Has Anyone Tried a "Rubble Bottom?"

[algaeguy]

Great to hear about everyone's long-term success. I don't think it can be stated often enough that the production of natural food sources (ie; copepods, mysids) and foraging areas is a huge collateral benefit of these systems. For those of you that are keeping lots of corals in rubble-bottom systems, have you noticed any difference in their growth/overall health as compared to other systems that you've maintained them in?

Seems like the common denominator in these systems is the use of lots of good flow and a population of fishes that like to forage (ie; Wrasses and Angelfishes). Keep the information coming!

Scott

 

[miatawnt2b]

one of these days I'll get hold of a seio controller and set a couple high flow stream pumps pointed at the bottom. That should keep the detritus in suspension. For now, I have been using a canister filter filled with floss during my water changes.

-J

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

This thread is awesome. It has taken some time to read but I think it is a must for everyone. I am going to give it a try. I will be moving in a month. I am going to start slowly siphoning out my sand. This will help me for the move anyways. Is there any way to make the dirty sand clean so I can save it for a future RDSB? After the move I will start the tank using the RUGF with about 3"-4" of rubble on top ranging in sizes from 1"-3". I have been looking to do I have been lokking to do something to help create a more natural environment. This will help provide a more constant food source. I have alos had problems keeping my sand clean and white so this should help. Is everyone employing this system drawing their water that is pumped into the rubble from a sump or the display tank? I feel that if it is pulled from the display, when you feed, it will just push some of the food into the rubble. I am thinking of having 2 returns from my sump. One to feed above and one to feed below to make sure there is oxygen for everyone. Any thoughts on this?

As far as coral and fish go, anyone have good suggestions for a 29 gal? I have a couple of montis, zoos, rics, and leathers. I only have one true perc and one royal gramma.

 

[ryan_paskadi]

I have a deep sand bed and lots of rubble in my tank....no ditritus buildup. I dont siphon or do anything to it. The rubble areas support lots of bristle worms and maybe they are consuming all the ditritus. I also have good flow so maybe that is the solution. I am low on pods though I never see them anymore.

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

Is there something eating all of your pods?

 

[ryan_paskadi]

Not sure what would be. I have one pretty majano anemone that I let hang out at the bottom becuase he has never caused any trouble. Besides him I don't know what would be eating them.

 

[nox99]

Books with RZ topics

Books with RZ topics

Nilsen and Fossa's Reef Secrets is where I got my idea for a RZ. They wanted a group of schooling damsels, a tang, and some shrimp gobies in the tank. A large 2' long boulder was to be placed off center and crushed LR and rubble for substrate with smaller rocks next to and around the boulder. Thought this was ingenius!!:bounce2:

 

[khaosinc]

I'm still in process of doing the switch as I am pulling out a DSB to do it. I'm leaving about 1" or so of sand in there for all the worms and whatever else lives down there to do what they do. So far I really like the look. I went "baseball to softball" sized rock from Marco.

 

[kjonulak]

So no updates in 8 years?

 

[DougSupreme]

I'm intrigued by this. I am building a tank that is 48" wide and 42" deep and had planned on having a 'U' shaped rock formation surrounded by sand. I may now do rubble outside of the formation, with sand in the center. I probably won't be able to find a UGF to fit, so I may make a 1/2" pipe plenum system to flush the rubble bed weekly (or more often).

Any things I may need to consider that maybe I'm not?


I think it would make for a good look.

 

[DougSupreme]

any updates?
[MENTION=10770]algaeguy[/MENTION]
[MENTION=89743]lillibirdy[/MENTION]
[MENTION=1907]~ChrisB~[/MENTION]