A few tips for successful BB detritus removal....

> make sure you have space all around the rock structure to siphon out obvious detritus on your first round of siphoning.

> clean glass (so detritus does not get stuck on the microaglae), then baste rock the day before water change and detritus siphoning.

> turn off filters/powerheads before siphoning detritus.

> lots of detritus can settle under the rock, so make sure you can baste under the rock. I baste from front to back, making it easy to do the second round of siphoning.

> siphon detritus weekly and clean filtration material in outgoing changewater for best results.

Thanks Bev,
The rock work was definitely the hardest, I changed it again this morning.
One thing I have noticed already, with the two Maxi Jets in the back corner pointing to the front on an angle, I have a nice pile pretty much center/front and a lot of suspended particulate in the water column. I now have my return line rippling the surface down the back of my tank with another powerhead completing the rotation down the front of the tank to the overflow. I can actually watch the flow as it deposits debris down the pipe into the sump.
I will be purchasing a better syphoning tool though this week. THe one I have now has a small diameter and does not like to pick up heavies.

Any tips on a good syphon tool? If I get one large enough the tank will empty before I get all the heavies out :rolleyes:

Just so happens I have a page on maintaining BB tanks :biggrin: Lots of pics, a bit too much reading, perhaps :rolleyes: :

http://www.lostmymarblz.com/reeftips...ottomtanks.htm

You can never read enough :biggrin:
Canreef should have you on the Payroll :lol:

Thanks again Bev

I am thinking bare bottom is going to work for me. As soon as I am happy with the skimmer it, as well as the heater will be going in the sump. I may be on my way here :lol:



http://rcpilot.users.sunwave.net/bb_day_4.jpg




From sand bed to cleaning to deciding to doing it, BB for me!
http://rcpilot.users.sunwave.net/