The "How to go Barebottom thread."

[olkeller]

I just placed my order for my bottom from the cutting board factory at the rate I'm going I ought to have my bb set up in september of 2010 any ways I'm really grateful for this thread and that one weatherman posted about from scratch.

 

[Travis]

Travis, do you mind telling us the materials used

Black eggcrate and 1" pvc risers painted black with underwater epoxy from aquatic eco systems. Each riser was drilled with 2 small holes to allow them to be attached to the eggcrate with black cable ties.

 

[concept3]

Obviously not as nice as Travis' rock rack and setup, but it's for a different purpose. I built a "cage" for my Megaflow since I hated the way it looks. I also wanted to make sure that the LR I placed on top of it had ample space to help detritus flow into the return. This is what I came up with. 1/2" PVC glued together, and I drilled hundereds of holes in them to get better water circulation.

Looks like I spent a fortune in Premium Fiji Rock which is ALL I have. No base rock here. I must have used less than 90 lbs.

I made PEGLEGS for those larger pieces of LR that were designated for the bottom of the tank. I did 3 large boulders this way. The pegs were cut plastic coat hangers jammed in with Epoxy Putty.

 

[matt the fiddler]

the pegs are nice

 

[WILDTHING]

Here's mine, I used coat hanger legs too but I made mine taller to be sure the flow from my 2 seio 1500's was unobstructed. I thought I'd put them in the back of the reef but they are so big they would have made it difficult to place the rock so I could access them for cleaning. So instead I placed them on the left side of the tank blowing to the right side which I've made my settling area. As a bonus my tang loves to go under there and shoot the rapids. I also won't be losing frags anymore.

Here is a pic of what the foundation looks like

lots of holes and spaces for flow and detritus to fall through to the bottom so it can be swept away. This is the right side of the tank, the heavier stuff accumulates here while the lighter stuff gets swept to the overflow above

I even gave my clam legs

If it seems like stuff is getting trapped behind the corals I've placed on the floor I can easily make tiny legs for them as well.

Full tank shot taken the day after the conversion

 

[Zaphod]

Obviously not as nice as Travis' rock rack and setup, but it's for a different purpose. I built a "cage" for my Megaflow since I hated the way it looks. I also wanted to make sure that the LR I placed on top of it had ample space to help detritus flow into the return. This is what I came up with. 1/2" PVC glued together, and I drilled hundereds of holes in them to get better water circulation.

do you have the actual stand hooked up to a closed loop? I am thinking of doing the same idea on the stand and pluming it in.

 

[concept3]

do you have the actual stand hooked up to a closed loop? I am thinking of doing the same idea on the stand and pluming it in.

Nope, I wish I did that in the beginning, but it still worked out Okay with water circulation. Detritus collects at the rear left edge of the rock pile only since my Two Tunze's flow converge into the opening of the "cave"

Plus, I wanted to get the thing done and over with, and I didn't want to drill two more holes on the bottom of the RR AGA tank. I wasn't about ready to have more plumbing above the tank for the Closed Loop, if you know what I mean.

 

[Zaphod]

I am getting mine underway soon I will have a dart hooked up to my 90 gal n the closed loop with a OM 4 way. I am thinking of putting one of the closed loop holes up to the plming in the rock work. I wan't to do everything right on this tank In my 55 I have a hair algea problem because of too much ditrus (spelling) building up every where over the past 2 years but it was my first tanjk and everyone is happy but there is definete room for improvment on the new project.

 

[SeanT]

Awesome rock racks.
The importance of not letting detritus pool in areas you can't get to is high.

Sean

 

[wastememphis]

concept3: I love the idea of putting pegs on the bottom of the bottom rocks. What kind of drill would you need to do that? That would not only make it easy to keep the bottom clean but to make the rockwork more stable. Good idea.

 

[WILDTHING]

concept3: I love the idea of putting pegs on the bottom of the bottom rocks. What kind of drill would you need to do that? That would not only make it easy to keep the bottom clean but to make the rockwork more stable. Good idea.

The rock is actually very soft, I used my Makita with masonry bits. You need very little pressure to make a nice hole. If I could do it all again I'd order some acrylic rods instead of the coat hangers. The rods can be ordered at an exact size that you can also get a bit to correspond to whereas the coat hangers tho they look and seem the same size in actuality varied from piece to piece so you have to play with it. Also the taller you make your legs the more wiggle you get with the coat hangers so you need to add more legs, again not an issue with acrylic.

 

[concept3]

^

what he said

 

[concept3]

Actually, on the spots that the bit doesn't go through easily, I just dribble a little saltwater in it, and that seems to get it going faster since it turns to "mud"

I also used coat hangers since they were easy to get, and if I needed to trim a leg or two for balnce or placement, It was easy enough to cut with a pair of cutters. (I would imagine you may need a dremel for an acrylic rod.) I actually made the rods longer than normal, and I trimmed to get that "perfect" balance. I used 3 legs on most of my pegleg rocks.



Using dowels and putty, I was also able to create my own Live Rock bridge or arch, just like here:

I found the pieces that interlocked the best naturally, and I used the dowels to hold them permanently and sealed the edges with putty to fill in the "gaps"

here it is

Finished product after rods are trimmed.

 

[Holokai]

...

I need a note book to write all these great Ideas down...

 

[wastememphis]

i need a few note books haha. do you know where to buy accrylic rods?

 

[Konadog]

i need a few note books haha. do you know where to buy accrylic rods?

Try US Plastic , they usualy have everything.

 

[wastememphis]

yeah they have some nice ones, they're cheap too... I just found it after I posted the question. Links below...


for anyone whos intrested

 

[APFish]

OK, after following all this for months I am going to break down and do it. I have one question so please don't yell. I am running this tank with no filtration? If I am heavy skimming and getting rid of the Poop before it is need to be absorbed by the "plant life" in the tank or bio filter? I am trying to clear all my bases because I am really wanting to make this jump. Before I do I want to get everything in order. I have a double system, 2-55 gallon tanks running through a fuge. So if I make the jump, I would delete the fuge and just simple heavy skim both tanks, add Ozone and a UV set and I am ready?

Rob

 

[matt the fiddler]

Basically the live rock are your filter

the fuge and DSB tries to take a load of them...

wet skimming pulls crap beofre it has a chance to settle and rot, so you don't need the extra "dirtier" method of filtering.

 

[SeanT]

I am running this tank with no filtration?

Not at all.
Your skimmer is filtration, your live rock is filtration, your clean up crew makes your skimmers job easier (read my sig line).
And, of course, don't forget the siphoning out of detritus (manual removal before it breaks down - and doesn't get skimmed.)

hth,
Sean