sand or bare glass bottom?

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Whatigot

I'll maybe try and comment some more when I get a tank featured on RC.

'sigh'. I apologize for even mentioning it, even though its taken out of context of the reason I did.



Thanks Andrew.

[kodak]

All your info is very helpful..
Thank you

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Originally Posted by Doug

'sigh'. I apologize for even mentioning it, even though its taken out of context of the reason I did.

Doug, no need to apologize. You have 'street cred'...and that's not a bad thing...and you're allowed to be proud of your accomplishments, and the level of knowledge and experience that those accomplishments demonstrate.

And here I thought the T5 v. MH debate was bad....

[Doug]

Thanks Drew. I like the "street cred". Means I have been around to long.

Anyways, Kodak, have you had a look at these by any chance. They are from our reference library.

http://216.187.96.54/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=22060

[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!

[kodak]

The tank I have been taking care of for the past 2 months has a BB and no skimmer.. It's nice to have other hobbyists opinions regarding certain elements of keeping and maintaining a saltwater aquarium.. In cycling a tank, should one expect to see cloudy water and if not, would that mean the tank is past that stage in cycling. As stated in one of my previous posts, my tank has some cured LR in both filters and about 12-15lbs in the tank itself.. the water came from the same established tank that the rock came out of.

Originally Posted by 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....