The "How to go Barebottom thread."
- Thread starter SeanT
- Start date
REEF-n-Chicago
New member
I have a large fuge (a 30 breeder and a 20)
No RDS for me.....
No RDS for me.....
rhunter513
New member
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?
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
Premium Member
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.
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
Premium Member
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.
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
New member
Would love to see some pics Sean.
causeofhim
New member
I've been following that thread as well. I want to see some pics with water at least, but corals would be great!
rhunter513
New member
Thanks for the reply Sean - I will consider this.
SnookSlayer08
New member
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
New member
What "rack" are you referring to?
You do not need starboard. People use it so they have somthing covering/protecting the bottom glass.
You do not need starboard. People use it so they have somthing covering/protecting the bottom glass.
SnookSlayer08
New member
Well tomorrow, i'm sucking the sand out, printed your first post out and following those guidelines, already took two rocks out tonight and cooking them already.
jaxspsreef
Member
thanks for all the useful info, very nice thread!!
SnookSlayer08
New member
Sean, I've been cooking the rocks for just over a week and changed the water in the tub yestrday and it was amazing allthe crap that they shed, especially when i shook them! My room smelled horrible from the detrius for like an hour, next time I'm swishing them out side.
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