Compromise to BB

S

shouse

Guest
I just cant seem to fathom the idea that so many people like the look of BB Reef tanks. Myself, and everyone i ask in person agrees that to take away the sand would be horrible.
HOWEVER i dont like what i'm hearing about DSB's and built up of nutriens in dead spot areas. I know i'm not a DSB person but i really don't like the idea of BB either, i enjoy my crisp white sand too much and the Starboard just aint cuttin it.
I'm sure most are famalier w/ Steveweast's aquarium and techniques. I'm wondering if i built say a 1.5" border wall that'll go around all the LR and attach to the floor of the tank, this would be used to keep sand from going underneath the rock, would this be an ok idea and still be able to collect the detritus.
The border would keep the sand from going everywhere, providing a few sections of hte tank that the sand would be able to stay and i can just vacum it, and the detritus, out weekly. Is this an alright idea if i love my sand too much and am willing to put forth the weekly effort? ANy opinions welcome.
 
robchuck

robchuck

Active Member
Have you heard of the faux sandbed method? Basically, Starboard is used, but an adhesive is applied and then sand or crushed coral is laid on top. This method provides the best of both worlds: a natural-looking substrate that won't move in super-high flow environments.
 
S

shouse

Guest
and i love that idea but i heard it'll get covered in coraline in only a matter of time.
 
tony detroit

tony detroit

Active Member
There was a local guy that did that and I remember him saying he won't glue it to the bottom again. I just went through this question with my own tank since I was re-setting it up. I went with barebottom, and so far I have absolutely no complaints I can think of.
All the sand/gravel that I've used in the past has always looked dirty after 10months no matter what anyhow. Plus with a DSB you get algae everywhere. I think the DSB fad is great for people looking for polluted tanks. If you want a clean tank, colorful corals, ridiculous growth, good polyp extension I think that barebottom is the way to fly.
Many people claim the DSB helps them in "feeding" the organisms in the tank. What they don't realize is that all the "food" they need is already in the water. I've dosed phyto, cyclopeeze, etc. and have never noticed one bit of difference when doing any of them.
If you do some reading, you'll find that our aquariums are already "overfed" for the most part. Fish food is 5x more potent in protein and nitrogenous waste than the foods they eat in the ocean. In fact fish feces is so high in undigested nutrition you will commonly see other fish eat anothers, I see my tangs do this all the time.
I've tried them all, barebottom is so easy I'm kinda mad at myself for waiting so long to do it.
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
Heck....I just may shoot myself due to having a sand bed....I guess I have algae everywhere...sick looking corals...pollution build up to toxic levels....all that dreadful stuff mentioned in a response earlier....dang...where is my gun? maybe a rope will do?
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
I suppose a bare bottom is indeed the ONLY way to establish a reef...heck....a DSB is just a toxic death trap...sure to fail....
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
Honestly....in a few years time come back and try to convince me then that I should have a bare bottom ... 'till then happy reefin' and good luck with whatever method you prefer...but I do believe a well established and maintained sand bed can possibly sustain life.....maybe.....ya think?!!?
 
S

shouse

Guest
haha nice one NM Reef.
I know i've seen plenty of pics of tanks that have nice, clean sandbeds.
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
Heck...I was just admitting to failure....don't the pics of my slightly more than a year old display prove the failure of my DSB?!!?:thinking:
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
....and just to add to the failure of my reefkeeping experience....the DSB in my refugium is now about 5 years old.........dang!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That means I've been a failed reefkeeper with ugly corals and nasty algae for a few years now......and dumb old me thought I had a good thing goin'.......
 
golfish

golfish

Active Member
Give it time my friend, give it time. It might take a year, it might take ten years but it will fail.:scared:
 
blazehok68

blazehok68

Active Member
NM reef u r so funny. im glad u have such a good sense of humor after all that failure.....hell i would probably try to drown myself in my own tank if i failed that much
:joy: :joy:
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
It indeed may fail....and according to most info I've seen most any method/style may potentailly pose problems. Its a ricky proposition establishing and maintaining a marine system....and there are pros/cons to every method/style...even the great and experienced hobbyists have problems. My whole point was to spar with the notion that because one may have a DSB one is detined to have crappy looking corals...high levels of pollution...and algae problems....and for me...for now....that just ain't so. My system has changed and evolved since the first time I added salt to water and the change/evolution is still progressing...but I still see no sound proven reason to swear that the era of the DSB is history. Numerous reffkeepers still manage fine using sand and I honestly expect mine will be around for a few more years at least. Besides...if I find my DSB to be a source of problems then I may be educated enough by that time to change my thinking and use another style/method...who know what may be in vogue by then. Actually I posted the pics and went on the "rant" because I'm tired of all the comments about how problematic the DSB is and how perfect the bare

[hr]
bottom is...now I like bare

[hr]
bottoms....but not particularly in my reef display!!!!
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
I'm not really wantin' to knock any method/style....one thing I've learned is there are numerous ways to develop a reef...and they all can be effective....I just happen to prefer a DSB......I like it.....and I know there are technical reasons why they may fail....but the same can be said about all the other methods/styles......:thinking:
 
S

shouse

Guest
well said.
avbryce1 - i like the idea of the rock ruble idea. Wish
i could see pictures with a tank setup w/ this method.
 
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