barebottom reef question...

[bigbioballs]

i set mine up this way because i like the look of it...dont like all that sand in the tank....i plan on setting up a refugium in the sump with a dsb and macro algae...is this ok...my sump is only 20 gal long for a 65 tank...over 80 lbs live rock in tank...

 

[Anonymous]

I almost did the same only without the Sump. I wanted to keep the water displacent down. I ended up with just about 1"-1 1/2" of crushed coral instead because I was afraid I might crack the bottom moving live rock around. Good thing I did because I dropped one of my rocks in when setting up.

 

[64Ivy]

I also added a refugium to my barebottom tank but even there my sandbed is only 3-4 inches. It does what it's supposed to though: Nitrates dropped to near nothing, my tangs eat the macros, and I'm guessing a few pod larvae get over to feed the corals. Plus, according to some, I don't have to tear down my main tank every four years to replenish my dsb.

 

[Lurshy]

The original Berlin Method called for a bare bottom tank (as well as live rock, no tank cover, kakwasser water replacement and heavy skimming). The benefits of no substrate included increased circulation around the live rock to aid in its biological filtration function, and easy cleaning of detritus off of the tank floor during water changes.

You can be succsesful with many methods. Key is consistency and dilligence - though I'm still learning this.

 

[Anonymous]

I am now checkin out the Deep Sand Bed Method that Brandon uses. 8)