The "How to go Barebottom thread."
- Thread starter SeanT
- Start date
gordon2726
Member
Hey guys, I have a 20g BB tank with build-in refugium. Recently, my cheato is not growing and it's dying (brownlish color)... I am thinking about taking them out and add a 5w uv sterilizer in there with current DSB. What do you guys think of this?
juststartingout
New member
Well, I have been in the process of removing the sand. There are still small pockets here and there, and I keep adding to that by blowing the $*%t off of the rock.
One thing that I noticed so far is that my orp had stayed >390, where as before I had my AC2 trying to maintain 350-360, to do this, the ozonizer was on much of the time, keeping me busy baking beads frequently.
One thing that I noticed so far is that my orp had stayed >390, where as before I had my AC2 trying to maintain 350-360, to do this, the ozonizer was on much of the time, keeping me busy baking beads frequently.
FranktheTankTx
New member
SeanT,
What do you personally feel about a DSB in the refugium of a BB display tank?
I have a AquaFuge2 that I am uncertain if I want to do a 5" sand bed w/ chaeto or some rubble w/ chaeto.
I have a very, very good skimmer on my 36g corner (Bermuda 3C).
So I don't know if I need a DSB... maybe the rubble would provide more safe spots for pods???
What do you personally feel about a DSB in the refugium of a BB display tank?
I have a AquaFuge2 that I am uncertain if I want to do a 5" sand bed w/ chaeto or some rubble w/ chaeto.
I have a very, very good skimmer on my 36g corner (Bermuda 3C).
So I don't know if I need a DSB... maybe the rubble would provide more safe spots for pods???
Larry Waughon
Active member
I would say not a lot of difference. From existig tank would cost you less.
prodman
Active member
Thats what I thought, The used rock was nice and cheap.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12940252#post12940252 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeanT
If you are going to "cook" it then use the one with the most desirable sizes and shapes.
Those being equal, go by price.
easye123
New member
Hey SeanT,
i have not been happy with my sps tank the past several months due to an old sand bed that doesnt seem to be helpin with sps. (old pictures can be seen in my thread) Ive had my tank set up for two years and for the first year and a half I was getting great color and growth then went down hill from there. Soo I think its time to go BB.
Heres my current equipment:
90g rr, 3000gph of flow, ER rs 135 skimmer, 30g sump.
I have a 120lbs of LR that will need to be cooked for 5-6weeks im assuming. That will be perfect to get some anoying majano anems that have grown. I will need to add tons more flow so I think its that time I need to get that vortech I allways wanted. I need to get some filter socks goin. I usually run my skimmer wet soo that will be good. I will need to get in the habit of siphoning bi weekly or weekly. I have 8 fish, 6 or soo lps, and two sps colonies(gave everything else away) Will they be fine in the tank with no rock or sand for a while. Should I keep my fuge goin until the rock is cooked? Im part of a big clube here in the Dallas/Fort worth area... would it be a better idea to have somebody house the fish and corals till my tank is ready? AM I missin anything.
i have not been happy with my sps tank the past several months due to an old sand bed that doesnt seem to be helpin with sps. (old pictures can be seen in my thread) Ive had my tank set up for two years and for the first year and a half I was getting great color and growth then went down hill from there. Soo I think its time to go BB.
Heres my current equipment:
90g rr, 3000gph of flow, ER rs 135 skimmer, 30g sump.
I have a 120lbs of LR that will need to be cooked for 5-6weeks im assuming. That will be perfect to get some anoying majano anems that have grown. I will need to add tons more flow so I think its that time I need to get that vortech I allways wanted. I need to get some filter socks goin. I usually run my skimmer wet soo that will be good. I will need to get in the habit of siphoning bi weekly or weekly. I have 8 fish, 6 or soo lps, and two sps colonies(gave everything else away) Will they be fine in the tank with no rock or sand for a while. Should I keep my fuge goin until the rock is cooked? Im part of a big clube here in the Dallas/Fort worth area... would it be a better idea to have somebody house the fish and corals till my tank is ready? AM I missin anything.
SeanT
Premium Member
Hi easye,
Pre-build a few frag racks from PVC and eggcrate to place your corals on, make the height close to where they are now.
I would take the rock out in segments.
