question about bare bottom or dsb

sw_addicted · 02-23-2004, 03:49 PM

I have large crushed coral as my substate and now it is all purple, green, or red. I was going to change out 1/4 of it for sand every 2 weeks until I was done for my mandarin to keep his food supply. Now that I have read witfull's post on bare bottom I am liking the idea of giving that a shot but my concern is most of my lr weighs 45pds each and my tank is glass(I have only seen one rock slide when I was cleaning once)I don't want to loose the bottom of my tank. I was wondering if there was something that could be set on the bottom of the tank just for insurance? As far as the mandarin I have another tank for him but I would like to keep him in this tank is this possible with a 55 sump or can I add a 55 gallon refuge? I have an idea that I would like to add another 55 to this system anyway.

BoomerD · 02-23-2004, 03:53 PM

A lot of people who go to the bare bottom tanks use starboard or nylon cutting board to protect the bottoms of their tanks. Here's a link to one of the places where many have ordered their pieces from:
The Cutting Board Company

sw_addicted · 02-23-2004, 04:09 PM

hey BoomerD thanks someone sent me a pic of yours on another forum and thats what I'm talking about that looks great.

NaH2O · 02-23-2004, 04:18 PM

An idea I had was a piece of acrylic cut to the size of the bottom for the rock to sit on.

Montanareefer · 02-23-2004, 05:20 PM

I believe people also use PVC piping and make a frame and lay it on the bottom as well.

Scooterman · 02-23-2004, 05:32 PM

I have some rather large pieces of LR right on my glass, I've read this from a book called "The new Marine Aquarium" or something of the sorts, the author has been reefing for over 35 years!

nigle · 02-23-2004, 07:04 PM

Oi!

I started a 10 gal 'Berlin' tank. The one thing that I have noticed is that the 'crap' that does accumulate at the bottom never stays in a good area for me to syphon it out. I have a small powerhead at the bottom in a corner, and a Mini-Pengiun for the filter. I have been using a H.O.T. Magnum on 'cleaning days' to 'move the crap around' and be trapped in the Magum filter. I'm thinking about replacing the Mini and going with the Magnum full time. I figure that a fully loaded filter with 1/3 activate carbon; 1/3 nitrate sponge; 1/3 floss etc. should last over a month. It's 'overkill' but the mini is just not moving the 'crap' as I thought it would.

A question for the people out there that read this thread: How often do you actively try to get out the accumulated 'crap' that builds up?

I know the 'idea' of the bare bottom is that the chances of the 'crap' building up is lessened, but I can see that unless you suspent ALL THE ROCK off the bottom and keep the water flowing very fast [which really annoyes my hermits] it's just not working well.

Cheers!
nigle
!~!

mojoreef · 02-23-2004, 07:35 PM

Hey Nigle your not so much looking for really fast flow as you are for flow in the right spots. On setting you rocks you are looking for as little areas for it to get caught up in as possible. No matter how good you are at it you will get a few spots where it will builds up no matter what. For me I usually go in once a week with a small powerhead and blow off the rocks and blow the little trapped amounts out. I dont syphon it just get in back in the water for the skimmer to get. Once a month I will take a canister filter like you and give it a once over.

Mike

02-23-2004, 03:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
sw_addicted Star Polyps Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 165 View Gallery Karma Komment	question about bare bottom or dsb I have large crushed coral as my substate and now it is all purple, green, or red. I was going to change out 1/4 of it for sand every 2 weeks until I was done for my mandarin to keep his food supply. Now that I have read witfull's post on bare bottom I am liking the idea of giving that a shot but my concern is most of my lr weighs 45pds each and my tank is glass(I have only seen one rock slide when I was cleaning once)I don't want to loose the bottom of my tank. I was wondering if there was something that could be set on the bottom of the tank just for insurance? As far as the mandarin I have another tank for him but I would like to keep him in this tank is this possible with a 55 sump or can I add a 55 gallon refuge? I have an idea that I would like to add another 55 to this system anyway.

02-23-2004, 04:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	An idea I had was a piece of acrylic cut to the size of the bottom for the rock to sit on. __________________ ~Nikki~

02-23-2004, 05:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
Scooterman Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 1,239 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have some rather large pieces of LR right on my glass, I've read this from a book called "The new Marine Aquarium" or something of the sorts, the author has been reefing for over 35 years! __________________ Scott Ardoin (Ard-Dwan)

02-23-2004, 07:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
mojoreef Just a reefer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,176 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hey Nigle your not so much looking for really fast flow as you are for flow in the right spots. On setting you rocks you are looking for as little areas for it to get caught up in as possible. No matter how good you are at it you will get a few spots where it will builds up no matter what. For me I usually go in once a week with a small powerhead and blow off the rocks and blow the little trapped amounts out. I dont syphon it just get in back in the water for the skimmer to get. Once a month I will take a canister filter like you and give it a once over. Mike __________________ Make sure you check out The Fish Gallery The Coral Gallery The Equipment Gallery

02-23-2004, 03:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	A lot of people who go to the bare bottom tanks use starboard or nylon cutting board to protect the bottoms of their tanks. Here's a link to one of the places where many have ordered their pieces from: The Cutting Board Company

02-23-2004, 04:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
sw_addicted Star Polyps Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 165 View Gallery Karma Komment	hey BoomerD thanks someone sent me a pic of yours on another forum and thats what I'm talking about that looks great.

02-23-2004, 05:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Montanareefer Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,334 View Gallery Karma Komment	I believe people also use PVC piping and make a frame and lay it on the bottom as well.

02-23-2004, 07:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
nigle Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gary, Indiana Posts: 292 View Gallery Karma Komment	Oi! I started a 10 gal 'Berlin' tank. The one thing that I have noticed is that the 'crap' that does accumulate at the bottom never stays in a good area for me to syphon it out. I have a small powerhead at the bottom in a corner, and a Mini-Pengiun for the filter. I have been using a H.O.T. Magnum on 'cleaning days' to 'move the crap around' and be trapped in the Magum filter. I'm thinking about replacing the Mini and going with the Magnum full time. I figure that a fully loaded filter with 1/3 activate carbon; 1/3 nitrate sponge; 1/3 floss etc. should last over a month. It's 'overkill' but the mini is just not moving the 'crap' as I thought it would. A question for the people out there that read this thread: How often do you actively try to get out the accumulated 'crap' that builds up? I know the 'idea' of the bare bottom is that the chances of the 'crap' building up is lessened, but I can see that unless you suspent ALL THE ROCK off the bottom and keep the water flowing very fast [which really annoyes my hermits] it's just not working well. Cheers! nigle !~!

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