Minimum rock in BB tanks

This thread also shows how much easier it is to scape a larger tank than a smaller.

KWL...nice tank BTW...definitely going to check out your thread...How deep is your tank?
 
PVC, zip ties and a drill helped me build my structures. Keith did something similar.

Map out your tank space and play with several formations. The 2X4 represents the top of the tank so I wouldn't build the structures too high.

P1010024Small.jpg


My middle structure is my live rock shish kabob. I drill flat rock with a 1" hole saw and slid it down the PVC.

P1010025Small.jpg


P1010027Small.jpg


P1010028Small.jpg


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All mine have "legs" or 90 degree elbows to keep the rock off the bottom so I'm able to blow out detritus frequently to prevent buildup.


P1010023Small.jpg


The sturcture on the left was drilled and zip tied to the PVC.

Overhang.jpg


Voila!
 
Many interesting and great designs as well as opposite ideas about lots of rock and min rock

My current tank is BB with lots of rock and i find it difficult to get sufficient flow to stop dirt build up. With my new tank i was thinking along the lines of min rock to maximise the flow. I will use an Aquamedic 5000 baby as skimmer on a 48 x 27 x 24
 
Ya know when I look at these tanks I just can't seem to see the attraction to the BB craze??? I mean it must just be me and please in NO way am I saying all of your tanks are not nice, its just......Isn't there sand in the ocean? I mean I can tell you right off the bat that when someone comes and sees my tank they stare at it for countless minutes.. While they are visiting they still glance at it and walk over to it quite often...

I can guarentee that if I had a BB tank, the first thing a person would say when they seen the tank would be " Where's the sand?"..... Do any of you get that when people see your systems? That is the gist of this reply? Do people ask you "where is the sand?"

Spankey;)
 
Many folks said my tank look like Arse without sand but i took it as a compliment :). I am competing for worse tank of the month :). Please vote for me..... :)

I like BB cuz it doesn't limit you from a lot of flow, clean, easy to keep the nutrient level low. Please don't get me wrong, sand bottom look very nice esp when you can keep it nice and white. I hate the look of detritus trapped in the sand bed.
 
Worse tank of the month! LOL;) No I hope people don't think I was bashing BB tanks.. I just always wondered if people ask them where the sand is... I agree the flow and nutrient issue is key.. Makes sense....
 
Here is an old photo of my BB at, or near, it's worse:

http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/90g/61-fulltank.jpg



Here it was shortly after remodelling it and taking out 1/2 the weight in rocks:

http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/90g/86-full-tank-REDO.jpg
http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/90g/85-full-tank-REDO.jpg


With BB, less is more. Less rock leaves less area for phosphates to get caught into and come out into your water.

edit: to add, I dont have a recent photo, but I have since cleared the bottom of the tank even more than seen in the above photo. Only thing remaining on it is the deresa clam, too large to place anywhere else.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9617127#post9617127 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spankey
Ya know when I look at these tanks I just can't seem to see the attraction to the BB craze??? I mean it must just be me and please in NO way am I saying all of your tanks are not nice, its just......Isn't there sand in the ocean? I mean I can tell you right off the bat that when someone comes and sees my tank they stare at it for countless minutes.. While they are visiting they still glance at it and walk over to it quite often...

I can guarentee that if I had a BB tank, the first thing a person would say when they seen the tank would be " Where's the sand?"..... Do any of you get that when people see your systems? That is the gist of this reply? Do people ask you "where is the sand?"

Spankey;)


No one who has seen my tank has ever asked that question.

Infact, none look down, cause theyre stuck looking up at my countless fish and coral garden.

I guess it's cool to have a tank where people talk about your sand, though (?).. :bum:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9617127#post9617127 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spankey
I can guarantee that if I had a BB tank, the first thing a person would say when they seen the tank would be " Where's the sand?"..... Do any of you get that when people see your systems? That is the gist of this reply? Do people ask you "where is the sand?"

Spankey;)

I have had countless ppl friends, family, co-workers all ppl would do not own a reef tank or a fish tank for that matter. No-one has even noticed that does not have sand...

When I ask them "do you notice that there is no sand in the tank" everyone of them has said "ooo yeah I did not even think about the sand"... alls i can see is the beautiful fish and colorful "plants" lol :)
 
I guess thats just due to the simple fact that people that come here are so used to seeing it there I guess. Shame on me:( Slap Slap Slap
 
This picture taken 3 days after rescape 2 months ago. Convert from 2x250w and 1x400w to 7x54wT5HO. Most of the corals brown out. Total used 9 pcs of live rock. Avarage about 3kg a piece.
I am happy with the change. Will try to take recent picture. The color is coming back.
Picture024a.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9617127#post9617127 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spankey
Ya know when I look at these tanks I just can't seem to see the attraction to the BB craze??? I mean it must just be me and please in NO way am I saying all of your tanks are not nice, its just......Isn't there sand in the ocean? I mean I can tell you right off the bat that when someone comes and sees my tank they stare at it for countless minutes.. While they are visiting they still glance at it and walk over to it quite often...

I can guarentee that if I had a BB tank, the first thing a person would say when they seen the tank would be " Where's the sand?"..... Do any of you get that when people see your systems? That is the gist of this reply? Do people ask you "where is the sand?"

Spankey;)

I have been asking myself that question. I miss the look of a SB in my tank, but I dont miss the look of a dirty sandbed. I could never keep a sandbed clean and I am religious on husbandry, so it got yanked.

Most people that come over and see a tank dont even know sand is supposed to be in the bottom...at least where I am from.
 
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