The BB movement

Re: The BB movement

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7045490#post7045490 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thefuture
whats up with the bare bottum movement? and why are there so many sps keepers with them? what are the benefits of having a BB as compared to thin layer of substrate (about 2")?
If you have pics of your BB tank plz be proud and show them off. thanks
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These BB guys never show pics of their sucessful tank. (unless it's someone elses tank). Just to add fuel to the fire I will start a post requesting pics of BB tanks, SSB tanks, and DSB tanks. let's see who post the pics. :lol:
The problem I see is that most people seem to be comparing BB w/ DSB. It appears that thefuture was considering a SSB. I can't tell you the advantages of BB, but will tell you what I think of sand.
I would not give up my 2" sand for the world. Why?

1. becasue I love gobies.
2. because I love wrasses
3. I love the microorganisms that live in the sand that help feed my sps
4. I think that sand has more surface area than the live rock that we have so it is important form of biological media.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7046784#post7046784 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NoSchwag
jackson, do you have a list of your fishes?
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9 chromis
1 Hippo Tang
1 Foxface
5 Chalk bass
1 Bristle tooth tang (forgot name)
1 Orange anthias (forgot name)
1 Pink Wrasse (forgot name)
1 yellow coris wrasse
2 flame cardinals
1 flasher wrasse

um..I think thats about it
 
RCS
A skimmer set up to skim wet is just like a mechanical filter (well maybe not as good ) but the solids do rise with the micro bubbles and into the collection cup.
I personally am adding the sand back to my tank, not because I like one more than the other, but a tank with a sand bed does usually forgive a reefers busy life more than a BB. That being said, I will never have the jaw dropping colors of some peoples tanks, but I did not have it when I was bare bottom either. Most of my corals faded.
One thing I have learned in my year of waisted time ( meaning my tank looks no better than before I invested all the hours to go B/B, give it a try, then go back to a sand bed. Still not done yet) Is don't set up your tank with any method just because some one else has has a " to die for tank", because you will not be happy in the end. You need to be true to yourself and figure out how much time you want to spend in weekly maint.. If you only have an hour a week, and time for one water change a month go with a sand bed. If you have plenty of time and the will power go with a B/B. One more thing before I end this, well actually 2.
1. If you setting up a new tank. Go with bare bottom. Why you might ask? It is easier to add sand than to remove it. If you kept all the rock off the bottom like you should, you will only cover up some of the rock.
2. This is all my opinion, and I know that many people will not agree, thats why we have different methods in the first place.
Jerry
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7047253#post7047253 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RCS
Speaking as someone who keeps SPS along with a 2" sandbed, decent fish load, consistent feeding and NO water changes, I don't see a reason to ever change the way I do things. Not that both ways can't be successful, but you can check some of the pictures in my gallery to see the color most of my SPS have. Phosphates and nitrates also test at zero, mostly due to heavy skimming and a good growth of caulerpa and chaeto in the sump/refugium.
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did you say NO water changes? wow, wow. how do you keep your paremeters so good and your tank thriving and phosphates and nitrates testing zero? what kind of method are u using? is there a thread here on RC with your tank info if so direct me there? i want to know more about this. is there any secrets? lol
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7045982#post7045982 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thefuture
that doesnt hold to be so true because i was doing a research on this board and it sounds liek some people are having problems with keeping thier levels stabilized or close to natural levels. some are having no growth with corals and etc. what is up with this when having BB?
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You see the same with DSB too. Except with DSB, you have massive algae growth. And crashed tanks.
 
ok, plz people get this straight as i am talking about a SSB not DSB. i will requote myself in the first post "thin layer of substrate (about 2")" just in case u missed that. ok thanks.

gcarroll,
Good point. haha. for some reason i am thinking i can relate you to the LFS "tides n tailes" or w/e its called. have you ever shopped there or do you know those guys? what hapend to them if you do know them? also give me a link to that new thread you started.
 
yea i noticed. are they still on RC? if so what is thier RC name? i live in the area of the store maybe you can hook me up with some caulerpa and a lil sand to seed my tank once i get it going and yea maybe some sps frags ;)
 
the only successful method of maintaining an sps tank is doing whatever it takes for you to be consistant. if that means automating everything so you have .2 degree temp swing, <1ppm ca fluc., <.5 dkh change, <.1 ph differential.....