The top layer of rock first, that which isn't in contact with the sand bed.
This will help keep the storms and other things to a minimum.
Start "cooking" that straight off.
Then, piece by piece begin removing the rest of the rock.
At this point I would definitely leave the fuge online to help water quality.
Whether you wish to remove the sandbed right away, or wait a little later down the road is your call.
When you do, drain as much of the tank water as you can before you scoop it out (saves on making so much RODI).
I find that a regular old dustpan works GREAT for taking out the sand.
To get the last bits of grain in there, you can either take the tank to the yard and hose it out, or wet-vac that bad boy.
You may find yourself with too much rock at the end of this.
Remember a lot of flow is fun, but the most important thing is how you use it.
Vortechs, like Tunze can be placed at the bottom of the tank to keep detritus in suspension, into the overflows and into the skimmer. The "Poop Loop."
If you want to go gangbusters, by some acrylic rods from an online vendor like US Plastics (a few pennies per foot).
Drill a few 3/4" deep holes in the bottom of your base rock to keep it elevated off the bottom of your tank.
It is a lot cleaner looking than eggcrate, and detritus won't pool like it does if the rock is in direct contact with the glass.
Whether you chose to line the bottom of your tank with Starboard or not is your call.
IMO, it is purely for aesthetics...I like black, makes corals pop.
Siphon weekly after you put the rock back in until it is done sluffing.
Then siphon as needed.
Filter socks are great for the first few months but after that you should not need them and can easily siphon the area in the sump where detritus settles, generally in front of a baffle.
Once you notice your macros stop growing/receeding. it is time to ditch the fuge. Turn it into a frag growout tank.
If you want to have a babysitter for the corals thats cool.
The fish will be fine.
Throw some larger PVC couplings in the tank so they have "houses".
Less stress on the fish that way.
Hope this helps,
Sean
Pre-build a few frag racks from PVC and eggcrate to place your corals on, make the height close to where they are now.
I would take the rock out in segments.
The top layer of rock first, that which isn't in contact with the sand bed.
This will help keep the storms and other things to a minimum.
Start "cooking" that straight off.
Then, piece by piece begin removing the rest of the rock.
At this point I would definitely leave the fuge online to help water quality.
Whether you wish to remove the sandbed right away, or wait a little later down the road is your call.
When you do, drain as much of the tank water as you can before you scoop it out (saves on making so much RODI).
I find that a regular old dustpan works GREAT for taking out the sand.
To get the last bits of grain in there, you can either take the tank to the yard and hose it out, or wet-vac that bad boy.
You may find yourself with too much rock at the end of this.
Remember a lot of flow is fun, but the most important thing is how you use it.
Vortechs, like Tunze can be placed at the bottom of the tank to keep detritus in suspension, into the overflows and into the skimmer. The "Poop Loop."
If you want to go gangbusters, by some acrylic rods from an online vendor like US Plastics (a few pennies per foot).
Drill a few 3/4" deep holes in the bottom of your base rock to keep it elevated off the bottom of your tank.
It is a lot cleaner looking than eggcrate, and detritus won't pool like it does if the rock is in direct contact with the glass.
Whether you chose to line the bottom of your tank with Starboard or not is your call.
IMO, it is purely for aesthetics...I like black, makes corals pop.
Siphon weekly after you put the rock back in until it is done sluffing.
Then siphon as needed.
Filter socks are great for the first few months but after that you should not need them and can easily siphon the area in the sump where detritus settles, generally in front of a baffle.
Once you notice your macros stop growing/receeding. it is time to ditch the fuge. Turn it into a frag growout tank.
If you want to have a babysitter for the corals thats cool.
The fish will be fine.
Throw some larger PVC couplings in the tank so they have "houses".
Less stress on the fish that way.
Hope this helps,
Sean
easye123
New member
Thanx for all the info!! Great information in this thread. The only part im still pondering about is starboard or no starboard. Does it really trape detritus that much? Also right now i only have twenty astreas, 4 turbos, and various red leg hermits. I will be taken out all crabs though eventually. How many astreas and ceriths would be a good start? Cant wait to get this process goin and get my tank back in gear. My tank was lookin soo good for a couple years getting great growth and color, then bam looks nothin like it once did.
