sand or bare glass bottom?

[reefermadness]

What ever method you use.......do research and do it right!

[Canadian]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

What ever method you use.......do research and do it right!

Well said.

If you choose to employ a DSB make sure you re-stock it with critters and don't add things like sand-sifting stars, sand dollars, etc. And don't be surprised if over time you end up with an accumulation of phosphate and some kind of algae problem.

If you go BB be sure you make the necessary investments for an incredible skimmer, high flow (with a well designed flow scheme and minimal LR), and preferably a coast-to-coast overflow to ensure that as much suspended detritus makes it to the skimmer as possible. Then be sure siphon out detritus every week (I use an Eheim Sludge Extractor which works great for this with a small modification).

The one thing I will say in comparison between BB and a SSB is that when I had a SSB I had more coralline algae growth. Without sand I get very little coralline algae growing on the glass or back panel but my coral growth has been unaffected. I don't know how this is possible or what could possibly explain the difference though other than maybe my BB tank is nutrient limited and the SSB was helping store and leach some small amounts of nitrate to help fuel the coralline growth.

[Marlin65]

Originally Posted by Canadian

Well said.

If you choose to employ a DSB make sure you re-stock it with critters and don't add things like sand-sifting stars, sand dollars, etc. And don't be surprised if over time you end up with an accumulation of phosphate and some kind of algae problem.

If you go BB be sure you make the necessary investments for an incredible skimmer, high flow (with a well designed flow scheme and minimal LR), and preferably a coast-to-coast overflow to ensure that as much suspended detritus makes it to the skimmer as possible. Then be sure siphon out detritus every week (I use an Eheim Sludge Extractor which works great for this with a small modification).

The one thing I will say in comparison between BB and a SSB is that when I had a SSB I had more coralline algae growth. Without sand I get very little coralline algae growing on the glass or back panel but my coral growth has been unaffected. I don't know how this is possible or what could possibly explain the difference though other than maybe my BB tank is nutrient limited and the SSB was helping store and leach some small amounts of nitrate to help fuel the coralline growth.

Great post interesting info don't agree with the sand siffting though. Did you have the same light in each of your BB and SSB tanks? I find the watts and K's play a big part in the coraline growth.

[kodak]

Well... I've had an established 10g BB nano running for about 2 months now, it was/is a friends tank as for maintaining the tank for the last 2 months, I've had no major issues to speak of.. I am new to salt but I have kept african cichlids almost exclusively for the past 9-10 years.. Since this neat little salt tank was transplanted into my livingroom, already containing 6x 6 foot cichlid tanks and a 72g as well, not to mention one of the bedrooms... The little tank started to grow on me and the maintenance was not all that much for a tank of this size. I started to get a little curious of how difficult it would be to get one going... The tank & filters were just sitting around, so I set it up.. It's a 10g with 2x hob filters, live rock in one HOB, Caulerpain and small bag of aragonite in the other (all from a friends established tank) 15lbs LR from that same established tank, and water from the same tank, I have a single clown fish and a single pom pom crab, a few very small things on the LR besides a bit of coraline algae..

I like the idea of sand as far as asthetics are concerned, plus the extra critters in the sandbed. Still thinking....

[mark]

Canadian, I'm BB lots of coralline, bottom is covered where lit.

[Canadian]

Originally Posted by mark

Canadian, I'm BB lots of coralline, bottom is covered where lit.

Originally Posted by Marlin65

Great post interesting info don't agree with the sand siffting though. Did you have the same light in each of your BB and SSB tanks? I find the watts and K's play a big part in the coraline growth.

Yeah I've had several reef tanks over the past 10 years and they've all been DSB or SSB. I've always had uncontrollable coralline algae growth. Since starting this BB tank a year ago I have had sporadic coralline algae growth. At one point in time when I moved several months ago I re-set up the tank with a SSB for aesthetics. In the first few weeks I had a spurt of coralline growth on the back panel but I also saw how much crap was accumulating in the sand bed (and yes I had lots of nassarius snails, ceriths, hermits, etc.) so I yanked it all. Since then my coralline growth has again diminished on the glass but does grow on the rocks. Coral growth remains the same. I did/do suffer from some pale coloration of some of my SPS which may be due to a very low nutrient system and is the only explanation I can come up with for the lack of coralline growth.

As far as adding sand sifting stars and sand dollars to a DSB is concerned: take a look at the recommendations for proper husbandry of a DSB by Ron Shimek. Firstly, both white sand sifting stars and sand dollars are generally inappropriate for a reef aquarium - they decimate the infauna in a sand bed and tend to then slowly starve. Secondly, adding anything other than detrivores to a DSB is counterproductive. If you're adding things to "stir" the top layer that's one thing, but if you're adding things that aggressively consume the infauna in the sand bed then you're defeating its purpose of assimilating waste as quickly as possible so it can be processed by bacteria. The pods, worms, microstars, etc. that sand sifting stars and sand dollars are eating are exactly what need to be left in a DSB to help consume waste so your DSB can function efficiently and not solidify.

[Marlin65]

Originally Posted by Canadian

Yeah I've had several reef tanks over the past 10 years and they've all been DSB or SSB. I've always had uncontrollable coralline algae growth. Since starting this BB tank a year ago I have had sporadic coralline algae growth. At one point in time when I moved several months ago I re-set up the tank with a SSB for aesthetics. In the first few weeks I had a spurt of coralline growth on the back panel but I also saw how much crap was accumulating in the sand bed (and yes I had lots of nassarius snails, ceriths, hermits, etc.) so I yanked it all. Since then my coralline growth has again diminished on the glass but does grow on the rocks. Coral growth remains the same. I did/do suffer from some pale coloration of some of my SPS which may be due to a very low nutrient system and is the only explanation I can come up with for the lack of coralline growth.

As far as adding sand sifting stars and sand dollars to a DSB is concerned: take a look at the recommendations for proper husbandry of a DSB by Ron Shimek. Firstly, both white sand sifting stars and sand dollars are generally inappropriate for a reef aquarium - they decimate the infauna in a sand bed and tend to then slowly starve. Secondly, adding anything other than detrivores to a DSB is counterproductive. If you're adding things to "stir" the top layer that's one thing, but if you're adding things that aggressively consume the infauna in the sand bed then you're defeating its purpose of assimilating waste as quickly as possible so it can be processed by bacteria. The pods, worms, microstars, etc. that sand sifting stars and sand dollars are eating are exactly what need to be left in a DSB to help consume waste so your DSB can function efficiently and not solidify.

I alway thought that the white stars were detrivores eaters. Learn something new every day.

[kodak]

Thanks for the link Doug!!!

[brizzo]

I can't find the article I am thinking of, but there was an interview with Eric B about going skimmer-less and bare bottom. Was a good read regardless of opinion.

Personally I run bare bottom and skimmer-less in my nano with MUCH success. I wouldn't recommend this what so ever for someone who cannot give their tank attention everyday. I'm sure many people out there would disagree with my setup; but I am successful with my tank and have only had one crash (due to hqi lighting and no uv shield, not water quality).

My point here is there isn't a right or wrong, there is pros and cons, but every tank is different; and ultimately, a tank's health is up to the keeper! Sand or no sand, take care of your tank and monitor it!

[Whatigot]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

What ever method you use.......do research and do it right!

Thats definitely the most useful comment on this thread.
I'll maybe try and comment some more when I get a tank featured on RC.