in-tank benthic zone

[eyesinthedrk]

I purchased 2 korilia 3's this weekend, and began removing all my power heads and HOB UV sterilizer. As i took apart the UVS and set about cleaning it i noticed 2 things. One that the bulb wasnt working, and two, that i had a LOT of calcerous tubes growing in side.

So im thinking of taking the black UVS housning and piping, hiding it behind my rock work with one end sticking out to capture some minimal flow for a sort of in-tank benthic zone,

I would like your thoughts and opinions on it, would you leave it open or fill it with some type of media? Or do you think it will be a complete waist of time ?

 

[Dunky019]

This is a neat idea... I often wonder about ways to increase the diversity of the benthic community in my tank as I feel they can be overlooked. Providing some sort of shelter from predators would seem like a reasonable approach.

Do you have a sand bed?

If you add any sort of substrate or crushed rock in the tubing I imagine it would make conditions unfavorable for filter feeders and may deplete oxygen levels. Just a thought though, it depends what kind of benthics you are trying to promote.

 

[eb8919]

Have you seen the "duplex" refugium concept? Basically it is a refugium built in a sump made from eggcrate. The shelf of eggcrate holds macro and allows for most of the flow to run across it. Underneath are several baffles of eggcrate which contain low flow and minimal light. Therefore the bottom area becomes a benthic zone with many places for calcerous tubes and other filter feeders to gather. The thread is on here somewhere and there is a video on www.reefvideos.com.

 

[eb8919]

Found the thread...http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=969713&highlight=duplex

 

[eyesinthedrk]

iv read it, not feasable for me, for verious reasons, i only have a verry shallow sand bed for asthetics, i dont have the space or much desire to add an rdsb,

in another forum, someone has shared their idea of nitrate removal by getting a coil of tubing attaching a powerhead and adjusting the flow via valve to get a good population of low oxygen bacteria cultured towards the end of the tube, if your still showing nitrates reduce flow, if you smell the rotten eggs increase flow,

this coupled with the life i found growing in my UVS housing gave me the idea to use the UVS piping and housing behind the live rock, how ever since i just broke down the rock work to get a damsel out last weekend, im not to keen about doing it again right away especially if this would be a waste of time contraption