Someone PLEASE make a BB Barebottom How-To

[bboyin4lyf]

just setup a 10g nano bb tank. no starboard just the rocks straight on the glass. planning it to be a lps dominated tank. i went bb because : firstly, i dont mind the look, secondly, i can so easily siphon the detritus off the bottom, thirdly, ill get more bang for my buck in regards to flow rate from PH's, fourthly, its a 10g so the extra water volume is crucial in my opinion.
i run a three inch sand bed on my 70g with no hassels and great coral growth.
just realised that last statement really confuses this post.
damn

 

[Holokai]

Ok, ladies and gents, a few BB questions. I'm thinking of setting up a temporary tank to hold some of my parents fish whilst they move. I want to do it as a BB tank, and it will probably only be a 20 gallon or so.

I'm just going to place powerheads near the bottom for detritus control (for now).

So, the questions - What kind of skimmers can I have with a stand alone tank? Are HOB skimmers the only option? Are these types of skimmers good enough for a 20 gallon BB? In your professional opinions, what strength and how many power heads should I place near the bottom, and in what configuration?

And, most importantly, since this tank will not have an overflow, is it even possible to do a BB tank? I'm under the impression that the overflow is mildly important to the removal of detritus.

If anyone is wondering, this tank will house a few shrimp, a brittle star, and a pair of oscellaris.

Thanks for the help

- C

 

[sellout007]

I too just took the plunge and went BB on my 90g acrylic.

What type of clean up crew would you guys suggest? I am just about to order the following....

100 nerite snails
40 blue leg hermits
30 nassarius
1 hawkwing
2 lg. red emerald crab

I am also having a hard time keeping the detritus off the bottom, I have a mag7 running my overflow, and 4 rio's set up in the tank to try and blow junk off the bottom. Currently not doing the job.

My huge issue right now is that I am lacking a skimmer. I know I am tempting fate, but I simply dont have the money now. I had a borrowed sump/skimmer on there, but it had to go back to the origonal owner. O(

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

Reef keeping is not a cheap hobby. I would strongly suggest getting a skimmer. Try and see if you could pick up a used skimmer at least. Check Ebay, the pages here on RC selling equipment, your newspaper or local reef clubs for people getting out of the hobby... etc.
Again... Reef keeping is not a cheap hobby. You really should do this right or else you will spend plenty of money getting things set up half way only to have lots of livestock die and then need to be replaced.

 

[MiddletonMark]

What type of clean up crew would you guys suggest? I am just about to order the following....

100 nerite snails
40 blue leg hermits
30 nassarius
1 hawkwing
2 lg. red emerald crab

First off, get a skimmer. BB without skimming is problematic IMO.
Lack of export means that unlike most BB tanks here where nutrients are removed prior to breaking down - without a skimmer nutrients break down, build - with large water changes the only real way of removing phosphate [nitrogen somewhat too].
Just my take.

As for the cleanup crew:
Don't know much about nerites, but I wouldn't go without my astrea and about 2x that in cerith. These probably are good in addition, but maybe not as the sole algae consuming snail. I use astrea mostly for that, with a turbo and few trochus for good measure - would add a few nerites if they were locally available.

Hermits, some are good, but 40 seems excessive IMO. Maybe 6-10?

Nassarius ... eat rotting flesh. Unless you overfeed, they're not really something you need IMO. See snails above.

Hawkwing ... no idea what this is. Given that's the case, I can't say I see it as necessary

Red Emeralds? Green ones are sketchy enough, and I use/like them. Given crabs are pretty omnivorous, I wouldn't go outside the tried and true. A couple small green ones, I'd do that - but other crabs nope.

Anyway, that's my take on the cleanup crew - IMO not really what I would have, but it's your tank

Good luck with it.

 

[Superorb]

i always wondered what cleanup crew for a BB tank one should use, w/o all the sand to hold all the crap... anyhting that eats detritus so they can get the pieces that settle?

 

[SunnyX]

Say DSB five times in a mirror and Bomber comes and kills you.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lolspin: :lolspin:

 

[phenom5]

this is what this thread was originally started for...

how to go BB thread

as for the dsb vs BB debate...its getting a little old. why can't people realize that there are applications where both are successful. for me, its BB...but who knows what the future holds.

