Someone PLEASE make a BB Barebottom How-To

[joefish]

Joefish: You are an SPS keeper, I don't think you have a beginner tank. If he can't afford sand, he can't afford to keep SPS. BB tanks are great on display SPS tanks.

BB tanks are not for sps's only . It's my opinion that I like BB better . For me it was easier , so I suggest it to others . I do believe DSB's can work , I couldn't but others can .

I was not judging him on his money to spend , I was only giving advice on a question asked .

 

[Superorb]

ya i understand the whole uber-flow thing, it's just how to accomplish this. do i need to drill the back of the tank for the closed loop? is it recomended to drill? i will have glass tops so i cannot really go over the top of the tank. i will only have like 3 fish maybe 4 tops in the tank, and they will be small fish that stay small.i am also not stocking the tank till at least a month after i get the water in, but prolly more as i get used to using everyhting. i will not be keeping ANY kinds of corals, at least not for the first year if any at all.

 

[Mike O'Brien]

There are many ways to skin a cat . I've seen very beautiful DSB tanks and BB tanks .

My preference is BB though .I suggest a Beckettn skimmer , penductors or eductors on a CL depending on the size tank .The right sized UV . No carbon use . Sump flow slightly less then the skimmer flow through .Lighting depends on the size tank . No refugium .


So I guess you need to pick a size to start with for better help .

Joe, why no carbon?

 

[joefish]

Carbon puts into a tank , not just removes . If I remember right it's also limiting when it comes to Alk and calcium . Bomber probably can clarify it better then me .

 

[Mike O'Brien]

OK Bomber, where are ya?

 

[Bomber]

Good one Joe. LOL

What Mike?? I don't like carbon either, but I do use it. If I need to use it to do a specific job, I'll hook it up and immediately take it off when it's finished.
Leave it hooked up for more than a few hours and you're just running dirty filter fluff.

 

[joefish]

How often do you run it , and why ?

 

[Bomber]

you mean at home?

never

But I can see how someone would want to use carbon if a fish or coral released a chemical that could hurt the tank. Or if they over dose something. Things like that.

As far as running it on a tank all the time, I would not do that.

 

[Mike O'Brien]

I've heard it was supposed to be able to absorb more than it gave off. I've always used it, but I can't really say I have a reason to do so.

If you didn't use a uv, would you use carbon more often?

 

[Bomber]

Nope

Carbon for aquariums has phosphate, even if they say it doesn't. Most are also contaminated with iron or in a rust form.

 

[joefish]

For some reason it always sound smarter comming from you Bomber .

Sorry , I understand when you say things . When I repeat them they come out wrong .:wildone:

 

[Bomber]

You haven't been keeping up then.

I've laid some doozies! LOL

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

hello everybody, just wanted to tag along because i love barebottom reefs! im in the barebottom reefers club on dubs......:smokin:

 

[Superorb]

back to topic...

if i could get away with a 1" sandbed i would in a heartbeat; i like the look of sand but dont want a deep bed taking up space. what all would you guys recomend for the 55RR, drill the back and stick in a big ol closed loop?

 

[kevensquint]

Why do you have to put something on the glass in a BB (starboard). Can't you just have the bare glass?

 

[kimoyo]

There are many ways to skin a cat . I've seen very beautiful DSB tanks and BB tanks .

My preference is BB though .I suggest a Beckettn skimmer , penductors or eductors on a CL depending on the size tank .The right sized UV . No carbon use . Sump flow slightly less then the skimmer flow through .Lighting depends on the size tank . No refugium .


So I guess you need to pick a size to start with for better help .

Joe,
Don't you have an ap600?

Do you guys use anything for phosphates?
Paul

 

[joefish]

Yes I have the deltec now , lack of room under my little 58 made me go that way . I do miss my MR-2 though .


If you do BB right , there is no need to control phosphates .

 

[joefish]

Why do you have to put something on the glass in a BB (starboard). Can't you just have the bare glass?

it's just a personal preference . The look of it and not having to worry about dropping a rock on the glass .

 

[stash98]

Im actually going to go glass bottom because I have a small tank (7 gallon) w/ only 10 pounds of live rock.

I am going to color the bottom white though..that is a very cool look.

 

[Holokai]

I've just read through Sean's How to go Bare Bottom thread and this one, and while I love the look of BB tanks, "cooking" the rock is just too much for me.

When I set up my next tank, it will be a BB reef, but I don't want to cook the rock. I love the bio-diversity that you get with, say TBS rock.

The only mention I found of not cooking the rock in this thread is that it can can cause you to need to siphon up more detritus than usual for the first few months. Doesn't seem like that big of a deal. is this the only negative?

- C