The "How to go Barebottom thread."
- Thread starter SeanT
- Start date
orion76
New member
Here's a tip for BB-ers who have their rock work on a PVC frame with a void between the rockwork and the bottom.
Put a Tunze Stream on a magnet on one side of your tank ON THE BOTTOM. You can then very easily reposition daily as needed to deal with pockets of detritus, simply by grabbing the outside magnet and moving it into the desired position.
Just discovered this handy feature after placing a tunze on the bottom and thought I'd share
Put a Tunze Stream on a magnet on one side of your tank ON THE BOTTOM. You can then very easily reposition daily as needed to deal with pockets of detritus, simply by grabbing the outside magnet and moving it into the desired position.
Just discovered this handy feature after placing a tunze on the bottom and thought I'd share
cidory
New member
My Tunze 6000 sits in the bottom corner behind the rocks . I have a Seio 820 pointed right at it and that forces flow underneath the rocks and PVC racks keeping junk suspended to a large degree. I have yet to find a pocket where deitrius collects. I will likely add another Tunze at some point. I have to penductors on my returns from the sump creating massive flow. I adjust the direction of them every few days. This randon flow kind of keeps everything mixed up. The corals seem to love it.
panic
Premium Member
I'm in. I'm moving in 4 months and going from 75 to 270. I have a dsb in my sump only, and will begin sucking the sand out with each water change. Is it beneficial to go this slow route to remove the sand or wait and do it all at once? I'll definitely be doing everything by this "book" of a killer thread.
bond007069
New member
I want my NITRATES to ZERO
I want my NITRATES to ZERO
How do i get my NITRATES to ZERO.
They are at 1 ppm, am i being neurotic?, should i even strive for clear on my Salifert kit. SPS look fine IMO, nice PE, color
120 BB
Dart CL, OM
Tunze 6080
Dual Penductors
MR-2 skimming on the wetter side
Rock were cured/cook, not for 12 weeks though
detrius is siphioned from sump and tank, 2-3 weeks
WC with IO, adjusted, 2-3 weeks
Sump with Cheato section and LR rubble.
My Cheato is not growing at all. In my CC 29 gallon it when rampant.
Reverse photoperiod for Cheato 36 Watt PC 7100K
Alk 3.08
Ca 480
pH 8.20
Sg 1.025
I want my NITRATES to ZERO
How do i get my NITRATES to ZERO.
They are at 1 ppm, am i being neurotic?, should i even strive for clear on my Salifert kit. SPS look fine IMO, nice PE, color
120 BB
Dart CL, OM
Tunze 6080
Dual Penductors
MR-2 skimming on the wetter side
Rock were cured/cook, not for 12 weeks though
detrius is siphioned from sump and tank, 2-3 weeks
WC with IO, adjusted, 2-3 weeks
Sump with Cheato section and LR rubble.
My Cheato is not growing at all. In my CC 29 gallon it when rampant.
Reverse photoperiod for Cheato 36 Watt PC 7100K
Alk 3.08
Ca 480
pH 8.20
Sg 1.025
King-Kong
New member
BB Experts: It has become obvious that I need a cleanup crew (past my 2 mexican turbos).
I see ceriths and astreas are quite obviously the answer, but my question to you is: how many? I have a 90g with serious problems since I did not cook. I see keyscritters offers 100 of each for $60 total (and ill throw in 12 emeralds to help me w/ bubble algae). I do not know their costs for shipping, but etropicals will sell me 25 of each, and 10 emeralds for $100 including shipping. I have no idea what # I need, and what the tank can sustain. Also to consider: I have a sixline wrasse who likes to occaisionally flip over and eat snails, so he will slowly reduce my population.
Here is a photo from last night: http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/90g/61-fulltank.jpg
(the photo is a composition: I only have 1 clown, 1 sixline, 4 chromis, 1 sargassum trigger, and 1 bicolor blenny. also: how is this for bioload for a bb tank?)
Look at the bare bottom, the rocks, the back walls. I have a bryopsis problem a long with slimy diatoms.
I am using a toothbrush to scrub all my rocks, and i am siphoning both the bottom of the main tank, and my sump-settle area. I assuming my turn over is probably not enough (2x 1100 & 1x1500 seios, 1x500 return spray bar).
Also, I am considering adding a second ASM skimmer to my sump. Would this be a wise decision, or rather an effective one? I currently have an ASM G-2, and might be able to add an ASM G-3, or atleast another G-2.
Please help me, as my 1 hour a day+ maintenance is beginning to wear down my patience.
I see ceriths and astreas are quite obviously the answer, but my question to you is: how many? I have a 90g with serious problems since I did not cook. I see keyscritters offers 100 of each for $60 total (and ill throw in 12 emeralds to help me w/ bubble algae). I do not know their costs for shipping, but etropicals will sell me 25 of each, and 10 emeralds for $100 including shipping. I have no idea what # I need, and what the tank can sustain. Also to consider: I have a sixline wrasse who likes to occaisionally flip over and eat snails, so he will slowly reduce my population.
Here is a photo from last night: http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/90g/61-fulltank.jpg
(the photo is a composition: I only have 1 clown, 1 sixline, 4 chromis, 1 sargassum trigger, and 1 bicolor blenny. also: how is this for bioload for a bb tank?)
Look at the bare bottom, the rocks, the back walls. I have a bryopsis problem a long with slimy diatoms.
I am using a toothbrush to scrub all my rocks, and i am siphoning both the bottom of the main tank, and my sump-settle area. I assuming my turn over is probably not enough (2x 1100 & 1x1500 seios, 1x500 return spray bar).