 

[sellout007]

Reef keeping is not a cheap hobby. I would strongly suggest getting a skimmer. Try and see if you could pick up a used skimmer at least. Check Ebay, the pages here on RC selling equipment, your newspaper or local reef clubs for people getting out of the hobby... etc.
Again... Reef keeping is not a cheap hobby. You really should do this right or else you will spend plenty of money getting things set up half way only to have lots of livestock die and then need to be replaced.

I know its not cheap, and I know I need a skimmer. O) I said earlier that I had one but the guy needed it back. Ive been withouta skimmer for about a month now and Im doing a decent job of keeping parameters where they need to. Obviously im not doing the greatest job which is why I am saving to get a skimmer as soon as I can afford one. I dont want to buy a crappy skimmer just to have to upgrade later. Its a waste.

First off, get a skimmer. BB without skimming is problematic IMO.
Lack of export means that unlike most BB tanks here where nutrients are removed prior to breaking down - without a skimmer nutrients break down, build - with large water changes the only real way of removing phosphate [nitrogen somewhat too].
Just my take.

As for the cleanup crew:
Don't know much about nerites, but I wouldn't go without my astrea and about 2x that in cerith. These probably are good in addition, but maybe not as the sole algae consuming snail. I use astrea mostly for that, with a turbo and few trochus for good measure - would add a few nerites if they were locally available.

Hermits, some are good, but 40 seems excessive IMO. Maybe 6-10?

Nassarius ... eat rotting flesh. Unless you overfeed, they're not really something you need IMO. See snails above.

Hawkwing ... no idea what this is. Given that's the case, I can't say I see it as necessary

Red Emeralds? Green ones are sketchy enough, and I use/like them. Given crabs are pretty omnivorous, I wouldn't go outside the tried and true. A couple small green ones, I'd do that - but other crabs nope.

Anyway, that's my take on the cleanup crew - IMO not really what I would have, but it's your tank

Good luck with it.

Read above about the skimmer. o)

As far as the clean up crew, it was recommended to me buy the guy I am buying it from, www.ricksreefs.com. Since I am going BB he suggested that is what I get because some snails dont do well without a sand bed. I also have three turbo snails in my tank right now.

 

[bboyin4lyf]

hey scrap the hermits as part of ure clean up crew, all they will do is eat ure snails and cost u more in the long run.

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

I know its not cheap, and I know I need a skimmer. O) I said earlier that I had one but the guy needed it back. Ive been withouta skimmer for about a month now and Im doing a decent job of keeping parameters where they need to. Obviously im not doing the greatest job which is why I am saving to get a skimmer as soon as I can afford one. I dont want to buy a crappy skimmer just to have to upgrade later. Its a waste.

You are smart not to drop money on a poor performing skimmer just because that is all you can immediately afford. There are several skimmers that work well that you can get your hands on perhaps used. I have even heard of a website that periodically sells off "blemished models" for a significant discount. I think that they get them directly from the manufacturer with cosmetic imperfections. Used or cosmetically challenged may be an option to get your hands on a quality skimmer. Good luck.

 

[toasty23]

i want to go bb too for my two 55 gall. i have one right now that has a 1" sand bed and is awesome have a emperor 400 and two maxi jets a coralife skimmer super. 65g rating and i have no problems have two bristel stars a cucumber , two snail, a 6 hermits and about 5 fish and its been good for about 1 year no prob. i have 55 lb of live rock and dont do water changes that much maybe two a year. just fill it with water from my tap. ( i know its bad but it doesnt effect my tank.) i run bio balls in my emp 400 with the carbon never new it was bad oopsLOL. and i dont ad any chemicals in my tank i have shrooms growing and some polyps it think thats what theyr called i have two regular florecent lights 120 w. this is my tank had no prob with it ever but i like BB all about it the look they funcitonallity and the fact that its bare but

im scared that if i convert to bb that i will kill the things i have bc of changes in my tank.

would the equipmetn work for a bb . i am also going to get a magnum 350 deluxe set up for extra filtering on both . thanks

I LOVE RC ITS SO INFORMITIVE

hey bomber your my inspiration!!!(sp)