eidillitih
Premium Member
Textbook huh? exactly which one is this so I could read up on this...thanks in advance.
BB tanks and fuge
- Thread starter timisseasick
- Start date
Textbook huh? exactly which one is this so I could read up on this...thanks in advance.
dascharisma
New member
My tank is textbook bb. What do you want to know?
Brad
eidillitih
Premium Member
no I want read an actual textbook on how to do BB. I have a BB with all the bell and whistles you have stated on your current tank. I just need to read the book people are talking about when they say textbook. I've read all the threads so don't point me to another person guide to BB.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
Huh?
We were asked how we ran our tanks, and why. Are we not supposed to explain how/why we run it as we do?
Yes. As far as I've seen in a year and half, it can be done without a refugium or remote DSB.
Not to say it can't be done with these ... but IMO it's adding more complexity than is necessary, and is adding the potential for issues down the road.
As far as I run my BB, I try to avoid large bacterial filters as I have not had a problem with nutrient reduction while running without these. And that bacterial population, while reducing Nitrogen, still keeps the Phosphate in the system in bacterial biomass... thus many folks desires to avoid this.
Is it possible to run with these remove filters? Probably, but that doesn't mean they're necessary.
eidillitih
Premium Member
This is not my thread so I'm done with that. I just gave the guy an idea on how my tank was set-up.
happy reefing
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
Hope your tank thrives
npaden
New member
I am curious why everyone thinks a refugium has to have macro algae in it? By definition isn't a refugium a place where things can grow unmolested without predation?
I think even for people with BB tanks a remote refugium with maybe some rubble would be a good place for amphipods and other critters to thrive without predation. I have a high flow area in my old sump that is BB where all kinds of sponges, feather dusters and other cryptic filter feeders have popped up and I feel they are beneficial to my tank. It is under my stand in darkness so there isn't any algae at all in it.
I have no doubt that a BB tank will run fine without a refugium, but I've always enjoyed seeing the life in the refugium and think that it might be beneficial even to a BB tank.
FWIW, Nathan
I think even for people with BB tanks a remote refugium with maybe some rubble would be a good place for amphipods and other critters to thrive without predation. I have a high flow area in my old sump that is BB where all kinds of sponges, feather dusters and other cryptic filter feeders have popped up and I feel they are beneficial to my tank. It is under my stand in darkness so there isn't any algae at all in it.
I have no doubt that a BB tank will run fine without a refugium, but I've always enjoyed seeing the life in the refugium and think that it might be beneficial even to a BB tank.
FWIW, Nathan
Joboo
Member
One of the things I love about this hobby is that there are so many different ways to create a success environment for your inhabitants. It is very easy to take a concept such as BB and tweak it to make it your own. In the end we are all trying to get to the same place so lets remember this as we continue our discussions.
eidillitih
Premium Member
:beer:
Couple hints on the remote sand bed:
- use the right sand
- take care of it properly
Otherwise you'll spend a night doing what I did last night. Yuck!
But the good thing about the remote sand bed was that I just turned a valve and that was that. None of the nasty brown water ended up in my tank and the fish and corals didn't know that I drained the fuge.
I'm going to set up the fuge again, but it's going to be BB without any rock. Going to try tumbling gracillaria to feed my tang. At one point, I had great success growing gracillaria but then other algaes like calpura, hair algae, and bubble algae killed it off.
- use the right sand
- take care of it properly
Otherwise you'll spend a night doing what I did last night. Yuck!
But the good thing about the remote sand bed was that I just turned a valve and that was that. None of the nasty brown water ended up in my tank and the fish and corals didn't know that I drained the fuge.
I'm going to set up the fuge again, but it's going to be BB without any rock. Going to try tumbling gracillaria to feed my tang. At one point, I had great success growing gracillaria but then other algaes like calpura, hair algae, and bubble algae killed it off.
NorthernCF
Premium Member
npaden is on the mark there.
You may find your BB with a super skimmer makes the water too nutrient "poor"... even for SPS. In which case you may want to add some cheato (which will grow! but perhaps not so fast
). For a softy system you may want to get a slow flow zone to collect some crud. You may even want some ....yucky sand... though I can't imagin why...
rubble in darkness is a pod haven...
Lots of options for a BB tank fuge. If you want to keep it clean just make sure it is removable and or suspended from the bottom.
GL
You may find your BB with a super skimmer makes the water too nutrient "poor"... even for SPS. In which case you may want to add some cheato (which will grow! but perhaps not so fast
). For a softy system you may want to get a slow flow zone to collect some crud. You may even want some ....yucky sand... though I can't imagin why... rubble in darkness is a pod haven...