Another thing I was thinking about is relocating my sump so that I can elevate it for easier siphoning if anything were to build up over time. Its not that hard though to drain my 30g(probably only 20g of actually volume). I wet vac the last bits.
Ill keep ya updated.
Evan
Another thing I was thinking about is relocating my sump so that I can elevate it for easier siphoning if anything were to build up over time. Its not that hard though to drain my 30g(probably only 20g of actually volume). I wet vac the last bits.
Ill keep ya updated.
Evan
Heres an update on mine nitrate still reads 0 and I dont test for phosphate as I always get 0.(It has been exactly 1 month since I removed my sand and the bottom is already covered in coralline).
I have continued with bioclean (prodibio) since I removed the sand, the flow is a vortech and a 1500gph return, I am waiting on a second gen two vortech and a grotech dosing system also a lumenarc mini reflectoer and some 12 k reeflux bulbs to go with my 400watt coralife ballast.
The detritus has really dropped off over the last week, and the corals color is starting to return.
some pics
I have continued with bioclean (prodibio) since I removed the sand, the flow is a vortech and a 1500gph return, I am waiting on a second gen two vortech and a grotech dosing system also a lumenarc mini reflectoer and some 12 k reeflux bulbs to go with my 400watt coralife ballast.
The detritus has really dropped off over the last week, and the corals color is starting to return.
some pics
Great thread SeanT.... Kinda like a LOOOONNNGG novel..LOL.... Still making my way through it all...
I was just sent a link to this thread a couple days ago by a friend and it addresses an issue I am going through at this time.... I have a 265 display tank with about 150 lbs of live rock... The reef has been running for about 5 years.. But in the past 9 months I got a huge Bryopsis breakout… Tried everything .. And nothing worked…
About 3 weeks ago I took all my live rock out and was barely able to place it in both my 42 gal fuge and 45 gal frag tanks (nothing else in these tanks of course). Scraped as much algae off the rocks... Rinsed them and covered the tanks to get total darkness... But these tanks are still in line with my whole system...
(265 display / 55 gal sump / 40 gal DSB / 42 gal fuge and 45 frag)
To date nothing has spiked…. 99% of bryopsis gone…. I have not “swishedâ€Â, but I intend to do so… Especially that I have notice a lot of “stuff†at the bottom of the tanks, which I have siphoned a few times.
Therefore by putting the rocks in total darkness we get:
“ "cooking" your rocks is to have the bacteria consume all (or as much) organic material and PO4 stored on, and in, the rock as possible†and “The new environment you are creating for your rock is to take it from an algal driven to a bacterial driven system.â€Â
Question: IYO do you think that a stagnant tub (as you suggest) or my in line tanks make much difference in the “cooking†process???
I have had a few people tell me that they placed the rocks in darkness for a couple of months.. Replaced them in their tank… And the bryopsis came back…
What happened with your rocks and the bryopsis???
I was just sent a link to this thread a couple days ago by a friend and it addresses an issue I am going through at this time.... I have a 265 display tank with about 150 lbs of live rock... The reef has been running for about 5 years.. But in the past 9 months I got a huge Bryopsis breakout… Tried everything .. And nothing worked…
About 3 weeks ago I took all my live rock out and was barely able to place it in both my 42 gal fuge and 45 gal frag tanks (nothing else in these tanks of course). Scraped as much algae off the rocks... Rinsed them and covered the tanks to get total darkness... But these tanks are still in line with my whole system...
(265 display / 55 gal sump / 40 gal DSB / 42 gal fuge and 45 frag)
To date nothing has spiked…. 99% of bryopsis gone…. I have not “swishedâ€Â, but I intend to do so… Especially that I have notice a lot of “stuff†at the bottom of the tanks, which I have siphoned a few times.
Therefore by putting the rocks in total darkness we get:
“ "cooking" your rocks is to have the bacteria consume all (or as much) organic material and PO4 stored on, and in, the rock as possible†and “The new environment you are creating for your rock is to take it from an algal driven to a bacterial driven system.â€Â
Question: IYO do you think that a stagnant tub (as you suggest) or my in line tanks make much difference in the “cooking†process???
I have had a few people tell me that they placed the rocks in darkness for a couple of months.. Replaced them in their tank… And the bryopsis came back…
What happened with your rocks and the bryopsis???
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