The "How to go Barebottom thread."

[easttn]

I thought "Detritis" was a generic term for crap.

It is. I think bomber nailed it, its what I meant to say as I ate dinner in front of my Ion bombardment chamber.

 

[larrycivic]

great info

 

[kimoyo]

Or, it could be this stuff (some kind of algae). Astreas will eat it real fast:

Yeah this is the stuff. I couldn't see your pictures before but that's it. Do you know what this is?

I was also wondering about something. I've heard a lot of people say that their siphoning slowed down as the bb tank matured. Why is this? I'm asking because my kole tang poops all the time, its like a pooping machine! And with this guy I see my siphoning schedule staying the same.

Damnit, there he goes again. Just pooped while I was typing.

 

[Travis]

I think the siphoning slowing down statement is due to people's rocks cleaning up after a while. Your fish are still going to poop and if you aren't getting that poop to the overflow, you are going to have to siphon it out.

I was siphoning about 1-2 tablespoons every 2-4 weeks when I started my tank. At that time I had about 5 fish. A year later I am still siphoning the same amount with 4 times as many fish.

I think the stuff that is needing to be siphoned in my tank isn't detritus anyways. I think it is sand being produced from boring critters. Because it is heavier than detritus it doesn't stay in suspension long enough to get to the overflow.

 

[kimoyo]

Thats makes sense. Actually maybe the stuff I see on the starboard is sand and snail poop. Because I'm noticing that my tangs poop actually stays in suspension and floats up. But the stuff I'm talking about accumulates on the bottom. Thanks.

 

[Weatherman]

Yeah this is the stuff. I couldn't see your pictures before but that's it. Do you know what this is?

I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t know what it was. But once the astreas found it, there was nothing but a few little specs of it left after about a week.

I was also wondering about something. I've heard a lot of people say that their siphoning slowed down as the bb tank matured. Why is this?

I agree with Travis on the siphoning slowing down as peopleââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s live rock cleans up. With sufficient flow, the lighter stuff should stay in suspension so it can be removed by a skimmer or a frequently-changed filter sock. Only the heavy stuff should remain in the tank.

About the only thing I ever siphon out are little piles of sand. My 180 has five urchins, which hitchhiked in on the live rock over two years ago. They started out the size of peas and are now bigger than golf balls. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve already seen two little urchins in my 120.

Urchins produce a lot of sand.

 

[Larry Waughon]

I am in the process of setting up a 180 gal tank and considering BB. Is there anything that I can't keep in a BB that I can in a deep sand bed tank? Stars? conche? cuke? plate coral? ect?
Thanks Larry

 

[SeanT]

I wouldn't keep conch's/cuke's, nassarius snails and the sand sifting gobies.
There are a few others I just can't think of right now.

Sean

 

[tsquad]

Urchins produce a lot of sand.

What do you mean "produce" sand? Where does it come from?

 

[SeanT]

They "chew" rock.

 

[tsquad]

Gotcha, that's what I thought.

 

[Larry Waughon]

Thanks SeanT
What about a plate coral or a Haddoni Anemone.

 

[Zaphod]

I am setting up my 90 gal it is 3' long 2' wide 2' tall. I have sequence dart on a OM 4 way on the closed loop. what kind of flow should I have on the return from the sump?

 

[Chrash236]

Well, Today was the day I removed all of my rock so I could start cooking it,

Things I learned

1. My tank had a ton of gunk behind the rocks, ie build closeloop, and place rocks on legs, for no dead spots.

2. My skimmer is removing around 1 gallon an hour right now.

3. My corals in my sump are for sure dead, after the mag 9 stirred the whole tank up, water is still not clear,

4. Can I powerwash the rocks to speed this up? Humm post and see what people think.

5. I hope this works, used 50 gallons of new salt water today, note to self buy more salt, 3 buckets should do it.

6. What would happen if I just replaced all the water in my system with three day old salt water???

7. Would it be cheaper to drive to the coast and shake my rocks there for a week? could be a fun trip too!!

Random thoughts although curious on the powerwashing of the rocks?

Wish me luck

Chris

 

[larrycivic]

one whole day and i finally got through all 15 pages of post...well i have a couple of questions.

i see almost everyone is using cutting board...can i just use my tank bottom (acrylic tank)...the reason i ask is b/c i will have to cut a lot of sheets to get into my tank around the bracing

this is the center of my 8 foot long tank.

on the flow in my tank...i currently have a mag 12 for return, and two 6100...would this work or should i get 2 more pumps like the 6200, or something....i do not want close loop b/c of the bracing.

 

[drake66]

mhm...difficult question... *free bump*

 

[causeofhim]

Yes, you can just use your tank bottom. You do not need to place starboard on the bottom.

 

[REEF-DADDY]

what do you guys think of this:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=595109

It seems to be a simple safety net against Nitrates.

 

[SeanT]

4. Can I powerwash the rocks to speed this up? Humm post and see what people think.

Chris,
This would kill the life on the live rock.
To speed it up swish and dunk vigorously to get as much out that you can each time.
Sean

 

[SeanT]

Thanks SeanT
What about a plate coral or a Haddoni Anemone.

Hadonni anemones are some of the easier to keep.
I do not recall them needing sand...just the occassional feeding.
Plate corals don't care either.