have just lost my tank to the sand and i'm going to start my new one barebottom my only concern is keeping the chemicals in check.

Questions;

How do I keep my nitrates in check?

For my filtration will a skimmer thats made for a 125 be good enough?

Are there any concerns with keeping any other chemicals in check?

Any help would be great.

egdevilboy · 01/27/2006, 11:40 PM

Alot of h2o movement to keep particles suspended.

The good thing about BB is you can syphon out all the poop that normally get stuck in the sand.

Run a regular 3-stage filtration.

elephen · 01/28/2006, 12:12 AM

Flow, good husbandry practices, good maintence schedule and a big skimmer. You may or may not want to run a filter sock -- some people recommend it some people don't.

Basically don't let the detrius settle and rot, your nitrates and phosphates will jump up, everything else is gravy.

Your alk demand will go down too once you go BB.

Chaotic Reefer4u · 01/28/2006, 12:53 AM

'BB~ROCK'S'

Pleco420 · 01/28/2006, 01:00 AM

Is BB better for keeping softies (zoos, rics) compared to DSB. I have heard contrary points of view...

javajaws · 01/28/2006, 09:12 AM

Definitely high flow so that the detritus doesn't settle. I'll also add alternating flow to the requirements to keep from lodging detritus into the rock. Frequent basting/blowing off of the rocks helps but is not the most optimal solution.

I'd suggest a filter sock be used as well and changed out every 2-3 days. Its amazing how much crap these things can pull out of the water. I use the 100 micron sized felt-like socks. I have 4 that I rotate in and out of the tank.

A good skimmer running slightly wet is also a must. Doesn't matter so much the brand/size (bigger IS better though)...it really comes down to how you have tuned it up and your maintenance schedule so that it efficiently skims on a constant/regular basis.

I have 0 nitrates (as well as 0 phosphates) in my tank which has been up 5 months. I've even cured/cooked my rock in tank with minimal water changes since the beginning. I think the biggest factor to my success so far is those three things I mentioned above (or course in addition to the BB itself!).

javajaws · 01/28/2006, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pleco420
Is BB better for keeping softies (zoos, rics) compared to DSB. I have heard contrary points of view...

IMO, no. Most softies won't like the higher flow required to keep the BB clean. It can/has been done however...just not sure why you would want to do it unless the softies were just a side show to some acros, etc.

doody · 01/28/2006, 11:32 AM

I'm trying barebottom with softies and LPS right now. I'm finding it to be difficult to do. Like said above the high flow required to keep my bottom clean is bothering my corals. So, I lowered the flow a lil and to much crap sits on the bottom. If you have the time to siphon it up everyday its fine, but I dont have the time. I might re-add a sand bed to this tank.

finneganswake · 01/28/2006, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dwhit0102
i have just lost my tank to the sand

And you know that it was the sand because

Just asking because the consensus from the experts is that the sandbed implosion is an urban legend created by vocal proponents of recycling the now debunked Berlin method.

Tanks crash because of husbandry issues, not the substrate. If you want to go BB, more power to you, just remember, it will not prevent another crash unless you find out what really caused the first one.

raddogz · 01/28/2006, 12:11 PM

Many lps and softies do not like or will not flourish with the higher flow.

I have one leather who could care less for the flow or the extra lighting (it sits under - at the bottom-the mh) I have zoos which don't seem to care one or the other, and a frogspawn and an avelopora who's not picky about the flow either.

01/27/2006, 10:33 PM	#1
dwhit0102 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 269	Barebottom I'm about to start up my new 65g. i have just lost my tank to the sand and i'm going to start my new one barebottom my only concern is keeping the chemicals in check. Questions; How do I keep my nitrates in check? For my filtration will a skimmer thats made for a 125 be good enough? Are there any concerns with keeping any other chemicals in check? Any help would be great.

01/28/2006, 12:53 AM	#4
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	BareBottom 'BB~ROCK'S' __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

01/28/2006, 09:12 AM	#6
javajaws Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 1,620	Definitely high flow so that the detritus doesn't settle. I'll also add alternating flow to the requirements to keep from lodging detritus into the rock. Frequent basting/blowing off of the rocks helps but is not the most optimal solution. I'd suggest a filter sock be used as well and changed out every 2-3 days. Its amazing how much crap these things can pull out of the water. I use the 100 micron sized felt-like socks. I have 4 that I rotate in and out of the tank. A good skimmer running slightly wet is also a must. Doesn't matter so much the brand/size (bigger IS better though)...it really comes down to how you have tuned it up and your maintenance schedule so that it efficiently skims on a constant/regular basis. I have 0 nitrates (as well as 0 phosphates) in my tank which has been up 5 months. I've even cured/cooked my rock in tank with minimal water changes since the beginning. I think the biggest factor to my success so far is those three things I mentioned above (or course in addition to the BB itself!). __________________ Everyone has an opinion. Accept the fact now that someone isn't going to like yours sooner or later. Current Tank Info: 110g in-wall, ATI 8x54w T5, 2xMP40es, SRO XP-2000i, 2-part Ca/Alk, Apex controlled

01/28/2006, 11:32 AM	#8
doody Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: youngstown,Ohio Posts: 1,880	I'm trying barebottom with softies and LPS right now. I'm finding it to be difficult to do. Like said above the high flow required to keep my bottom clean is bothering my corals. So, I lowered the flow a lil and to much crap sits on the bottom. If you have the time to siphon it up everyday its fine, but I dont have the time. I might re-add a sand bed to this tank. __________________ Thanks, Robert Current Tank Info: 29g softie/lps tank, 125 in da worx

01/28/2006, 12:11 PM	#10
raddogz Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bay Area Posts: 3,167	Many lps and softies do not like or will not flourish with the higher flow. I have one leather who could care less for the flow or the extra lighting (it sits under - at the bottom-the mh) I have zoos which don't seem to care one or the other, and a frogspawn and an avelopora who's not picky about the flow either. __________________ Eileen If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style. - Quentin Crisp Current Tank Info: 180g Reef

01/27/2006, 11:40 PM	#2
egdevilboy Moved On Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southern Florida Posts: 620	Alot of h2o movement to keep particles suspended. The good thing about BB is you can syphon out all the poop that normally get stuck in the sand. Run a regular 3-stage filtration.

01/28/2006, 12:12 AM	#3
elephen Moved On Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: kc Posts: 2,763	Flow, good husbandry practices, good maintence schedule and a big skimmer. You may or may not want to run a filter sock -- some people recommend it some people don't. Basically don't let the detrius settle and rot, your nitrates and phosphates will jump up, everything else is gravy. Your alk demand will go down too once you go BB.

01/28/2006, 01:00 AM	#5
Pleco420 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York Posts: 560	Is BB better for keeping softies (zoos, rics) compared to DSB. I have heard contrary points of view...