Bare Bottom or DSB?

[Barfly]

I know the question has been debated at length and I have read most everything on this forum about the subject. For the most part, the discussions are a couple of years old and mostly talk about converting a tank to bare bottom from a DSB and not just starting out bare bottom.

Here are some of my concerns...

Will a RDSB make up for not having a DSB in the DT?

Can I set up a DSB in the fuge area of my sump?

Do people still use UV sterilizers on bare bottom tanks? And, Do you feel that they are necessary?

Is there more or less maintenance with bare bottom?


I just can't figure out if I really want to go BB. Skimming and water flow will not be a problem.

 

[thegrun]

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes they use them, but they are not necessary or in my opinion desirable.
4. More if you want to keep it spotlessly clean; I prefer the natural look of sand.

 

[hoffy02]

I dont know of any "bare bottom" Oceans... I think the natural look of sand is much more appealing... Just my .02

 

[discocarp]

1. Partially. More surface area and more organism diversity is much better, but people have success with rdsb's too.
2. yes, see answer #1
3. Some do, most don't. I personally think they are pointless or even detrimental on a main tank.
4. IMO BB is more frequent, but smaller and quicker maintenence. Overall I think they end up similar over their lifetimes, and most good husbandry practices are identical for both methods.

Personally I wouldn't run a RDSB or a standard fuge on a BB tank other than possibly a BB chaeto area.

(I've run both methods for extended periods)

 

[davidtsx]

I like the DSB, because of the natural look.

 

[discocarp]

Heh, with so many DSB advocates in this thread, let me just say that I really enjoyed the look of my bare bottom tank. I really enjoy the methodology too.

I like DSB's just fine too, and have one now, but the primary reason I changed from BB to DSB is because I didn't like my 30" high tank and wanted to be able to reach the bottom easier. If not for that, I would have stayed BB.

 

[Barfly]

Alright, looks aside...

I understand no UV and have a better understanding of the normal maintenance. Thanks for all the replies.

I'm still a little bit confused if I want to go BB.

I was thinking that a RDSB would be a good thing to have in a bare bottom tank. Is my thinking correct?

I was also thinking that having my fuge with a 4"-6" DSB and chaeto would also be a good thing.

Why would these not be a good thing for going BB?

 

[discocarp]

Alright, looks aside...

I understand no UV and have a better understanding of the normal maintenance. Thanks for all the replies.

I'm still a little bit confused if I want to go BB.

I was thinking that a RDSB would be a good thing to have in a bare bottom tank. Is my thinking correct?

I was also thinking that having my fuge with a 4"-6" DSB and chaeto would also be a good thing.

Why would these not be a good thing for going BB?

Some people use them and have success. My personal opinion is that they are just a place to trap detritus. The goal of BB is to get as much detritus to the skimmer as you possibly can and siphon out the rest whenever you see it. Just don't ever let it break down as best you are able. Refugiums and RDSBs are just places it will collect imo. The exception would be a chaeto ball in a BB area with high flow. You could grow the chaeto while still keeping the bottom detritus free.

 

[Barfly]

I'm still not getting it!:spin2:

What is the difference between running a RDSB with a BB DT, and a DSB in the DT? The only difference that I can tell is that I will be able to have a much higher flow rate in the BB DT.

I run a RDSB under the DT in the sump area that would resemble a DSB in the DT. I could add snails and crabs to the RDSB and make it just like it would be if it were in the tank. The ONLY difference that I see is that the DSB would be located outside the DT.
What am i missing or not understanding?

 

[discocarp]

You can certainly do this if you want. My point was just that, imo, you are partially defeating the purpose of a BB tank. The entire methodology is about getting detritus out of the system before it rots (by skimming or siphoning). The entire point of a DSB is to process detritus by letting it rot and be biologically cycled. The methods are in direct opposition.

That said, plenty of people run systems that are neither pure DSB nor pure BB. There is nothing "wrong" with it.

 

[Mounda]

I'm still not getting it!:spin2:

What is the difference between running a RDSB with a BB DT, and a DSB in the DT? The only difference that I can tell is that I will be able to have a much higher flow rate in the BB DT.

I run a RDSB under the DT in the sump area that would resemble a DSB in the DT. I could add snails and crabs to the RDSB and make it just like it would be if it were in the tank. The ONLY difference that I see is that the DSB would be located outside the DT.
What am i missing or not understanding?

When feeding your fish (DT) the food particles and detritus can accumulate in the DSB making it harder to clean. A DSB in general does require some particles to settle on it for it to function but you don't want too much buildup. A DSB after a while may clump and lose it's function as a DSB, it could release the trapped toxins and heavy metals into your tank if you decide to remove it however a RDSB setup in your fuge area can be separated from your DT at any time for maintenance. You must add critters to stir the RDSB wherever you decide to place it, without critters you will get a clump of sand and a dysfunctional DSB/RDSB.

 

[JimmyK]

I do not think one is easier than the other. As stated above both require proper maitenance to be successful. One advantage of a RDSB is that if you are having problems it can be taken off-line without having to teardown your display. I agre that A RDSB and a BB contradict each other. I have seen many succesful tanks run this way however. I have trided both and have had teh most success with a BB. I had a DSB and a RDSB. I have a tendency to overfeed and a BB works best for me. I miss watching the life in a DSB but my SPS grow/look best in my BB.

 

[wcoast]

I've tried going BB and didn't really like the look... It was tough to keep clean, and you don't realize how much white sand actually reflects light back up and around the tank. This is also why I prefer white sand to black, etc. Makes a huge difference in my opinion.

 

[Barfly]

I think I'm starting to understand a little better. I'm thinking that my setup will give me the best of 2 worlds. Assuming I regularly siphon out the DT, I believe that the RDSB will give me the benefits of having sand in the system (calcium for one). I can either do a RDSB in a bucket with no light, or put a 4"-6" deep sand bed in an extra tank in the sump area with crabs, snails, and other sand sifting creatures.

So I guess my plan is a mix of the two, but more importantly, will it work and what are the potential pitfalls?

 

[lordofthereef]

I went through the barebottom versus sand bed choice myself. It came down to two factors. Barebottom allows for tighter monitoring of nutrient levels. If you see detritus, it can be gone as soon as you want it to be. The sand bed has the potential to lock in nutrients that you frankly wouldn't even know about as you can't see it. There is also the issue of a sandstorm from super high flow tanks, such as some acro dominated tanks. Often times once you get 50x+ turnover in the display tank there is nothing you can do to keep the sand from getting kicked up to some degree.

 

[Dun Properly]

I love the natural look of sand too much to go BB. I also like having animals that use the sand as they would in the wild, such as my goby and wrasse.

 

[hoffy02]

Also.. to clarify... Sand in the disply does not have to be DEEP.. it can be 1-2" and pose no problems or cleaning hassle... And then you can run a RDSB as well..

 

[discocarp]

It can certainly work barfly. Plenty of people running something similar successfully. Try to skim before you get to the dsb, if possible. If not, don't worry about it.

 

[NYDiesel]

Im going with one 40b 1" sand bed and a 40b bb right next to it.get the best of both worlds and see which works better

 

[Mounda]

Bare bottoms are for breeding discus !

A small layer of sand 1" will look nice and will not have an anoxic area to allow anaerobic bacteria to colonize. Your gobies and sandsifting critters will do a great job keeping the sand in check.