Thinking of BB/ re-aquascaped instead/ more pic5-26-07

[hitillidie]

I'm thinking of taking my sand out of my tank. I have a few SPS frags and I'm wondering what should look forward to as for as my SPS. I've switch from sand to BB before but I didn't have any SPS, just LPS and softies. I would hate to siphon out the sand and my sps die. I love sand but my live rock just seems to be so dirty. I can't crank up the tunzes anymore without starting a sand storm.

 

[celebrityovernight]

hey carl, i went bb a couple months ago. i would watch your phosphate levels. a sudden decrease is going to shock the sps and cause rtn. if i were you, i'd just take out all the water and rock and take out the sand.

 

[disbjohn]

the problem that i have with going BB is that my nitrates are high around 40-50. i do plan on doing a RDSB once this southdown GB goes through. i also put down HDPE (starboard) below the rocks and the problem with this is that the detritus can get trapped under the starboard. the other day i pointed my tunze stream toward the back rear of the tank towards the bottom and out came a storm of detritus. i siphoned out what i could into a filter sock for about 30 minutes and i will definitely have to do it again soon since more has settled in low flow areas.

when i do upgrade my tank...i will still go BB but will do without the starboard. if i had the funds i would really like an AGE custom tank with the sch80 pvc bottom. *very nice*

 

[Guest]

If you do go bare bottom go with black starboard it has a cleaner look to it.

 

[celebrityovernight]

when i went bb, i did it w/out the starboard and i'm very happy. just make sure the rocks are stacked right.


john, the nitrates are probably from all that detritus.

 

[disbjohn]

@celebrityovernight wrote:

yeah i'm sure that has alot to do with it...plus probably all the snails that passed away.

black SB is the way to go for sure..that's what i did.

 

[Guest]

if your nitrates are that high might want to do research to adding sugar to your tank...I have seen my nitrates decrease the last two weeks since I started.

 

[disbjohn]

@kuyatwo wrote:

sounds interesting..do you have any links or should i wait for late nite RC searching? haha.

 

[hitillidie]

I've done BB before for two years love it. I wanted sand in this tank but I'm just not liking how my rock stay dirty with sand. It's extremly fine but has TONS of life man! I can see tube worms coming from under the sand. I see eggs everywhere, so I hate to get rid of it. But with dirty live rock it can't breath and lose it effectivness.

 

[Guest]

you can put all that sand in a remote deep sand bed then go bb...or just use a turkey baster or a minijet to blow off the crud on them once a week

 

[Carabelli]

@celebrityovernight wrote:

not sure, but, i would recommend putting some type of plastic/acrylic between your rock and glass if you have a glass tank - something shifts and you could wake up to a room of water

 

[spsfreak]

I don't have starboard on my tank either. I have the underside of my tank painted sandy white; I don't remember the exact paint name lol. I like it alot. I don't really think you have to worry about rocks shifting and cracking your tank. I have 5/8 inch glass on the bottom of my tank; I really can't see a rockslide breaking it. Idk,stranger things have happened in this hobby.

In addition, with a DSB, imo you have more chance of a rockslide over time from sand shifting, etc.. If you really get your rocks set well in your BB, you should be good.

 

[disbjohn]

that's why for my dream tank i want one built by AGE.

here's greenmako's 300G eurobraced AGE tank. with that PVC bottom you won't have to worry about rockslides and cracked glass. but paying for a $2k+ tank right now isn't in my budget :sad:

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[hitillidie]

I agree, I hadd BB before on my 210 in New Orleans. I had my rock on the glass and never a problem. Also I have large, large rock once stacked they don't move.

 

[spsfreak]

yes those AGE tanks are extremely nice. I would love one of them, or an AO tank.

 

[Kay]

Can someone post the website for the AGE tanks?

Kay

 

[bimmerzs]

@janakaybravo wrote:

They are sold by the service side of Fish Gallery located on Greenville Av. in Dallas. http://www.aquariumenvironments.com/2006/index.html
**edited**

Cheers!

 

[Guest]

http://www.acrylicandglassexhibits.com/

Fish Gallery sells their tanks

 

[bimmerzs]

@kuyatwo wrote:

Mucho better link, I mis-spoke shoulda said what he said. :wink: Just keep in mind that they are very proud of their tank's, I still can't get my jaw off the floor 5 month's after getting a price quote. Ask for Shaw when you call or stop in and he will take care of you.

Cheers,

 

[hitillidie]

I reacquascape my tank yesterday to try and solve my sand storm problem. I thought of taken it all out but decide to try moving it first, so I took all the rock out and move all the sand back toward the rear of the tank. Now it slop up toward the back and very thin layer in front. Thus far seems to be working, no sand storms.

Well since all the rock was out I thought I'd change a few things with my rock work. So what do you think? I included a before picture which is first.

Before

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After

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Straight on

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Left side

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Right side

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