do you what you think looks best and perform whatever maintanance your tank requires.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7048618#post7048618 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doody
This is going to be one of those threads.
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what kind of threads? i asked a question and Greg suggested that most people back up what they are saying with pics of thier tanks so what is so wrong with them? Im tryin to figure out what will be the best set up for my upcoming reef and so that is why i am asking. if people cant even back up what they are saying with pics then why would i follow them? it would seem like what they are saying would not be true cause they cant prove it. i dont think anyone in thier right mind would just jump into something without some thought.

as far as i know BB sounds really really good on the net/paper and i must admit, with all the info presented i would like to have a BB but i want to see the results in real life before i jump into it.
 
Just seems like this is going to end up one of those argumentive threads on how one is better than the other. If done "RIGHT" both methodes can work great. Both methods have cons. I'm glade you're doing research before makeing a choice. However, Gregs statement about BB people never showing pics of their tanks to prove it works is bogess. That just tells me he has'nt looked at the threads. There's literally houndreds of threads on this same subject with pics to prove both methods.
 
We're not talking about what methods work for you, we are trying to decide what method is best for SPS.....not saying other methods won't work. "Best" meaning the most efficent and productive method.

Let have a discussion like adults with no personal attacks, please :)

Anyway, for those of you who favor sandbeds, can you please tell me the cons of a BB tank? Besides looks, I cant really think of a negative aspect.
 
Here are a couple of pics:
Right side
Dsc01558.jpg

Left side
Dsc01562.jpg

Full tank shot
Dsc01549.jpg

FWIW BB, SSB, plenums or DSB can all yield great results. Knowing the limitations of the method and knowing that sps basically need 4 things, good water quality, good flow, stable conditions and good lighting, are the most important parts IMO.

Chris
 
FishDoc11 (Chris),

Beautiful Reef! If you don't mind, explain your setup and husbandry practice. I am sure that will elnlighten a few of us on what it takes to have a succesful BB Reef.

i.e .. Water Changes, Calcium and ALk replinishment, lighting photperiod, etc

Thanks,

Jim (Fellow BB'er)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7048940#post7048940 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jackson6745
Anyway, for those of you who favor sandbeds, can you please tell me the cons of a BB tank? Besides looks, I cant really think of a negative aspect.
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To me, looks are everything. I dont want to have a tank if I dont like the way it looks. I dont think any of us just keep corals because we are bored... we like the way the corals and tank look. Some people arent bothered by the whole no-sand thing, but I just cant get past it. Not dissing BB, just saying that personally, it just wouldnt do it for me. Id rather look at a little algae and some sand than no algae or sand.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7048940#post7048940 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jackson6745

Anyway, for those of you who favor sandbeds, can you please tell me the cons of a BB tank? Besides looks, I cant really think of a negative aspect.
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Honestly, my tank is much more stable now that I have added sand back to my tank. Ph is now rock steady. Before putting the sand back into the tank I had wild Ph swings, now there is very little variance.

I think the whole topic of substrate is a pointless debate. The best reefers in the world could have either BB or SSb and still have the best reefs. On that same point the worst reefers in the world would still have the worst reefs. :p

People should not get caught up with a single, minimal component of a reef tank such as substrate when there are many other components that demand much more attention. Either you are a diligent, dedicated reefer or your not. If you cant make it with a BB,SSB or DSB than you are defiantly doing something wrong.

Obviously if you have a DSB or SSb and are feeding too much, skimming too little and have little or no cleanup crew you will run into problems.

For everyone on both sides of the fence consider this:
A great reefer will make ANY system work.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7046033#post7046033 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JMBoehling
Here's what I like about my BB setup:

1.) "0" Nitrates

2.) Great water Movement

3.) PH, ALK, Calcium and Magnesium stay right in check just by dripping Kalk 24/7 as my makeup water. NJo need for expensive Calcium reactors and Kalk Stirrers.

I've got some pics in my gallery as well.

Not sure why people are having problems with their BB setups. BB is as KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) as it comes.
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I have "0" nitrates, Great water movement and have SSB.

According to you I do not exist.

And unless you have very slow growth ,a very small tank or are dripping many,many gallons of kalk a day there is no way to keep up SPS demands for Ca and alk.

And yes I do run a Ca reactor and a Deltec Kalk stirrer. ;)
 
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