Minimum rock in BB tanks

[kwl1763]

So to all who've asked my tank is 120"x36"X25" and you can see my link with the full build by clicking on the little red house that says www at the top of all my posts.

And no one has ever asked me where the sand is. I personally love the look of 100% coralline coverage.

BB vs. sand is always going to be personal preference looks wise.

 

[mboley1]

I don't get the Bare Bottom thinking that sand traps nutrients that can cause problems. I have had a few nice tanks now, always had sand , never did anything with it, never had problems, had Plenums with 3.5 inches, have 1" in a 150 gallon with two Tunze 6100's. I am using the course Florida Crushed Coral, it doesn't blow around the tank, it does trap some detritus in spots. Never had any nitrates in these tanks.

Just helped a friend switch tanks yesterday. He had an inch or two of sand in his tank for 10 years, never did anything with it. i expressed to him that people worry about the sand too much. That it is an unfounded fear. He showed me his "nutrients" in his sand. He hadn't done a water change in 9 months. Corals were happy.

So unless you truely like the look of a Bare Bottom better than sand, the potential problems are overblown, IMHO.

 

[Wazzel]

Can not say that I agree that sand beds are nothing to worry about. I pulled a 6" DSB out of a tank after 3 years and it was the most foul thing I have ever smelled. Never again will I have a place where things can settle. A sand bed is fine if you properly maintain it which is harder to do than it sounds.

 

[Leonardo_]

Only a few rocks in my 92 G.

Leonardo

 

[SptfireXIV]

My old 55 with about 50 lbs of LR

How about a minimalist setup with a SSB? 75 gallon with 60 lbs approximately.

 

[DirtySouth056]

sweet looking tank Jason!

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9609056#post9609056 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dippin61
unless you have a HUGE skimmer, the more rock the better.. i have only about 60 lbs in my 55g BB and think i need more. at least in the sump.

I completely disagree..


Less rock means better flow, and better nutrient removal. The more open your rockscape is, the less of a skimmer you need.


I have about 40lbs in my 58g. (I run a dsb, but I use a lot of the BB principles)

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9633903#post9633903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wazzel
Can not say that I agree that sand beds are nothing to worry about. I pulled a 6" DSB out of a tank after 3 years and it was the most foul thing I have ever smelled. Never again will I have a place where things can settle. A sand bed is fine if you properly maintain it which is harder to do than it sounds.

It smells foul because theres large amounts of bacteria in it. That doesnt mean its causing a problem.


I think this thread is about one thing, and it doesnt matter if you're BB or DSB guy: Open rock work, and high flow.





FWIW, i LOVE the look of BB tanks... but i have too many sandsleeping wrasses to run one right now.

 

[SptfireXIV]

Less is more

 

[prodman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9637609#post9637609 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley



I think this thread is about one thing, and it doesnt matter if you're BB or DSB guy: Open rock work, and high flow.





F

I can agree with that.

 

[jeffbrig]

Another BB system

 

[Travis]

Before:
<img src=http://notlehs.com/travis/re-aquascape/145_4560.JPG>

After:
<img src=http://notlehs.com/travis/3-8-07/full%20tank.JPG>

 

[ssbreef]

:wavehand:

 

[PrangeWay]

All these tank are really nice. I hate the rock wall look, so these all rock (or don't as the case may be)!

PW

 

[poknsnok]

about 125# in a 200 gal

 

[poknsnok]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9639450#post9639450 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travis
Before:
<img src=http://notlehs.com/travis/re-aquascape/145_4560.JPG>

After:
<img src=http://notlehs.com/travis/3-8-07/full%20tank.JPG>

Wow Travis... did you grow all that from frags? How old is your reef??

 

[Travis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9699609#post9699609 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by poknsnok
Wow Travis... did you grow all that from frags? How old is your reef??

Yes, everything was grown from ~1" frags. The tank is about 2.5 years old now.

 

[poknsnok]

what a tank and what a set up Travis. Im envious..l

 

[fisheebill]

Leonardo, I love your tank.

 

[mboley1]

Dare I say it? Most of these tanks look artificial, not because of the Bare Bottom alone, different strokes.... But the use of visable PVC and any other plastic is not needed to build a nice Rock structure. If you can completely hide it, fine, but it's almost impossible. Some nice larger pieces of rock and Aquascape epoxy work well in my opinion. You can temporarily use wire ties while building the reef, but after it is epoxied at the contact points, the wire ties can be removed. I have 225 pounds in a 150 built right down the middle for two sided viewing. The Rock structure is permanent and to me, part of the visual appeal of the aquarium. 2 cents