The "How to go Barebottom thread."

[SeanT]

Hey Sean,
If you cover the tub doesn't that inhibit oxygenation? Are the bacteria that are at work anaerobic or aerobic or both(I'm assuming both)? If the tub lid is cracked to allow a bit of air in wouldn't a fan be a good idea? I know I think too much but I can't help it
thanks, Chris

Hi Chris,
The tub needs to be covered to prevent light from coming in.
Having said that, it doesnt mean sealing it all the way.
Loosely covered or even cracked at one end is fine.
No need for a fan.
Thinking too much is a good thing.
Sean

 

[fishdoc11]

Thanks Sean

 

[bluebentgrass]

Do you cook your rocks often? The difference in temps sounds as if rock cooking is a maintance thing. Or do you have that many tanks?

 

[SeanT]

"Cooking" them once is generally all that is needed.
It lets you begin your tank with a fresh start.
Or it helps an old tank get rid of most of the stored up nutrients.

 

[Larry Waughon]

My cooking tubs have been anywhere between 60-90 without problems.

Thanks SeanT

So no heater required?

 

[bluebentgrass]

Rock cooking makes no sense. Why do you really need to cook rock?vaccuming a sand bed 25% a month makes all the sense in the world.

 

[fishdoc11]

Just think of cooking rock being the same as vacuming it, from the inside out

 

[bluebentgrass]

Do you cook it often?I have a friend that has thought about bare bottom cooked rock but cant find any picutre convincing enough to go bb versus sand bed.
SEAN being the main man i would expect to see picture that would justify this attempt howvere all is see is a dying clam and dark acros!???:eek1:

 

[bluebentgrass]

jesus jesus
This is a borderline cult or a self-help group.

 

[kimoyo]

Sorry to interrupt your discussion bluebentgrass but I have a follow-up question about my brown spot algae issues.

So the brown spot stuff,

went away. It was on the starboard and rocks but cleared up about 4-5 days after it started. Now it got replaced by green algae which is only covering the rocks mainly. What do you guys think? Is this just part of a cycle? I must have phosphate in the system correct but where do you think its coming from? Fish food or the rocks (base rock from www.reeferrocks.com) or what? I've had phosban running since I started the system. But I did have the tank running with lights, rock and fresh water(without salt) for several weeks and no algae, any ideas? Thanks.

 

[headshrink]

Rock cooking makes no sense. Why do you really need to cook rock?vaccuming a sand bed 25% a month makes all the sense in the world.

I haven't tried it myself, so I have no DIRECT experience, but I know someone who has and have been reading up on it. Whether you agree with cooking a new setup or not, it stands to reason that down the road if you have problems with nusince algae, it may be a very viable option at that point to take care of the problem. I would like to see long term results for someonw who started a new setup with cooked rock compaired to someone who didn't. I don't want to tear my tank apart, cook, and then do it again later. I myself am considering cooking my soon to be out of control rock.

 

[headshrink]

What is starboard?

I am confused about reintroducing the rock.... does it cycle or half-cycle again?

If you did your rock a little at a time, wouldn't the stuff still in the tank contaminate the freshly cooked rock that is put back in?

Also, without starting a whole new disscussion here, if I didn't want the look of BB could I use about an inch of sand and not run into DSB issues?

 

[SeanT]

Thanks SeanT

So no heater required?

3
You are welcome.
I see you are in Illinois.
If it were winter time and your tubs were in a non-heated room then you may consider a heater.
If not, then no need.

Sean

 

[SeanT]

What is starboard?

I am confused about reintroducing the rock.... does it cycle or half-cycle again?

If you did your rock a little at a time, wouldn't the stuff still in the tank contaminate the freshly cooked rock that is put back in?

Also, without starting a whole new disscussion here, if I didn't want the look of BB could I use about an inch of sand and not run into DSB issues?

Starboard is a brand name of cutting board.
Check out http://www.cuttingboardcompany.com/

The rock, if 'cooked' correctly does NOT cause a cycle at all.

The contamination is built up over a long time.
It isn't so much of a contamination as it is the pores of your rocks that are chock full of nutrients.

You'd be worse off with the ssb over the dsb imo.
Unless you regularly vacuumed it.
A dsb does have the ability to procees.

Sean

 

[bluebentgrass]

Show me the money! i mean tank!!
wow now that a call. Do you americans understand that?

 

[bluebentgrass]

Paul kymoyo not that it matter buyt what kindif any at all reactor media are you using and do younotice the brown spots recede with water changes?
Sounds like a micronutrient difficiency

 

[Bomber]

. It was on the starboard and rocks but cleared up about 4-5 days after it started. Now it got replaced by green algae which is only covering the rocks mainly. What do you guys think? Is this just part of a cycle? I must have phosphate in the system correct but where do you think its coming from? Fish food or the rocks (base rock from www.reeferrocks.com) or what?

Paul, it's coming from your reeferrocks.

Here's their "rock chart" showing that their rocks contain 5ppm phosphate.
.05ppm is considered hyper-eutrophic - notice the decimal and zero.

and here's a thread on those rocks discussing this

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=5852449#post5852449

 

[bluebentgrass]

Why wouldnt the ca at 400ppm quickly precipitate the po4?I understand high po4 with low ca bu high ca?? Chemically it makes no sense

 

[nbd13]

bluebentgrass- try the chemistry forum here on RC. i am sure you will find what you want there and not de-rail the threads in the SPS forum.

now can we get back on track, so far this has been an excellent read!

Nick

 

[arconom]

Bomber if it was seeded then cooked would that take care of the high Phosphate level?

I asked you this before but that was on Hirocks not reeferrocks.

I ordered 35 pounds of Reefer Rock that I plan on seeding then cooking for my 120 next year. I will be ordering more.