New tank part 2...what do I do now

[bigmac]

Well, the tanks in place but I've come to a cross roads....deep sand bed or bare bottom. :notsure:

 

[velocity]

i dont like bare bottoms. i would prefer dsb

 

[bigmac]

I probably wont do a fuge and I'm worried that a shollow sand bed would be a detritus trap. There's no way I can or want to vaccume this sand bed. I have some time to think about this.

 

[m.rogers]

i would go with the DSB and must say that the in wall set up is looking real sweet.
mike

 

[humuhumu]

I just read a article on study done on DSB's and sand studied in the wild. They claimed that the majority bacteria and chemical reaction takes place in the first few cm's of the sand bed and 80% of the animials occured within the first 2", beyond that there wasn't much benifit.

 

[nm reef]

I've not been knocked off the DSB bandwagon yet...myself I would establish and stock a 5"-6" DSB and go from there.
That starfire front looks sweet sitting in the wall!
Best of luck and keep us posted on your choice.:thinking:

 

[leboeuf]

I have a very similiar set up as you. I removed all my sand two/three months ago and the maintance have been cut in half. I have plenty of algae and coraline starting to cover the glass bottom, looks great. Would never go back! As stated earlier, I am adding a T1 closed loop system after x-mas to create severe circulation.....

 

[jauringer]

agree with kip. a shallow SB would be nice.

 

[overanalyzer]

What is the main point of the tank?? If I was doing an SPS tank I'd have a hard time putting in a DSB - but I don't think Icould go bare bottom - unless I transplanted a ton of zoo's or GSP or xenia there to cover hte bottom of the tank - otherwise it does not look that natural (of course reef fish in the middle of the country is not a natural look - but a cow in a tank is not my future!!)
Sweet looking tank. One question - why is the ovewrflow in the center area?? or not in a corner o in the back?
Thanks and good luck!

 

[reefnut]

I've never run a bare bottom but have seen some threads about having to siphon out debris that settle on the bottom. With a lot of current this may not be a problem but it something to consider if the access is limited.
I like a shallow sand bed myself. From what I have seen it's not a detritus trap unless you do not have critters taking care of it.
Just curious... sense you do not believe in algae filled fuge's and if you go bare bottom, what would you use to control the nitrates, phosphates and such? water changes? or something else?

 

[murray bmf]

Sweet setup

 

[bigmac]

Originally posted by overanalyzer
Sweet looking tank. One question - why is the ovewrflow in the center area?? or not in a corner o in the back?

To hide the closed loop bulkhead, use all four sides of the overflow and maybe add something like a Mag 12 for and internal closed loop. It would be hinden behind the overflow.
Originally posted by ReefNut
Just curious... sense you do not believe in algae filled fuge's and if you go bare bottom, what would you use to control the nitrates, phosphates and such? water changes? or something else?
maybe a true fuge with a deep sand bed ... since I don't carry a big fish load and skim heavy maybe the skimmer and live rock will take care of nitrates....We'll see

 

[salty jeff]

I would go with a nice deep (Pure Carribbean Aragonite) DSB. Very nice setup!