Lots of options for a BB tank fuge. If you want to keep it clean just make sure it is removable and or suspended from the bottom.
GL
asnatlas
New member
npaden and NorthernCF, I am with you... I am in the process of setting up my 600gal that will be BB (faux SB) and I was thinking about adding a ref with a DSB in a removable tray(s) so that it could be replaced when / if needed... I am mostly going to have LPS and softies with some clams and SPS... The main reason for a ref was PODS, I want PODS to thrive and feed the display... I also wanted to grow algae if able to feed the fish... My 2" drain will be going to go to my BK400 and to the ref (being filter with a sock) to keep the larger cud out of the DSB...
I guess I could keep this same setup just don't add the DSB ?? I could try to grow algae and if I can't then just remove the light and have a low flow area with LR to help out on filtration and have a place for PODS to grow and multiply ??
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
NorthernCF .... I just prefer to feed more.
The sheer amount of food produced by the refugium - unless like npaden's which I believe is larger than the display - is it really that much?
I'm not saying it's zero ... but feel that it's easier to regulate my daily feedings if I have a nutrient problem vs. improve the health of a DSB/fuge. Just my opinion ... doesn't have to be yours
Then again, I just don't want another tank in the living room, too :lol: I certainly don't mind needing to feed regularly.
However, if just for sheer extra water volume, an additional tank on the system [even if 100% empty] I tend to view as beneficial.
The sheer amount of food produced by the refugium - unless like npaden's which I believe is larger than the display - is it really that much?
I'm not saying it's zero ... but feel that it's easier to regulate my daily feedings if I have a nutrient problem vs. improve the health of a DSB/fuge. Just my opinion ... doesn't have to be yours
Then again, I just don't want another tank in the living room, too :lol: I certainly don't mind needing to feed regularly.
However, if just for sheer extra water volume, an additional tank on the system [even if 100% empty] I tend to view as beneficial.
NorthernCF
Premium Member
Feeding more is another option too
As has been said in any type of system thread: the first question is what am I growing. To that you tweak your system.
This thread is BB and fuge; and I think a fuge is always useful. As Mark points out, it can merely be to increase your water capacity (and an emergency tank/ bag floating tank... or anything else you might use an empty separated container for).
Another good point here is the size of your fuge. A small one may not be useful to use as a fuge/filter, as it could be working against your goals. An extra chamber is certianly worth being a non-filter/fuge. Of course if to do this you have to put the unit infront of the picture of your mother-in-law, it is not worth the risk to your health!
I have rather large "fuges" and I prefer to put lots of LR in the so I can have less LR in the display. I too do not like to grow anything with light. Though I do have a frag tank on RDL for more even oxigen... you could call the frag tank a fuge as well
I am really interested in trying out sponge/clam fuge/filters. Unfortunately I am still unclear where you can get the restaurant clams that are suitable for 77 F water. Not sure what sponges are the best for this either, though the yellow ones that hitchike on fiji are stunning!
As has been said in any type of system thread: the first question is what am I growing. To that you tweak your system.
This thread is BB and fuge; and I think a fuge is always useful. As Mark points out, it can merely be to increase your water capacity (and an emergency tank/ bag floating tank... or anything else you might use an empty separated container for).
Another good point here is the size of your fuge. A small one may not be useful to use as a fuge/filter, as it could be working against your goals. An extra chamber is certianly worth being a non-filter/fuge. Of course if to do this you have to put the unit infront of the picture of your mother-in-law, it is not worth the risk to your health!
I have rather large "fuges" and I prefer to put lots of LR in the so I can have less LR in the display. I too do not like to grow anything with light. Though I do have a frag tank on RDL for more even oxigen... you could call the frag tank a fuge as well
I am really interested in trying out sponge/clam fuge/filters. Unfortunately I am still unclear where you can get the restaurant clams that are suitable for 77 F water. Not sure what sponges are the best for this either, though the yellow ones that hitchike on fiji are stunning!
The Reefer91
New member
I think another benfit to a refugium is that at night, carbon dioxide is released, so if you have the fuge light on at night, it will help control pH due to the fact that the organisisms in the fuge will be taking the carbon dioxide. correct me if i'm wrong
I went bb with remote sand bed with chaeto. The chaeto is getting smaller (on reverse lighting from tank to help ph) but the fuge is producing lots of pods. As the chaeto dissappears I won't replace it with anything but I do like what my nitrates have done since installing, 20 ppm befor and none now. JME.
