Rubble bottom

[Brent Hutchings]

I have just ordered my tank (170 gal 60lx27.5dx24h) and am in the process of working out the set up details. I plan to have 2x400 mh on luminarc III reflectors, dart return, a diy downdraft skimmer powered by a reeflo barracuda, 2 vortec powerheads (mp40w)and a calc. reactor.
I am looking at placing a rubble bottom over a ugf plate and plumb the return water to under the ugf plate. I am hoping that the upward flow of the water coming through the rubble will help suspend detritus until it can be removed.
There was some talk about this last year on the advanced forum but I have not seen any follow up or examples of how this idea might or might not work.
Any feedback or advice on setup would be great.

Brent

 

[xcreonx]

What advantage would the rubble bottom have over sand?

It seems that even with a UG you'll still get deadspots where alot of detritus will collect.

 

[reeferaddiction]

if you are gonna go through all the trouble of creating a system that flows water through the substrate you should use a deep sand bed to create a plenum type system.

 

[Brent Hutchings]

I want to creat more habitat for cpods and such. I have had trouble with sand beds in the past and I dont like the look of bb.

 

[Hop]

I hate to say it, but it sounds like a very inefficient system. Too much turn over through the sump, too much pump on the skimmer to process too much water too fast which will cycle DOC back into the tank and not enough flow in the tank. The UGF seems like a great way to trap diatris rather than get it to the skimmer to remove.