My answer to BB aesthetics, :D .

[ShaunW]

My answer to BB aesthetics.

Many people list as a CON for barebottom (BB) tanks is that they are not as natural looking, nor as aesthetically pleasing as a sandbed containing tank. I use to be one of those individuals. Intellectually, I believed that BB was a good way to keep an SPS tank, but for years I never decided to go BB because I liked my sandbed's "looks".

Here is my answer to the aesthetic issue in a BB tank. I don't miss my sandbed AT ALL, :tongue1: .

 

[ShaunW]

 

[DEEPWATER]

Point well put ,the proof is in the pudding or shall i say tank :smokin:

 

[herman]

We need to go drinking at your place. Ill walk out with wet pockets!!:sgrin:

 

[Tonyscoots84]

solbby beautiful tank... i still ike the look of sand but the bb with the white cutting board i think is much more attractive and cleaner... nice good job....

 

[ShaunW]

solbby beautiful tank... i still ike the look of sand but the bb with the white cutting board i think is much more attractive and cleaner... nice good job....

THANKS, .

The problem is it will never stay white because of coraline algae. When my marina board with competely black (original color) I must agree with you, it looked very nice (clean and attractive). But now you wouldn't even know that it was black since it is completely covered in coraline in about 3 months.

 

[prattreef]

Do I really have to admit publically that I like the way your BB reef looks?

Randy

 

[ShaunW]

Do I really have to admit publically that I like the way your BB reef looks?

Randy

:tongue1: :lol:

Maybe, :joke: .

 

[prattreef]

Well, if I have to.... It looks great!!! Wow that hurt RD

 

[herman]

Well, if I have to.... It looks great!!! Wow that hurt RD

HA HA HA HA HA Wassup Randy!!

 

[ShaunW]

Well, if I have to.... It looks great!!! Wow that hurt RD

Thanks Randy, .

Coming from a "diehard" sand bed guy like yourself, and one of the guys who has seen all the "trends" come and go (BB to DSB, and now back to BB), I know that must have hurt, :lol: .

I still like sandbeds, so I nor a complete convert, but for my tank's setup, the with and without the sand are not so different in appearance.

 

[Josh]

A Zoa/Acan bottomed tank!

Is this the hot new reef keeping method?

 

[ShaunW]

A Zoa/Acan bottomed tank!

Is this the hot new reef keeping method?

Who knows, :scratchch . But they make for a good sandbed substitute. Xenia works really well also, since it is so easy to prune.

What is deadly on the bottom of a BB tank: GSP, very fast growing zoanthids (if left unchecked), palys (a complete no-no), anthelia (Jon can vouch for this), or any fast growing softie.

 

[jhale]

long live the Anthelia Bottom

An experiment that came to an end by having an anthelia fire sale.

 

[ShaunW]

Another BB observation is that I have to feed my tank much more than I use to. I use to feed my DSB tank (same tank) twice a week. This was to keep the nutrients down and prevent bad algae growth. For awhile I was doing the same feeding schedule, but my SPS were not brightening up as much as they should, nor growth that fast. But I am now feeding every day with the result that all the corals are "popping" in growth and color. Many other individual reefers have also observed this phenomena.

 

[ShaunW]

long live the Anthelia Bottom

Is that the clownfish speaking or you?

 

[kimoyo]

Cool! Thats what I'm trying to do with my tank. I'm just leaving a lot of frags on the starboard, trying to make a forest. Somewhat like the Japanese tanks.

 

[jhale]

hey it worked, you could not see any of the marina board.

the downside, I was afraind it was going to cover the entire tank.
It was crazy. now I have SPS growing on the bottom
turakki, purple nana, pocilipora, I can control their growth a bit easier

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

It's not Bare Bottom-It's Rock Bottom!

So do you sell at rock bottom prices too? My virgin tank is still very empty especially when my tiny softies disappear into nowhere.

 

[jackson6745]

Wingo Shauns prices are very high

Tank looks awesome Shaun