How are the Faux Bottoms?

[Dolfan]

I'm curious about 3, 6, and 12 month reports on faux bottoms. I'm in the boat and have a 90g at about the 4-5 month term and still having some problems with algea on the bottom that I can't seem to beat.

I howerever made a mistake witht he bottom being left rough using a mix of sand and crused coral with only a light amount og expoxy that doesn't cover the mixture giving it a smooth surface. That surface seems to catch things more and give the algea a better way to grow and attach.

What other experiances are people having with this technique?

 

[Valab]

Following because I'm think of making a faux bottom.

Dolfan, don't snails scour your faux bottom or is the algae a nasty type that snails won't touch?

 

[Dolfan]

I've got some snails that work on the bottom but I've got hair algea growing on some of the areas of the bottom that they don't eat. I have a mix of astreas/nasarious snails, with blue leg hermits working the rock, bottom and tank.

I think I heard cerith snail might help on the bottom.

 

[Dolfan]

I'm curious how much flow people have in this setup as it is much like a starboard or bare-bottom setup. I expect to see people with a lot of flow.

I'm using two SEIO's and two MJ1200's. Using this I can see stuff moving all the time and have most of them either at the bottom or pointed at the bottom to try to stir up anything that might try to settle.

 

[Mouse]

Re: How are the Faux Bottoms?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6856289#post6856289 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dolfan
90g at about the 4-5 month term and still having some problems with algea on the bottom that I can't seem to beat.

Have you tried an Urchin?

Im interested in this setup also, possible with the SSB front but still trying to figure out how to "Help it work" {knowing that it wont work on its own and Ill have to adjust/replace from time to time}

 

[Dolfan]

What type of urchin? Spiny or the pencil types? I figured the urchins might not be to happy without an actual sand bed?

 

[Valab]

Following because I'm think of making a faux bottom.

Dolfan, don't snails scour your faux bottom or is the algae a nasty type that snails won't touch?

 

[bj32482]

pics

 

[alten78]

dolfan, how often do you blow off the faux bed? You are saying where it is smooth you are catching more junk and getting more algae?

 

[Dolfan]

I'll try to get some pics later tonight, but I think one problem is that my bottom is a bit rough, think of a layer of crushed coral stuck to the bottom, not crushed coral completely covered in epoxy. I'm thinking that that roughness gives extra small places for dirt and places for alges to start and get attached better than if it was completely smooth.

I'm giving thought to redoing the bottom. Mine is one 1/8 plexiglass so I could redo on new plexi and then swap in an hour or so.

 

[Mouse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6862796#post6862796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dolfan
What type of urchin? Spiny or the pencil types? I figured the urchins might not be to happy without an actual sand bed?

Not sure on the best type of urchin to use, sorry.
Kind of suprised no replies form established faux setup owners. Or from 'Hybrid" faux/SSB users, Im sure there out there somewhere......