Going Bare Bottom--Any Thoughts?

[Alex]

After spending a few weeks reading and researching BB tanks here and on RC, I've decided to take the plunge.

First off let me start by saying that i found several of the threads very informative (Solby, Daceman...) and i must say thanks to those that took the time to document and photograph their progress.

I have a 120gal RR oceanic tank with approx. 3inches of aragonite sand,which is about 4-5 years old.The live rock is about 90lbs give or take.I am hoping to remove the rock and cook what I can and then add an extra 20-30 pounds of live rock after I remove the sand. I will be adding white starboard and cleaning out my cloosed loop for maximum flow.
The closed loop is an oceans motion 4way with a little giant 4mdxq on it for flow.It is hard plumbed over the top using pvc.
Should I drill the closed loop or keep it as is?
does anyone have any other suggestions.

livestock:
hippo tang
scopas tang
algae blenny
several snails(nassarius etc...)
pistol shrimp
2-queen conchs
and several soft and sps corals.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

You're gonna need a very good skimmer keep that in mind and some of your livestock like sand so that may be a little problem for them.

 

[Alex]

I have an MRC mr2 for a skimmer and as for the sand lovers,they won't be going back in the tank.

 

[Bob 1000]

My opinion.....TAKE IT OFF... The sand of course..:lol2:

 

[House of Laughter]

Last time I checked, there is no barebottom ocean anywhere in the world.

I usually build my tanks around those principles.

Knowing that, like chief said, you'll need really really good nutrient exports (skimmer) etc.

House

 

[Tonyscoots84]

I love my barebottom tank and its doing great... i didnt use starboard this time... :shhh:

 

[ShaunW]

Alex are you going full blown SPS? I ended up putting a remote DSB (in the sump) on my system, which seemed to stabilize it. My main tank is BB still and I am very happy with the look, since my starboard is completely covered with zoos/xenia/LPS.

 

[corallimorph]

Last time I checked, there is no bare bottom ocean anywhere in the world.

Yeah, but last time I checked hardly any of the corals I grow ,naturally occur just inches above a sand substraight..the ones I grow are upper spur(spur and groove formations) corals that receive allot of light and flow..the type of flow YOU COULD NEVER ACHIEVE with sand in the box.
(but thats just the corals I grow...perhaps you are growing lagoonal corals that do not occur on a reef)

Just making a counter point ...not trying to be a _ick.-Dave

 

[Kedd]

Corallimorph, I'm not sure what type of corals "you" grow, but I think both BB and DSB can have plenty of flow, and if you know what your doing with a sandbed you won't get a sand storm JMO.

If you want a nice tank it can be done both ways, and both ways have positives and negatives

Kedd

 

[reefman]

plenty of strong flow tanks have sand bottoms. the strong turb flow is concentrated on the top half anyway,where most of your sps are. sand should not be affected.
1 i recently seen is randy's 150 g clam tank.

personally i feel nake with a bare bottom :biglaugh:

 

[NYreefNoob]

bb

not that i am what i called an experianced reefer, but i am running a 4" sand bed with about 2400 gph turn over in a 62g tank all flow is aimed upwards so sand really doesnt get the heavy flow. i personally like the sand bed. { more natural look } i really think it is a personal choice. bare bottom = saving money so that would be a benifit

 

[House of Laughter]

Dave,

Thanks for the post and welcome to Mahattanreefs - a good point, biotopes, zones et al, but I think you missed mine. Don't worry, I have dealt with bigger _ick$ than that, and thanks for being polite about it.

If the ocean bottom was one big slate plate, then I would defer to your point - it is not, so, sand is integral in the success of the ocean. Least that's how I see it.

I would like to see hundreds of successful barebottom sps dominant mixed reef tanks show thier posts - very few make it past 1-3 years, if that long - I know on this board, very few have kept barebottom tanks without a major crash here, or a redesign there or a sand bed one day and bb the next - what's the next flavor???

Obviously not empirical and only based on observation.

House

Last time I checked, there is no bare bottom ocean anywhere in the world.

Yeah, but last time I checked hardly any of the corals I grow ,naturally occur just inches above a sand substraight..the ones I grow are upper spur(spur and groove formations) corals that receive allot of light and flow..the type of flow YOU COULD NEVER ACHIEVE with sand in the box.
(but thats just the corals I grow...perhaps you are growing lagoonal corals that do not occur on a reef)

Just making a counter point ...not trying to be a _ick.-Dave

 

[fritz]

There's an RC thread of > 3 year BB tanks they look spectacular. MR is hardly a good cross section as we've only got a few SPS keepers

I love the look of sand, I miss my radiant wrasse but I'm pretty happy with my BB tank as was mentioned neither is "better" they both have their benefits and limitations. Solby mentioned a best of both worlds I suppose but having sand in the display is nice.

The problem that I find with sand is the venturi effect it has next to rocks. As the flow passes dirt and mung are sucked underneath the rock. Anyone with a sandbed that has lifted a rock out knows what I'm talking about, nasty. Yes the ocean does have a sandbed but unless you plan on a 4 foot deep sandbed I wouldn't compare the two. There is a world of difference between the near unlimited depth of the ocean's sandbed (which by the way is heated from underneath) and any sandbed you'll ever keep.

My next tank will probably have sand, my current does not. You're going the right way though. What's great about BB is you can easily add sand if you want. If you go with a sandbed it's not easy to get it out.

 

[mshur]

I am debatting to if i should have sand in my next tank.I have BB tank right now and really have no problems at all.Most guys saw my tank.
But i have to admit, i do miss netural look and i miss my leopard wrassses i use to keep
I have no problem to keep my tank with very low nutrient level and i do like lots of flow... well, i still have some time to decide

 

[jhale]

you can't compare our tanks to the ocean. the shear volume of 328,000,000 cubic miles of ocean water make it tough to do.
yes the ocean has tons upon ton of sand, but you do not need it in your reef tank to be successful. both methods can be done quite well. I had a BB tank for a while and wanted the look of sand, so now I have a SSB. I had to move my flow a bit, but it's worked out well.

 

[Josh]

Use protection.

 

[corallimorph]

Wow ,sorry for my Liam,uneducated oppinion,..I guess I just don't know what I'm doing compared to you guys.
I won't waste your time again-Dave

 

[Alex]

ok,seems I've hit a sore spot..
well lets just say that I was considering incresing flow and like stated did not want the sandstorms, and considered going bare bottom.
however for those who already have them what are some of the techniques you have utilized and what problems have you encountered.
solby,what made you connect the sand bed to the main tank?

 

[jhale]

I also have a DSB section in my sump. it was an experiment to see if it would lower No3, along with a mass of cheato it seems to be working.

with the BB I had my tunzes pointing from front to back, with the sand I had to switch them from right to left, the long way along the back of the tank.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Dude bare bottom is fine, some people like sand some don't S'ok just keep in mind that you are going to need a pretty substantial skimmer like you have already. Search the board and make your own decisions either way you will have a cool looking tank.