The "How to go Barebottom thread."

[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

 

[matt the fiddler]

somes times i stick my filer sock on, and blast my rocks and by bare bottom with my tunze a few times in a half hour.. just to get all that i can't see.. works almost better than siphoning.. i got set backwards a bit last month by my skimmer clogging when i was on break.. algae blooms lol

 

[APFish]

I thought that we were discussing that. I just didn't want to be the only idiot not using a mechanical filter. I think that I am going to do one at a time that way I can cook my rock. It is going to be a little crowded but I think that it is for the better.
As always I appreciate people in the know giving their advice for those that are just seeking anwsers.

Rob

 

[APFish]

one other thing, is adding ozone essential? I have read threads about it and some are just suggesting using it part of the time? What is the opinion there.

Rob

 

[causeofhim]

Re: The "How to go Barebottom thread."

Two other nice to have (but not needed drastically) pieces of equipment are an ozone generator and/or UV sterilizer (both should be rated for your system.
I have both and like it that way.
Either is fine, but if you get an ozone generator I highly recommend you purchase an ORP monitor with probe, or better yet an ORP controller with probe (though I do not feel the controller is totally necessary).

[/B]

 

[easttn]

one other thing, is adding ozone essential? I have read threads about it and some are just suggesting using it part of the time? What is the opinion there.

Rob

Not essential imo, but I do own one. It is on a controller but basically on 24/7 and set to 450 I believe.

 

[samsfishnchips]

ozone 100% needed not, but I do love the results

ok, here is my raisers, and using a mag7 to keep the bottom clean, though about using something with gentle flow like a tunze or seio, but down there force is better

oh, and sorry about the tang in the way, this one loves to get in the way

definitely this needs to be done to keep the bottom clean, only thing I must add is, I added pieces of acrylic on the top of the tubes so no wasted accumulates inside the tubes,

a must for any seriously about BB,

sam