To BB or not to BB..

[coryherb]

that is the question.
I have been reading this..hope it is okay to link it.
***NO IT IS NOT OK TO LINK THIS***
A BB seems to have a ton of advantages and still the same beauty. But what are the disadvantages? I am seriously considering a BB after reading that thread.
Can you still grow coral food in the sump with no sand bed?
Can you still have clams?
Is the system less stable without a sand bed?
Would love to see new unbiased opinions from you guys.
Thanks

 

[squidd]

Good Luck with the "unbiased" opinions...(kind of an oxymoron, don't you think... )
Anyway...BB rocks..It's the only way to go...

 

[kimkissyfish]

I read a lot of that BUT I have to still believe in a dsb.
Just MO.
I'd like to hear other peoples opinions on this.
Frankly that tank on the first page looks incomplete, empty and bare. I wouldnt want it in my livingroom. I want mine to look like a little piece of the ocean. That looks like a tank for the boy in the plastic bubble.. sorry Just my opinion, which doesnt mean much.. LOL :thinking:
Thanking you Kindly, Kim

 

[squidd]

I want mine to look like a little piece of the ocean.
You know I hear that a lot about reef and sand beds...
But I went diving one time and the reef I was at was ohh...1/4 mile long and 30-40 feet tall...
And only the "bottom" touched the sand...
If "I" were to take a "piece" of the ocean..it would be that 3'X3' square on the upper left hand corner, not touching the sand bed...right about...there....
And it would "kind of" look like this...

 

[ross]

I agree, that tank does look really bare and kinda just boring.
I definetly like the look of bare bottom tank though, especially after a few months when the bottom is covered in zoos and polyps.

 

[beth]

Originally posted by Squidd
Anyway...BB rocks..It's the only way to go...
Actually, I remember a time not so long ago when all of us said the same thing about DSB....and now the dsb is considered a mine feild by some, not by me, but by some. :thinking:

 

[squidd]

Oh, I don't know about "all" of us...
Go back a couple thousand posts, and you'll see I wasn't sold on DSB's even back when they were "popular"..
Not because of the dangers of aledged "crashing" ..but because of the complex nature of setting one up, stocking and maintaining one "correctly"....
(and there is a "correct" way to do it...)

 

[tony detroit]

Originally posted by Squidd
(and there is a "correct" way to do it...)
Very true.
I tried the dsb and ssb, screw it. BB is sooo much easier and cleaner. I think they can work. I also think 99% of hobbiests won't get them to. JMO
I need to start compiling a photoalbum of dsb tanks. They are great for growing algae..

 

[coryherb]

I agree the tank in that thread isn't that great of looking..however I think that has more to do with the way he set it up. If you had a lot of live rock it wouldn't look that bare.
I really like clams though..can I still have clams with a bb.
what is selling me on the BB thing..was the lack of scum in the skimmer, and I don't think it due to lack of skimming..just lack of stuff to skimm. I haven't had a chance to research what is put in the refugium to feed coral(other than additives)..but whatever it is does it need a sand bed to grow? Sorry for not being more specific.

 

[squidd]

I really like clams though..can I still have clams with a bb.
Look about the center of the pic above...
but whatever it is does it need a sand bed to grow?
I have about a 1/2" of sand on the bottom of my Fuge...mostly to give the Macros something to "cling" to, but that and a "pod pile" of LR "rubble" keeps the microflora and fauna pretty happy...

 

[coryherb]

is that your tank squidd? It looks very nice. Do you have a thin layer of sand? What is that on the bottom of your tank..if it is your tank .

 

[squidd]

Coraline, polyps and mushrooms...
No sand in the tank...(that's why they call it "Bare Bottom" )

 

[coryherb]

so really the only thing I wouldn't have with a BB is anything that sifts sand. And I suppose I wouldn't want as many cleaner specimens. Other than that I could stock the same. AND over time the bottom would grow over with something not making it look bare at all. right?

 

[squidd]

That's the plan...
The other thing is you can put your rock and coral specimens right up to the front of the tank and build a "gentler" slope than a "rock wall" so you can use more of your tank "floor space"...

 

[iwantacans]

dsb's are sinkholes... plain and simple..

 

[coryherb]

seems I could definitely go down in size to the asm skimmer. They don't seem to work near as hard with a BB. HMMMM What does the clam attach to? do you put something down for them?

 

[coryherb]

so would it be better to have stacked rock or to build a pvc substructure? It would be cheaper and probably more stable as well as easier to keep clean to build a pvc structure. But..I am thinking too many fish would be able to hide (more so than normal) behind/under the rock in the open space. Or is that even an issue?

 

[kimkissyfish]

Squibb,
Awesome tank!!
Kim
I guess one thing to think about with the DBS is that after having one gor years and years if it began to fail or release toxins you cannot easily get rid of it, syphoning it or taking it out by other means would rlease many many toxins into your tanks and BOOM.. PROBLEM!
At least thats what I've been told.... I asked this before. But you dont hear much about it so.....
Kim

 

[squidd]

Originally posted by CoryHerb
t..I am thinking too many fish would be able to hide (more so than normal) behind/under the rock in the open space. Or is that even an issue?

Ummmm........Don't put that many fish in there then....

 

[beth]

Well, I agree that those who set up DSBs must attend to the specific requirements of maintaining sandbed infauna. If anyone feels that is not for them, then a DSB would definately not suit them. However, if you enjoy having a tank that requires little maintenance and no equiptment aside from PHs and a skimmer, one whose rock and sand are the filters and where the sand bed is just as important and interesting as any other part of the aquaria, then DSB is for you.
I notice that most who don't use DSBs do have them setup in some fashion under their tanks. :thinking:
dsb's are sinkholes... plain and simple..
iwantacans, sorry to hear that your DSB crashed for you. You want to tell us what happened? Maybe it will help those of us who still have them. Did you even have one?