The "How to go Barebottom thread."

[jugger]

60+ lbs of LR may be a bit much for a 20 gallon tank.

As for the rock bed idea I would say that the inherent problems are twofold.
1. The ability to get flow down low to sweep the detritus up and to the skimmer would be hindered by all the rock.
2. The ability to siphon detritus out would be hindered by all the rock.

hth,
Sean

How about this idea to go barebottom but do it in a way with a false bottom (the plastic square grid stuff) about 1 inch of space under it. And put 2-3 inch pieces of live rock on the top it to cover it up. Then put two pumps on each side of the tank with one shooting water down into the false bottom to push debris to the other side of the tank where the other pump is. This pump would then suck the water and debris up and way to the skimmer.

thanks

 

[REEF-DADDY]

Water Changes

lol!

 

[Large Polyp Dave]

i've been running a 180BB tank with literally 2 trochus snails in there and no other clean up crew.

i don't definitely have fuzzy plumbing =) but the rocks are pretty clean...

maybe i'll step up the clean up crew heh

 

[causeofhim]

Large Polyp Dave - How long has this tank been set up? How is your bioload?

 

[verde_ad]

You know, I am kind of interested in the whole clean up crew in a bb tank as well. I am thinking about getting an H. Tusk for my BB reef, so that pretty much meens clean up crew is gone eventually. Would it be a bad decision to try and clean things manually, rather then the use of snails?

 

[REEF-DADDY]

You know, I am kind of interested in the whole clean up crew in a bb tank as well. I am thinking about getting an H. Tusk for my BB reef, so that pretty much meens clean up crew is gone eventually. Would it be a bad decision to try and clean things manually, rather then the use of snails?

When I first set up my 55g I waited a few months for the tank to build up algea. I did the best I could keeping things clean. The tank overall looked a little dingy and greenish(was not using RO water). When I added the clean up crew I placed them next to a piece of green Tonga branch rock. It was like a cartoon, as they made there way to the top purples, whites, an pinks came out. Within a few days the tank looked awesome and my nitrates even started to fall. I would not run any tank without a crew!

 

[Large Polyp Dave]

tank has been setup for 8 or 9 months.

bioload: pink tail trigger, yellow tang, flame angel, strawberry pseudochormis, small regal tang, 3 stripe damsel.

feed 1/4 sheet of nori and a pinch of pellets a each day

i didn't raise my rocks off the starboard though so I'm having a bit of a problem getting the detritus vacuumed out.

Do you guys think it's worth stripping down the tank and putting those plastic pegs to raise the rocks? I bet I have some nasty stuff breaking down in there.

(ignore those mspaint arrows heh)

 

[Large Polyp Dave]

the thing is, i WOULD add more snails. but i have some parasitic pyramid snails that are attacking my cleanup crew snails (although they have never touched the 5 clams in there.

i only found this thread today. and have been seriously contemplating stripping everything down and using something to lift the rocks.

i hate how after months and months of research. i discover that i screwed something up setting up =)


to the guys that are running BB setups the way it's supposed to be.. do you have any algae even in your overflows?

 

[Weatherman]

to the guys that are running BB setups the way it's supposed to be.. do you have any algae even in your overflows?

In my 120, which is my cleanest bare-bottom setup, I have a little bit of this:

And, a little bit of that:

I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t know what the first one is, but the second one is Dictyota

Both hitchhiked in on rocks that coral were attached to. Unfortunately, I havenââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t found anything that eats it, so I remove it by hand.

 

[Large Polyp Dave]

but that's all the algae you have?? wow.. that's what i want =)

weatherman.. i noticed in your picture you don't have any visible "rocks racks" or pegs lifting your rockwork.. How do you achieve high flowrates underneath the rocks in your 120? Just good pump placement?

 

[Weatherman]

How do you achieve high flowrates underneath the rocks in your 120? Just good pump placement?

Good rock selection and placementââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦

Almost all my rock is branching pieces with just the tips touching the bottom.

 

[Bomber]

I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t know what the first one is,

Liagora pinnata

Now it's a pain when your 'problem' algae is a reef crest algae that likes clean water too. LOL

 

[Weatherman]

Liagora pinnata

Any suggestions on what might like to eat it (or the Dictyota)?

The Dictyota is especially a pain to remove by hand because it sticks to the rocks.

 

[Bomber]

The only thing I've even found that really eats Y-branch is true emerald crabs.
And Atlantic surgeons and doctor fish eat the Liagora. But I don't think you want a school of those in your tank.

 

[mattrix]

Weatherman,

Good rock selection and placementïÃ"šÃ‚¿Ã"šÃ‚½

Did you get your rock locally or through mail order?

Thanks.

 

[Weatherman]

Weatherman,

Good rock selection and placementïÃ"šÃ‚¿Ã"šÃ‚½

Did you get your rock locally or through mail order?

Thanks.

I got it from locally from a store called Reef Life in Dania Beach, FL. They always have a good selection and I was able to pick and choose the exact pieces I wanted.

 

[Travis]

to the guys that are running BB setups the way it's supposed to be.. do you have any algae even in your overflows?

I won't lie, I do have some very small patches of derbesya and briopsis, although I don't like to admit it.:lol: I also have dictyota spread sporadically throughout the tank, which came in on an aquaculture plug. I do also get a little briopsis and derbesya in the overflow and overflow teeth. If I were to remove every speck of derbesya and bryopsis from my tank I would have about 2-3 Tablespoons full, so it isn't much but it is there.

 

[kimoyo]

Hey,
I just added water to my BB on Friday. I noticed yesterday some reddish/brown spots on the starboard and was wondering if anyone knew what it is.

If I rub on a spot it becomes like a powder and floats away. Any ideas? Thanks.
Paul

 

[easttn]

Diatoms or Detritis, I doubt Diatoms as you have no silica source. Get a big pump and keep that stuff off the bottom.

 

[Bomber]

I'd bet it's cyano.

All cyano needs is some phosphate. If you got a starboard with a plastisizer (phosphate) that's what's feeding it. It should leach out of the starboard real fast and be gone in a few days.