The "How to go Barebottom thread."

[Aqua Keepers]

Pics a lil blurry. What is it
I can't remember where I read it, but some guy put his LR on his roof (100*+ heat) for a few weeks in the summer to dry it out. When he finally put it back in the tank (with no other LR) some corals started to regrow.

 

[cl2ysta1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12611390#post12611390 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cl2ysta1
we've done that with our tank. we are far from covered, but since we started out with all frags i think it is coming along nicely

Tank in january of 08

tank today

ALMOST one year update. One month off

Here it is!!!!

 

[cl2ysta1]

 

[trueblackpercula]

where on earth did you get such a large clam?
Michael

 

[adamblackburn22]

Is there anywhere else to get starboard locally(homedepot,Lowes,Etc)? Also do you glue it down with anything or is it just held down with rock? Does it cover in Coraline Algae rather fast? I have a 18x36 inch tank with a rounded corner overflow(AGA), Does anyone know around how much it will cost to cover the bottom of my tank.

 

[agsansoo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13951760#post13951760 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adamblackburn22
Is there anywhere else to get starboard locally(homedepot,Lowes,Etc)? Also do you glue it down with anything or is it just held down with rock? Does it cover in Coraline Algae rather fast? I have a 18x36 inch tank with a rounded corner overflow(AGA), Does anyone know around how much it will cost to cover the bottom of my tank.

My tank is a 65 gallon also. I used (2) regular Wal-Mart cutting boards from the kitchen section. Make sure it's a polyethylene plastic cutting board. And no you don't glue it to the bottom. Just the weight of your live rock will hold it down. As for the coraline algae, it flakes off of mine with time. I'm trying to cove the bottom front with zoa's.

 

[poknsnok]

do you BB guys run a remote DSB or fuge??

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

I have a large fuge (a 30 breeder and a 20)

No RDS for me.....

 

[agsansoo]

Fuge yes ... No sand, anywhere.

 

[rhunter513]

ok I finally made it through this very long but good thread.

I have a few questions...

To start:

1.) I am trying to understand the basis of this thread. Are all you bb converts coming over from the DSB camp? If so, is this the reason to "cook" the live rock? What about the people who want to go from a ssb - an inch or less - to a bb?

2.) Why does live rock "shed" after you remove the sand bed - deep of shallow?

3.) What really is the difference between "cooking" rock and "curing" rock? I think I read a post on this thread that said if you set up a new tank with a bb you should still "cook" your rock even if you know it is truly cured....why?

 

[SeanT]

Hi,

1. Not everyone comes from a DSB.
Many come from SSB, crushed coral etc.
The instructions are the same.

2, The rock "sheds" due to the bacteria boring into the rock and consuming the P (phosphates) in the pores.

This act, is much more efficient, and faster, if you "cook" the rocks in a separate tub.

3. IME you should "cook" your rock whether you go BB, DSB, SSB, CC, Plenum or whatever.
I HONESTLY believe that "cooking" live rock is the single best act of husbandry any reefer can do for themselves.

The differece in "cooking" and curing is pretty easy.
Curing you go through the ammonia cycle and you're ready to go.
Curing is about removing the large rotting pieces on the rock and building a bacterial population.

"Cooking" can be done with cured or uncured rock (if the rock is uncured, it will be cured when you are done "cooking it).
The main difference is the dunking and the swishing and waterchanges that clean the rock.

 

[SeanT]

Let me give you a real life example of how great "cooked" rock is.

I have been in the process of upgrading my 180 to a 300 gallon cube.
This process has been going on for about 400 years or so it seems to my wife.

I started "cooking" the rock in my tank and some really skanky rock I got in trade.

I "cooked" this rock for a few months, then took it out of the tubs, let it dry, so I could build the rock formations for my new setup.

This rock had been out of water for 4 weeks when I finally got around to setting up my new tank 3 Sunday's ago.

I put this rock in the new tank, filled it with water, brought it up to temp and dumped my fish and corals in with absolutely no fear of an ammonia spike killing anything.

To be safe, I checked the big 3 levels for a few days.
All at zero.

You see, if the rock has been cleaned of the majority of phosphates and crud then there is nothing to cause a spike.

The bacteria on the small pieces of rock that has corals attached on to them simply multiplied in a few hours and I was good to go.

My corals have never looked better by the way.

 

[causeofhim]

Would love to see some pics Sean.

 

[SeanT]

Soon, soon.
I have a lot of pics in my build thread though.

Click me red house matey!

 

[causeofhim]

I've been following that thread as well. I want to see some pics with water at least, but corals would be great!

 

[SeanT]

I will make it happen.

 

[agsansoo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14006052#post14006052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeanT


The differece in "cooking" and curing is pretty easy.
Curing you go through the ammonia cycle and you're ready to go.
Curing is about removing the large rotting pieces on the rock and building a bacterial population.

I think Sean meant "Cooking is about removing the large rotting pieces on the rock and building a bacterial population".

 

[rhunter513]

Thanks for the reply Sean - I will consider this.

 

[SnookSlayer08]

Great thread, going BB soon on my 24gallon aquapod and your advice really helped. just one thing, is it ok not to use either starboard or the rack, i'm fine with ou the starboard and the rack would just make it hrder to get the detrius out because it would get under the rack.

 

[causeofhim]

What "rack" are you referring to?

You do not need starboard. People use it so they have somthing covering/protecting the bottom glass.