Problem with prop tank

[aaronlp]

I have a 100 rubbermaid frag prop tank...i have live rock in there 3 tangs and corals....my problem i keep running into is all the crap that settles on the bottm(being barebottom) is just annoying and makes the tank look ugly i have 4 powerheads blasting the bottom but nothing seems to work for me....what should i do?


I also have another question i want to remove all the live rock out of the tank how quick can i do that and while there be any side affects on the fish/corals?


Please help dont wanna lose any coral or fish from the junk on the bottom

 

[RalphsReef]

I am experimenting with a bare bottom frag tank. When I do water changes, I syphon the detritus out. As far as removing rock, you can remove it to suck out the detritus, and put it back in once done. It is probably not worth it, in my opinion. Just get a small diameter hose so you can reach into crevices to get hidden detritus. I don't think you could ever get all of it. I'd have a rubbermaid tub with some discarded tank water to store the rock in while you handle the other tasks, should you choose to remove it. Unless there is a ton of detritus built up on the bottom you should not lose anything. All that said, when I re-do my tank, I am going to put sand in.

 

[aaronlp]

well is there anything wrong with taking the rock out and keeping it out for good?

 

[RalphsReef]

That would cause a catastrophic problem, and ultimately death for all inhabitants. Unless, of course, the tank is plumbed into a system that has live rock, live sand, etc. By removing the rock, you are in essence removing your cycle.

 

[NanoNathan]

i run my frag tank with just a ton of matrix basically functioning as live rock. you dont "have" to have live rock but taking it all out at once would be a bad idea. Also not adding something like matrix or what ever wouldn't be a good idea. If you have stuff settling on the bottom of the tank then there is not enough flow. In my 36x36x12 i have 3 1200 gph on in each corner minus the corner that is the over flow. and a mp10. I also have the power heads on a wave timer thing to randomize the flow. i have nothing settling on the bottom. I do have eggcrate 3 or 4 inches off the glass and it is BB. do you have the power heads aimed at the bottom?

 

[aaronlp]

yees except this isnt a glass tank its a rubbermaid tub so there is a huge difference for flow beacuse its rounded and the rocks stop the flow so much crap settles all over the bottom im just gonna add the rock into my sump i guess

 

[NanaReefer]

Vacuum it out!! http://www.aquariumguys.com/batteryvac.html

 

[aaronlp]

ok ive been doing that....my other question is can i get away without the live rock with just a minimum amount in my sump like 20-30lbs in a 100 with a 30 sump with 3 fish but weekly water changes a good skimmer and filtration and light feedings

 

[andip3]

my frag tank is bare bottom as well and I ran into that same problem I experimented with different powerheads vacuuming out the stuff works well though

 

[xcorallusx]

wouldnt be a problem if you had more flow