steven11
Somethingotherthannormal!
Currently my nano has about a 1 1/2" sand bed and i have been debating on going bare. Any advice or input would be great. Thank you in advance.
Steven
Steven
Barebottom or sand
- Thread starter steven11
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Krish
RF STAFF
Well, you will definately get all types of opinions on the subject as it has been beat to death over and over so you'll have to go with what's best for you, but my personal opinion, I love a bare bottom tank. It has been the easiest for me to keep clean and the only time I have ever read for the first time 0 nitrates, was in a bare bottom setup of mine. You aren't limited to flow options if you go bare bottom, but you will be limited on fish selection as well as critters. I love the look of sand, just IMO, it's much easier to keep a tank clean with it bare. Best of luck with it
steven11
Somethingotherthannormal!
Clean is what i am looking for. I dont know what to do with my nas. snails. Would they be fine in a bare bottom tank? Other than that i have two percs. turbos and hermits so they should all be fine.
P.S. Thanks Krish!
Steven
P.S. Thanks Krish!
Steven
james734
Well-known member
I agree with Krish, I run bare bottom (BB) as well. I'm not going to say one is better than the other. I think it just comes down to what kind of look you want. Some will argue one is better than the other, but IMO they both have the advatages and disadvantages.
steven11
Somethingotherthannormal!
Thanks James!
What kind of disadvantages will come with a bb tank other than no nas. snails?
Steven
What kind of disadvantages will come with a bb tank other than no nas. snails?
Steven
james734
Well-known member
Being able to have some of the sand sifting inhabitants, looks (some just like to have sand for looks). I'm sure there's some more, but for the most part it's can turn into one of those who's right type of things. I prefer BB, but I'm sure other can come up with a good argument for sand.
DonW
R.I.P.
I think nano's look odd without sand, just to small.
Don
Don
steven11
Somethingotherthannormal!
Goin for it
Ok, I am going bb for two reasons. Number one, I will admit bb nanos do look odd (if you are looking at the bottom of the tank) but an awsome looking clean tank out ways odd. Hopefully anyone would be looking at the happy corals and fish instead of noticing that there is no substrate. Number two, the whole injecting bubbles with a high flow pump every so often to stir up the "stuff" that collects just seems so common sence. I used one of my power heads just to see what kind of reaction i got from everything and liked what I had seen. Everything closed up immediatly but after 5 or so minutes more of my star polyps were open and my hammer was as big as i have ever seen it. My only question is, will my tank go through a complete recycle? I had just moved last weekend so this wont be a step back since it is already having to do so. I so have some nas. snails that will need a new home and i have a few frags for trade: xenia, zoas, and star polyps. If you are interested, please look at my post in the live stock forum. If anyone has any comments, I would love to read them. Thank you everyone for all of your input.
Steven
Happy reef keeping!
Ok, I am going bb for two reasons. Number one, I will admit bb nanos do look odd (if you are looking at the bottom of the tank) but an awsome looking clean tank out ways odd. Hopefully anyone would be looking at the happy corals and fish instead of noticing that there is no substrate. Number two, the whole injecting bubbles with a high flow pump every so often to stir up the "stuff" that collects just seems so common sence. I used one of my power heads just to see what kind of reaction i got from everything and liked what I had seen. Everything closed up immediatly but after 5 or so minutes more of my star polyps were open and my hammer was as big as i have ever seen it. My only question is, will my tank go through a complete recycle? I had just moved last weekend so this wont be a step back since it is already having to do so. I so have some nas. snails that will need a new home and i have a few frags for trade: xenia, zoas, and star polyps. If you are interested, please look at my post in the live stock forum. If anyone has any comments, I would love to read them. Thank you everyone for all of your input.
Steven
Happy reef keeping!
Curtswearing
Mantisfreak
Steven,
I'm assuming that you are talking about John Laurenson's (ldrhawke) tank here.
That's a different method of BB reefkeeping. In fact there are numerous methods. The Berlin method involved a BB and a skimmer. What wasn't skimmed, was siphoned up. The Starboard method involves heavy flow and wet skimming so you don't have to siphon detritus as often. John uses bubbles as opposed to high flow. For all of these, the goal is to get the detritus to the skimmer.
None of these methods will cause your tank to go through a 'recycle'. This is misleading because your tank is cycling 24/7 and you couldn't stop it if you tried.
I'm assuming that you are talking about John Laurenson's (ldrhawke) tank here.
That's a different method of BB reefkeeping. In fact there are numerous methods. The Berlin method involved a BB and a skimmer. What wasn't skimmed, was siphoned up. The Starboard method involves heavy flow and wet skimming so you don't have to siphon detritus as often. John uses bubbles as opposed to high flow. For all of these, the goal is to get the detritus to the skimmer.
None of these methods will cause your tank to go through a 'recycle'. This is misleading because your tank is cycling 24/7 and you couldn't stop it if you tried.
steven11
Somethingotherthannormal!
I was wondering if the tank would recycle after i pull the sand out. Which i am guessing is a yes to an extent. Being a nano with softies, i dont want to go to high flow.
do you have liverock in the tank???? if so,i doubt the tank will cycle again..it may be slight, but not enough to notice...your nitrates may spike after stirring up the sand..you might want to skim a little more and do a good water change afterwards!!
steven11
Somethingotherthannormal!
Well i like to hear that because my tank is full of live rock. I will take a few before and after photos to post. Thanks again!
Steven
Steven
james734
Well-known member
Other thing would be to remove smaller amounts of sand at a time instead of removing it all at once. This will allow the bacteria to catch up a little at a time. Instead of playing catch up and therefore seeing a small cycle happen.
Quag
Member
Don't know if this is a new sand bed,put in after your move.Or an established sand bed that was left in the tank when you moved.If its new and you remove it,you shouldn't see much differance in your cycle.But if its established and fine sand you may see a nitrate spike.With this being a nano and assuming its an established bed, I would just put all fish, critters,rock into buckets.drain the tank,and remove the sand.This way you wont foul the water with crap from the sandbed.Then I would add 100% new water (PH and temp adjusted)and put your livestock back in.If its a new bed,just syphon it out.But becareful of taking sand from under your rock causing them to fall.
moortim
Mountain Goat
moortim
Mountain Goat
Here is a link to my thread about my bb nano, I personally like the looks of a sand bed but I have about 700gph in a 10gallon tank, sand wouldn't stay put so I decided to go without it. I think it looks just fine.
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18994
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18994
Little Luey
Well-known member
So, how is this tank comming along?
Any pictures? How do you like BB?
You know, during the time I have been BB nobody has ever asked where the sand is, they are always asking where the fish are?
Any pictures? How do you like BB?
You know, during the time I have been BB nobody has ever asked where the sand is, they are always asking where the fish are?
