Advantages of BB with SPS

binaryterror

binaryterror

New member
I have been researching like crazy to find the answer to this question. But I am not a supposting member, so I cant search... which makes my quest all the easier. But I am just wondering why SPS keepers dont use a sand bed. Also, do you need starboard for a BB tank, or can you just have the glass bottom.

I am basically just asking what is so good about BB and whats so bad about a sand bed. Thanks!
 
Thank you. I will be reading that, but the pics dont work. So does anyone have any pics of there BB tanks? I am curious to see them now...

Also, I know it says in the thread about what starboard does, but is it really needed? It is exspensive ($150+ for my tank). So if I dont need it, then I will just keep the glass bottom.
 
P.S. You may need to set aside a day or so to read that one too, depending on how fast you read.

Whiskey
 
Starboard is not necessary. Some believe it is to protect the bottom of the tank from rock slides. Not a concern IMO, unless you are going to use really heavy rocks.
 
Well from thecuttingboardcompany.com, I did a price estimate. It is a 240g cube (48"x48"x25"). Thanks for the links, and replies!
 
good luck in the choice you make. i used starboard only becuase i did not like the look of the glass bottom. Sand is a very nice addition but it needs to be maintand for it to be affective. In any case they both have there pros and cons read read read.
 
As everyone here has stated, research the best method for YOURSELF. Remember, there are many ways to create a reef tank, just make sure its what YOU want and not what's "cool" at the moment. :D

Both methods work, each has its problems, but in the end your the one who has to look at the tank.
 
I went bare bottom and the problem I had was after 6 months my corals became very light colored. Some people like this look but I don't think it looks healthy. The nutrient export of BB set up right with lots of flow keeping particulate matter suspended and then skimmed out works really well , maybe too well.


"Not all SPS keepers dont use sand"

Are you a programmer by chance?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7302298#post7302298 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slug


"Not all SPS keepers dont use sand"

Are you a programmer by chance?
Click to expand...

Why yes, I am. :rollface:
 
I used a black starboard in my tank. I really liked the way it looked, and it was good to know that a rockslide wouldn't break the glass.

One of the advantages of the BB (the main one for me) is the ability to have a very high flow, that you wouldn't be able to have with a sand bed.
 
Right now, I've got 2 maximods (1500+ gph each), 2 Seio 820(1640 gph total) and a 750gph return pump in my 58 with sandbed.

thats 93x+, so you can have plenty of flow in a sandbed tank. You just can't point the pumps straight down like you can in a BB (which I really wish I could)


My next tank will probbaly be BB with a little area somewhere to hold a bucket of sand for my leapord wrasses.




EDIT: Forgot, theres a DIY eductor on the return, so I'm probably pushing 100x overall.
 
I had cutting board cut to size at my local glass shop. Much cheaper. It has been in the tank over two years with no problems.
 
Well, I have heard alot of good about BB tanks, but I still dont understand why sand is so bad. Is it because they cause algea or something?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7304156#post7304156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by binaryterror
Well, I have heard alot of good about BB tanks, but I still dont understand why sand is so bad. Is it because they cause algea or something?
Click to expand...

The basic problem is that detritus can settle on sand. The sand processes and absorbs the detritus. This builds up. After a while, things that upset your sandbed can release huge amounts of nutrients.

Detritus tends to settle heavily at the sand/rock interface, and theres really no way to get a lot of flow (to move the detritus from that point) without making a mess of the sand. In a BB tank, you just point a powerhead at it, and the detritus is in suspension.

People will say DSB start to leach nutrients back out after a while. This is not true. What actually happens is that they just get filled up, and stop processing nutrients. Generally, at this point, the tank doesnt have enough nutrient removal mechanisms to make up for the nutrients that the sandbed is no longer absorbing, so they start having nutrient/algae issues.
 
Wow... thanks alot for that post. That basically just answered all of my questions. Now, will a really small sandbed be as bad as a DSB? Like 1" or so? Because I really like the look of sand, but if it only going to do bad, then I will go BB (I think BB is ugly). Thanks
 
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