Also, I am considering adding a second ASM skimmer to my sump. Would this be a wise decision, or rather an effective one? I currently have an ASM G-2, and might be able to add an ASM G-3, or atleast another G-2.
Please help me, as my 1 hour a day+ maintenance is beginning to wear down my patience.
elephen
In Memoriam
Makes me glad I'm cooking my rocks...
On the other hand I would definately stock up on astreas and ceriths for sure and possibly get the biggest skimmer your wallet and sump will let you.
I would do 50-80 ceriths and 50 astreas and see what kind of a dent those guys put in there. Or 100 of each since I'm sure you'll lose some in shipping and then some from acclimation - atleast that never seems to fail in killing a few astreas for me.
I would look at adding a closed loop or upgrading some of those Seios to a few Tunze's.
On the other hand I would definately stock up on astreas and ceriths for sure and possibly get the biggest skimmer your wallet and sump will let you.
I would do 50-80 ceriths and 50 astreas and see what kind of a dent those guys put in there. Or 100 of each since I'm sure you'll lose some in shipping and then some from acclimation - atleast that never seems to fail in killing a few astreas for me.
I would look at adding a closed loop or upgrading some of those Seios to a few Tunze's.
GROSSR
Active member
I lost almost all my coral, all my fish and almost all of my snails. I put everything back in the tank, and WOW is the hair algea growing. I will be taking down the tank for the 3rd time in 5 weeks.
I am currently cooking 3/4 of my rocks, the rest are in the tank collecting hair.
After reading this and a few other posts, if you can, break the tank down and cook the rocks. I can't believe what is settling on the bottom of about 8 or 10 large rocks.
I will install the starboard (IKEA cutting board) followed by eggcrate raised off the bottom.
I just wish I knew about this before the second break down. First one mostly wipe out the tank.
Rich
I am currently cooking 3/4 of my rocks, the rest are in the tank collecting hair.
After reading this and a few other posts, if you can, break the tank down and cook the rocks. I can't believe what is settling on the bottom of about 8 or 10 large rocks.
I will install the starboard (IKEA cutting board) followed by eggcrate raised off the bottom.
I just wish I knew about this before the second break down. First one mostly wipe out the tank.
Rich
King-Kong
New member
The problem I have now is aesthetics. My corals are growing and thriving. Infact, all of the frags seen came in cold and brown/RTN'ing from a FedEx delay. I have saved them all, all are coloring up, encrusting their bases, etc. etc.
Even my clam has grown an inch in the 1.5 months ive had it.
I think it is due to the fact that I am doing a lot of water changes and maintenance on the tank. I do 5 gal. water changes every few days, and then every couple weeks do an additional 25 gallon water change. Each water change I try to remove as detritus and algae as possible.
I cannot break the tank down. It's not an option, so I have to find alternative ways of getting that rock clean.
Even my clam has grown an inch in the 1.5 months ive had it.
I think it is due to the fact that I am doing a lot of water changes and maintenance on the tank. I do 5 gal. water changes every few days, and then every couple weeks do an additional 25 gallon water change. Each water change I try to remove as detritus and algae as possible.
I cannot break the tank down. It's not an option, so I have to find alternative ways of getting that rock clean.
smokez01
New member
guys, im seriously planning on taking down my 25g and converting to bb
i dont know whether to put a smiley face, or sad face
i am in so much depression lately when i look at my tank because the hair algae is going nuts, theres cyano starting to grow everywhere, i feel like i did everything wrong, and im upset about taking down my aquascape and corals that ive had for a month, they are just starting to grow, and i dont want to kill them, ive already lost 5 out of the 12, with one more going out the window
i am happy of the idea of having a clean a$$ tank, and hopefully my sps will thrive,
i am tired of the headaces its causing me, and the head aces of my mom who keeps asking me why all this green sh!t is growing everywhere
some questions are
when i take all of the sand and rock out, and leave the fish and corals on the egg crate, how long will they be OK and live on the egg crate?? and should i move them around once a week so that they do not encrust, but still grow ??
the only thing i am worried about is the rest of my corals dieing, i do not know how long they will be ok on the egg crate while everything else is cooking, etc
i feel like ive put so much heart and dedication into my little nano, now its just literaly throwing up, and its such a head ace
i dont know whether to put a smiley face, or sad face
i am in so much depression lately when i look at my tank because the hair algae is going nuts, theres cyano starting to grow everywhere, i feel like i did everything wrong, and im upset about taking down my aquascape and corals that ive had for a month, they are just starting to grow, and i dont want to kill them, ive already lost 5 out of the 12, with one more going out the window
i am happy of the idea of having a clean a$$ tank, and hopefully my sps will thrive,
i am tired of the headaces its causing me, and the head aces of my mom who keeps asking me why all this green sh!t is growing everywhere
some questions are
when i take all of the sand and rock out, and leave the fish and corals on the egg crate, how long will they be OK and live on the egg crate?? and should i move them around once a week so that they do not encrust, but still grow ??
the only thing i am worried about is the rest of my corals dieing, i do not know how long they will be ok on the egg crate while everything else is cooking, etc
i feel like ive put so much heart and dedication into my little nano, now its just literaly throwing up, and its such a head ace
headshrink
New member
I hear ya, right there with you.
In my experiences I often dread big jobs like this, but once I get involved in it I enjoy it again. Unfortunately I am not involved or enjoying it at the minute. I don't remember my last water change and you can barely see through the glass. I have let it go because I know I am going to restart it but am procrastinating. My GBM is like a roach.... you can't kill her. Not that I want to , I love that fish. She is the only reason I am doing that water change tonight.
