barebottom tanks...opinions

[Tackett]

Ok guys, sorry it took so long to post to this thread. The reason I started this topic was this: I had been reading some opinions and research on BB tanks, Pro's and Con's that sort of thing. Thing is, I could NOT find any evidence or opinions to sway me to going BB, though the theory definatley makes sense. I guess my opinion on this whole matter (though Ive never had a BB tank but one day ill give it a whirl.) IF it aint broke dont fix it. Just wanted some opinions.

 

[comatose]

i am in the process of switching to BB tank, I had DSB for only 3 months, when i took the sand bed out yesterday the smell just about knocked me out, the smell went all thru the house, i could not believe that it was that bad after 3 months, i can just imagine what sand must smell like after a year or years later.
plus the sand blew all over the place everytime i changed the direction of the return flow and then it would cloud up for days.

i've talked to people with BB tanks and they love how easy it is to keep clean.

anyway, i'm in favor of anything to keep my tank cleaner !!

 

[reefnut1]

I also have a BB and it's going over a yr old. I have a refug with Macro. Wondering if anyone else is also using a refu on their BB tanks. If so, have you had any problems with Macros or other algaes in your display tank?

 

[Tackett]

You would think sand in a refuge would defeat the purpose.

 

[golfish]

I still don't understand what starboard is, or why someone would want to have it at the bottom of their tank. It's white, it looks like a cutting board!

It also take all the pressure from the rock off the glass...It doesn't have to be white, you can get it in black and a few other colors..It also doesn't really matter what color it is, its going to be covered with zoo's and coralline in a year or two.

 

[Anonymous]

Jury is still out on my tank. I had a DSB - Yanked it due to a last resort plea to get rid of the hair algae.

Guess what - NO difference.
_________________
Katana

 

[Anonymous]

I'm anti-bare bottom myself. I have yet to see any evidence that it creates a more healthy system (or a better looking one!).

There are too many benefits to having a sandbed to dissuade me yet. The largest positives are the overall increase in diversity in the tank and buffering capacity added.

I agree that the buffering capacity may be better for beginners, which is perhaps one reason the concept became so popular. However, the increase in diversity is not a positive at all. Rather, having an increased and superfluous (at best) oxygen demand is an Achilles' heel.

 

[Anonymous]

FWIW, Starboard was used because it is supposed to not leach anything into the water and the corners don't seem to curl like acrylic does and it seems to be cheaper than acrylic.

There is definitely a likelihood that, at least initially, starboard would leach phthalate plasticizers from its surface. Not from the HDPE itself (which contains no such plasticizers), but the manufacturing process.

 

[Anonymous]

Jury is still out on my tank. I had a DSB - Yanked it due to a last resort plea to get rid of the hair algae.

Guess what - NO difference.

Sounds like a live rock or source water problem.

 

[Anonymous]

Supporting it from the bottom in the correct way would eliminate this as a problem. Do people only do this on glass tanks?

As someone who has destroyed a glass tank with a rock slip up (but still doesn't put any barrier over bare glass bottoms), the tank is hardly at risk once the rock is in place (supported properly or not). It's the slip while aquascaping or moving things that is the real danger.