Thinking of going BB. Need guidance please!

OCDP · #1 02-17-2006, 05:24 PM

It just kind of hit me this morning.. looking at BB tanks and hearing why people do it. It really makes a lot of sense...

I was just wanting to take a stab at the steps in going BB.. I think it would be good for many reasons, obviously for the sake of not having a bed of gunk basically build up on me...

My questions as of NOW (I am sure there will be plenty more)

Is there a way to remove the sand without actually tearing apart the tank?
IF I go BB, do I have to lay down starboard, or can I just leave it BB with the glass?
If I remove the sand I have now (which is a very, very shallow bed.. maybe 1-2") Will my tank go through any kind of spike? (taking into consideration I would be using the siphon method if possible)

That's it for now... seems like I would probably have much less nutrients in the tank by removing the sand. I figure my SPS might like this, and that perhaps nitrates and phosphates are somewhat reduced... plus, I don't mind the look of BB.

Thanks .
Scott

muck · #2 02-17-2006, 05:31 PM

Not sure how well a YWG will do without a sandbed.
Something to consider.

OCDP · #3 02-17-2006, 05:34 PM

Ahhh, Ryan.. thank you! That definitely did not yet cross my mind.

Bummer. Does anyone happen to know how well a YWG will do without a sand bed?

Willow · #4 02-17-2006, 05:37 PM

you should be able to vacume the gravel out then stain the water back thru a micron bag to clean the sedimant out.

Aquattro · #5 02-17-2006, 06:17 PM

One thing to watch is if your rock is sitting on the sand. Removing the sand may topple your rock work. To avoid any disruption in filtration, remove a little bit of sand with each water change until it's all gone.

Skimmerking · #6 02-17-2006, 06:19 PM

Well i can actually see a difference in my tank. Before convertign overto a FOWLR. the reef that i had in my 62 gal tank. I was always cleaning the glass every day. So when came the time to clean out the DSb. I actually couldnt wait.

Now with my FOWLR i have the flow turned right up and man the bottom stays clean the glass is never dirty and the tank looks great. With this i might be adding a few clams to my wsump and have some MH lights over the sump to help with the nitrates.

But i will see once I start getting them i guess .

Chad · #7 02-17-2006, 07:07 PM

After going BB I cannot say how much I love it. So clean, no headaches. And I do it WITHOUT a skimmer. Which apparently is pretty hard they say? But I have no issues. My rocks shed quite a bit still. So you need to siphon the ditrius alot. Otherwise, its been rock solid steady. No algae blooms, no cyano. Its been a dream to run. I may make a small dam, 3 - 4 inches wide from the front so I can put a sandbed in for sand loving fish, but thats about it.. if I do it, I will be cleaning the sand every water change for sure.

OCDP · #8 02-17-2006, 07:41 PM

Thanks for the comments guys.

Willow: Do you mean vacuum it out then put a micron bag inside the tank to collect floating junk?

Reef_Raf: Thanks for the advice.. I'll make sure to watch the rocks. Last thing I need is my rockwork toppling down.

Asmodeus: Glad to hear your enjoying the BB experience. I hope mine goes well.. if I decide to go through with it of course.

Chad: Glad to hear your enjoying your BB experience as well

I will be runing a skimmer if I go BB.. I think my SPS will do better this way.

I am still wondering if a Yellow Watchman can live in a tank without a sandbed

I really hope so, as this is something I would like to try. Anyone have any input?