Thhinking bout going barebottom.. Lets talk bout it??

My next set up will be BB.

If you consider the fish and inverts that will work with a BB before making the decision or the commitment, you probably save your self a a lot of frustration.

In that large of a tank it's a commitment. Basically if you want to give it a go, I would. It's a lot hardier to remove sand than add it.

With that said I wonder if BB is an acquired taste. I know people that go ewww you see the bottom and the support/stand. Yes, true but coralline and what ever corals you choose to let encrust make a nice look it you give it enough time.

Matt I believe has done some BB with cutting board material. Look at the thread if you can.

As far as how it impacts a system, with regard to biological filtration, any reduction in available anaerobic environment provided by a deeper sand bed can be made up with via a sump or even just adequate LR. With all the alternatives like mediums/substrates like biopellets available today I would definitely give a go.

 

U should be queen of 3reef. U have my first vote. Thus the answer I'm looking for. So I'm gonna have to give the wrasses a second thought. My live rock is around 100-175 pounds. Some can go in sump and display.

Ok. So I've made my mind up going barebottom. Now with matts barebottom he has done the cutting board. I like that idea. What do others do far placing rocks directly on the tank bottom do

 

I've seen a tank that curt showed to me ( cant remember the website) that has sand only on visible spots of the tank and the rest is BB.
He has just enough sand to give a more natural look to it. It is a very very thin layer of sand so cleaning isn't an issue.

 

How awesome would it be to have the entire glass bottom encrusted with GSP. Like a grassy lawn. lol

 

Ideas ideas ideas. Love them

 

No matter how well you design the flow, there will always be one spot where detritus will collect. However, it is quite easy to suck that out.

 

BB tanks can be great, for SPS systems IMO. LPS corals, soft corals and nems won't always appreciate the extra flow needed to keep the bottom clean. I tried one once and even with the flow about 67x the tank volume (3 hydors and a return pump in a 29g), there was still detritus and "sand" (probably precipitation and debris from the rocks) settling all over the bottom. It was actually kind of a PITA to keep clean. I kept it about 6 months then added sand.

Also, there was always live stock I wanted to keep that I couldn't. For example, jawfish, some gobies, LTAs etc... all need sand. Also you do loose some infauna, although there can still be a fair amount on the rocks. So, for me it didn't last long and I have no desire to try again. I really didn't see a benefit for a mixed reef and I wouldn't want anything else for my own tank.

Currently I use "medium" grain sand. It can handle pretty much as much flow as you can throw at it and with a good cleanup crew and MP-40 I have not had any detritus or algae issues (less so then when I ran barebottom). Everyone has their own preference though, I think a BB is great for some tanks though. I'm just a mixed reef guy, if you want 100% SPS, and your corals can handle 100x flow or so, or if you just like the clean look and don't mind cleaning the bottom a lot, with less flow, then go for it. They can certainly work and people do great things with them, just depends if you think it accomplishes your goals better.

 

I will never go back. BB has revolutionized my ability to maintain a healthy environment. I agree it limits your fish choice a little, but as cool as some wrasses are, I can live with it. In exchange, I can keep a clean, healthy reef.

My latest experiment is using travertine tile (unfinished) to make a bottom cover. I experimented with it a little in my tank as a backing and my wife decided it was the perfect substrate. It looks great.

 

While I like the idea of BB (and no, I have not tried it), it would really hamper my next tanks inhabitants. I am doing a wrasse dominated mixed reef, and out of the 14 fish I plan to keep, 9 are "not suggested" in a BB environment. I'll be using good old sand for that tank. Maybe a BB in my 29 I am using right now for my "transfer tank." Plus, the wife loves watching the "zombies" rise when I feed (nassarius snails). Anyone know what those snails do in a BB tank?

 

I know Matt used a different site, but this one is a lot cheaper.

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