Has Anyone Tried a "Rubble Bottom?"
- Thread starter algaeguy
- Start date
Whaledriver
New member
If the rubble is large enough junk wont collect and nitrates should not be a problem.
You could just put 2 powerheads on the inlets to the undergravel plate. One would be small to keep it areobic. The other would run an hour or two a day and be larger to surge out all the silt and junk.
When you talk to someone about this idea just dont use the word "undergravel". The word just brings up the stone age of saltwater
You could just put 2 powerheads on the inlets to the undergravel plate. One would be small to keep it areobic. The other would run an hour or two a day and be larger to surge out all the silt and junk.
When you talk to someone about this idea just dont use the word "undergravel". The word just brings up the stone age of saltwater
algaeguy
Over-The-Top- Reef Geek
I've noticed some interesting things about my rubble bottom so far (it's been expanding slowly every week as I accumulate more appropriate pieces). First is that there really has been no accumulation of detritus in the gaps in the rubble. Second has been the remarkable growth of some "cryptic" organisms, such as sponges. Another cool thing that I have found is that some little "bits and pieces" of SPS frags and zooanthid polyps that may have broken off through my own carelessness have fallen into the rubble area and have began to encrust! I think that I have really strong flow down there, and have actually decided to secure some frags deliberately down there, similar to just_dave.
Finally, the best thing I've noticed is that my nitrate and phosphate are still at undetectable levels almost 6 months into this! I really think that it's all about husbandry, flow and a really good skimmer!
Scott
Finally, the best thing I've noticed is that my nitrate and phosphate are still at undetectable levels almost 6 months into this! I really think that it's all about husbandry, flow and a really good skimmer!
Scott
Whaledriver
New member
This might be a great idea for a grow out tank with a shelf system. Stuff ( little "bits and pieces" of SPS frags and zooanthid polyps) can collect on the rocks and can then be moved to larger rocks for grow out.
algaeguy
Over-The-Top- Reef Geek
EXACTLY!
In fact, I've seen this type of set up at a number of different coral propagation facilities. Not only does it make it easier to remove corals to give/trade with other hobbyists, but it looks pretty darned cool, too!
I'm looking forward to this rubble bottom expanding and filling out.
Although I didn't do this- the ideas for the UGF on the bottom are very interesting and make lots of sense!
Scott
In fact, I've seen this type of set up at a number of different coral propagation facilities. Not only does it make it easier to remove corals to give/trade with other hobbyists, but it looks pretty darned cool, too!
I'm looking forward to this rubble bottom expanding and filling out.
Although I didn't do this- the ideas for the UGF on the bottom are very interesting and make lots of sense!
Scott
Whaledriver
New member
?golf ball size?
Mike O'Brien
New member
Here is a shot of my 10 gallon bare bottom rubble zone tank, it is dedicated to a mandarin. It really can be an effective in tank refugium for pod's.
Mike O'Brien said:Here is a shot of my 10 gallon bare bottom rubble zone tank, it is dedicated to a mandarin. It really can be an effective in tank refugium for pod's.
I gotta tell you.......after seeing your tank and algaeguy, I am so tempted to go UGF/reverse flow and full rubble floor with a few showpiece of LR. I am really liking the look.........I've seen rubble zones when snorkeling and the tanks look like what I've seen........ and with a high reverse flow I think there will be little to no problems with nitrate, phosphate and consequentially little or no algae......man this is tough.:hmm4:
Mike O'Brien
New member
Thank's guy's. The fish is happily fed. There are plenty of different pod's in there, and I use a sponge prefilter in there as well to increase the surface area for them.
Mike O'Brien
New member
It's just the sponge, pod's live in it. Did I say I did 70% WC's a week. What are nitrates?
aurorafish
New member
I basically have had a 90 gallon rubble bottom for the last 3 months since I am cooking most of my rocks to go barebottom. I have all the rocks up about 3" on eggcrate with a couple mag pumps underneath for flow. I actually get more compliments now than before, I think mostly because the corals and fish dominate the tank. So far my tank has been very stable and have not had to scrape the glass much. My mandarin needs to go on a diet.
andycook
Shai Dorsai!
What size rubble pieces are typically used? The rubble size used in most of the tanks in this thread seem to be on the small side, under 1".
My idea for my 180 is to use pieces 1"-6", like Mike O'Brian's tank except the pieces should be proportional to a 180g rather than a 10g.
My idea for my 180 is to use pieces 1"-6", like Mike O'Brian's tank except the pieces should be proportional to a 180g rather than a 10g.
algaeguy
Over-The-Top- Reef Geek
Hi andycook:
I think that your idea for rubble sizing is right on. I think it is driven as much by aesthetics as it would be for maintenance. What I have found with my system is that the rock is rather loosely placed on the bottom, so there are really no areas that accumulate detritus. Essentially, the rubble bottom that I am using is a bare-bottom system, I suppose. Hence my thoughts about running lots of flow in the system.
The UGF ideas that have been proposed in this forum sound fantastic. I'd love to see what kinds of things reefers are doing along those lines!
I found that it is quite easy to get realtively inexpensive slab rock and "bust it up" with a soft mallet to meet your own size requirements.
Last night, I was at the house of a local reefer/friend who has a rubble bottom similar to mine in his 350gal, and the tank/effect is stunning. He has all kinds of Zooanthids, Blastomussa, Faviids, etc throughout his rubble bottom, and the sheer diversity of life is amazing!
He has a very large population of foraging fishes, like Mandarins, blennies, gobies, Centropyge Angels, Leopard Wrasses, etc. All are thriving, and the colors are spectacular.
Again, I think that the "rubble bottom" idea is really a neat concept. Hardly rocket science, but just another way to run a cool reef tank!
If I had to do it all over again, I think that I would have ran my system "fishless" for a few months, while innoculating the system with cultures of amphipods from a source like IPSF, and really letting the system acheive maximum biological diversity before stocking with fish and corals...Would take a lot of patience- but how cool would that be?
Scott
I think that your idea for rubble sizing is right on. I think it is driven as much by aesthetics as it would be for maintenance. What I have found with my system is that the rock is rather loosely placed on the bottom, so there are really no areas that accumulate detritus. Essentially, the rubble bottom that I am using is a bare-bottom system, I suppose. Hence my thoughts about running lots of flow in the system.
The UGF ideas that have been proposed in this forum sound fantastic. I'd love to see what kinds of things reefers are doing along those lines!
I found that it is quite easy to get realtively inexpensive slab rock and "bust it up" with a soft mallet to meet your own size requirements.
Last night, I was at the house of a local reefer/friend who has a rubble bottom similar to mine in his 350gal, and the tank/effect is stunning. He has all kinds of Zooanthids, Blastomussa, Faviids, etc throughout his rubble bottom, and the sheer diversity of life is amazing!
He has a very large population of foraging fishes, like Mandarins, blennies, gobies, Centropyge Angels, Leopard Wrasses, etc. All are thriving, and the colors are spectacular.
Again, I think that the "rubble bottom" idea is really a neat concept. Hardly rocket science, but just another way to run a cool reef tank!
If I had to do it all over again, I think that I would have ran my system "fishless" for a few months, while innoculating the system with cultures of amphipods from a source like IPSF, and really letting the system acheive maximum biological diversity before stocking with fish and corals...Would take a lot of patience- but how cool would that be?
Scott
