The "How to go Barebottom thread."

Konadog said:
What is the snail attrition rate here, is there actually enough for all of them to eat?
Ken,
This is where it is more guess work than science.
I don't advise to start small when adding snails but not large either.
This way, if there isn't enough chow for the snails only a few will be lost.
You can tell shortly if there aren't enough snails and more can be added easily.
Sean
 
Thanks Sean. I can just see adding 1200 snails only to find 800 shells two months later. I don't think I have ever had over 40 snails at one time in my 100. Can you elaborate on how you can tell if you don't have enough, again, I know it's not a science.
 
I have lost probably 20 or so astreas since adding them a year ago. It is harder to tell how many ceriths because they are small and can fall into the rock crevices when they die. I would guess that I've lost 40-60 ceriths. Not sure why they would die though, because they can live on detritus and there is always some detritus to be eaten.
 
If you are adding 300 astreas and 900 ceriths at one time , 20 or so astreas and 40-60 ceriths probably die of natural causes (heart attack, stroke, prostate cancer) within a year.
 
causeofhim said:
If you are adding 300 astreas and 900 ceriths at one time , 20 or so astreas and 40-60 ceriths probably die of natural causes (heart attack, stroke, prostate cancer) within a year.

Good point. All snails are touchy to begin with so a 6% loss over a year shouldn't be too alarming.
 
causeofhim said:
If you are adding 300 astreas and 900 ceriths at one time , 20 or so astreas and 40-60 ceriths probably die of natural causes (heart attack, stroke, prostate cancer) within a year.

suicide
 
What do you use for biological filtration if you cook all your rock at the same time? Would just running a skimmer be ok? I have a 135g +55g sump with three fish (Foxface and pair of clowns), about 150lbs of LR, 100lbs of sand (which will be removed, the evil evil sand), and a EuroReefCS6-2+ skimmer. I'm worried about my corals/fish once I remove ALL the sand/rock.
 
I have a question for all you BB gurus out there. I'm interested in setting up a smaller tank ~30-40g. These tanks of course typically do not come with overflows built in. I am wondering if using a hang on back skimmer would work with the concept of a BB tank, or is a overflow absolutely necessary? Essentialy, the high flow rates associated with BB tanks, stirring up detrius, will the suspended particles get sucked up into a HOB? or do you need the overflow to draw them? I have no experience with BB tanks so any help would be greatly appreciated.
mike
 
kainuma16 said:
I have a question for all you BB gurus out there. I'm interested in setting up a smaller tank ~30-40g. These tanks of course typically do not come with overflows built in. I am wondering if using a hang on back skimmer would work with the concept of a BB tank, or is a overflow absolutely necessary? Essentialy, the high flow rates associated with BB tanks, stirring up detrius, will the suspended particles get sucked up into a HOB? or do you need the overflow to draw them? I have no experience with BB tanks so any help would be greatly appreciated.
mike

Though not with barebottom, I've been in the same boat. started with an undrilled 55g HOT skimmer, heater in the tank, and about 4 power heads. That got old quick so I set up a sump, put everything in the sump. I used a life reef overflow, that was cool until a snail clogged the tube and I had a flood.

My advice, get yourself a tank with built in overflow. You can buy one online from numerous manufactuers and even at your local LFS. Get a 10-20 gallon sump and an ASM G-1x. The tank will look so much better, be easier to maintain, and less prone to disaster. Besides on of the best things about BB is that clean look, all the equipment in your tank is going to detract from that.
 
Thx Steve,
The clutter that comes with the HOB skimmer was one of my concerns. So a manufactuer will install an overflow even on a smaller tank? Or are you talking about simply ordering a custom acrylic one?
 
TSquad I think you'll be okay. You are getting rid of most of the bioload with the sand and rocks. You only have 3 fish.

More importantly whats your return pump like and what do you have in tank to lift detritus off the floor and keep it off the floor?

You need a solid plan to get the crap in the tank into the water column, over the overflow, and into the skimmer. I have an ASM g3 now on my 120 and I have the overflows from the tank T'd off into 1, it ends up right in front of the skimmer input. The skimmer gets most of the stuff in my tank. What it can't get, I manually get.



If I am giving this kid bad advice, please correct me..
 
kainuma16 said:
Thx Steve,
The clutter that comes with the HOB skimmer was one of my concerns. So a manufactuer will install an overflow even on a smaller tank? Or are you talking about simply ordering a custom acrylic one?

Sure check out glasscages.com. You could make a HOB skimmer work but you'll always wish you had an overflow!
 
NoSchwag said:
TSquad I think you'll be okay. You are getting rid of most of the bioload with the sand and rocks. You only have 3 fish.

More importantly whats your return pump like and what do you have in tank to lift detritus off the floor and keep it off the floor?

You need a solid plan to get the crap in the tank into the water column, over the overflow, and into the skimmer. I have an ASM g3 now on my 120 and I have the overflows from the tank T'd off into 1, it ends up right in front of the skimmer input. The skimmer gets most of the stuff in my tank. What it can't get, I manually get.



If I am giving this kid bad advice, please correct me..

I'll have a Mag18, two Seio 1500s and two Aquaclear 802s (400gph) pumping along the bottom of the tank...that should keep detritus suspended.
 
I mean yeah you are getting crap into the sump for sure.

How is your sump set up?
Is there a place for detritus to accumulate?
Is your skimmer set up so that most of the water gets to it?
Is there always so many hot chicks at puppy center?
 
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