BB question

[Jasontkd]

Ok, so I currently have a 29 gallon SPS dominant tank with a 2" sand bed. I am going to be upgrading to a 40 gallon very soon, and have briefly been considering BB. I love the way sand looks, and I know that many have had much better results with sand than without. For a long time, my 29 was great. I don't have a good skimmer (mesh modded CSS 220), but for a long time, I was syphoning every week. Anyhow, recently, I have not been syphoning very regularly because my SPS have grown close enough to the glass that I damage them every time I try to clean.

I feed the fish every couple days. I feed my few LPS mysis a couple times a week, and I feed the tank Papone 1-2 a week. Lately, I have noticed some bubble and hair algae. I am not sure if this is due to the sand or not, but regardless, I need to get it under control.

I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on if in my situation it would be better to go BB or sand bed and syphon all the time. I currently have a couple clowns and a manderin dragonet. I will add some wrasses in the future (a little extra info).

I have read so much about the benefits of sand, and have never done BB so I would need a bunch of info pretty quick. If I did go BB, I would probably try to add a RDSB/Fuge at some point, but don't know. Anyhow, Any info is great thanks.

 

[jade2122]

with a bb siphoning is generally a must. you must have alot of flow to keep waste suspended and taken to your sump/skimmer. also a very good skimmer is needed also, if you want to do barebottom you may have to upgrade a few things. I currently have a bb sps tank and wouldn't trade it for sand ever. I love it!

 

[Witch-King]

In my experience I found BB tanks that contain small water volume and employ large skimmers to have a steep learning curve. Its this fine tuning process that can drive a person crazy, trying to find what element or elements are being stripped from the water. Even the photo period and intensity of lights, needed changing with my tank. Eventually I came to grips with it and still have a BB system, but I just feel like its not as forgiving as some sand. My next system will have a Jubert system much like the link below, you may be interested so check it out. I like this persons design because you get a shallow sand bed in front with a deeper style sand bed (jubert system) in back. I will always run a skimmer even with a jubert, the oxygen levels alone are enough to warrant a skimmer in my opinion, (for PH and I’ve seen what happens when you have slightly higher then normal temps with little oxygen or no skimmer (not good)). I think they both have their pros and cons, but it wasn't a walk in the park for me with just a display tank of probably 40 gallons of water total.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/2/aquarium

 

[shred5]

Honestly go barebottom and set up a remote deep sandbed. I do not like bare bottom alone... Like Witch-King said in smaller tanks it is hard to get things fine tuned and I find things swing a little more...

Dave

 

[glxtrix]

I had a 15g BB and I loved it. never had any major issues with it. It was mostly SPS, and had 3 clams. To me, BB comes down to husbandry, if you have the time dedicated to the tank, go BB. If you dont, perhaps sand is in your best interest. Also you need to think about your manderin, pod population will go down slightly if you take the sand out. But there are a few things you can put in the tank to ensure proper population of them ie: rock rubble piles...this lets the pods in and the manderin out. I'm a BB'er for life! Also if you do a remote anything, do a remote cryptic fuge with not sand. Having sand in your system totally negates going BB....at least thats my beliefs...if you take it out because it's trapping crud in the tank, why put it else where?? Crud will find its way there and sit to pollute your tank. Just my suggestions.