Starboard bottom question

Acro maniac · Jul 24, 2017

Im in the process of a build and i have decided to go bare on the bottom, due to the success i have had with my current 90g bb. I have already purchased half inch white starboard and will be "securing" it with silicon.
The question i have is or has anyone left a gap on the sides or front to act as a detritus catch so that its easy to siphon it out? My thought was to leave a 1in gap on the front and sides so that my siphon hose can just be drug around the 3 sides and pick up all the settled soild organics.
So what do you all think? Will this work or am i trying to reinvent the wheel?

Cory · Jul 25, 2017

Acro maniac said:
Im in the process of a build and i have decided to go bare on the bottom, due to the success i have had with my current 90g bb. I have already purchased half inch white starboard and will be "securing" it with silicon.
The question i have is or has anyone left a gap on the sides or front to act as a detritus catch so that its easy to siphon it out? My thought was to leave a 1in gap on the front and sides so that my siphon hose can just be drug around the 3 sides and pick up all the settled soild organics.
So what do you all think? Will this work or am i trying to reinvent the wheel?

I dont think you want the detritus trap around the edge. Cleaning it will get old. Id seal it.

The best detrtus trap is a cons swirl filter. Its got a valve at the bottom. Every day or two open it up and let all the poo out.

Acro maniac · Jul 25, 2017

Cory said:
I dont think you want the detritus trap around the edge. Cleaning it will get old. Id seal it.

The best detrtus trap is a cons swirl filter. Its got a valve at the bottom. Every day or two open it up and let all the poo out.

Thanks for the response. The edge will be or would be sealed. I guess i didnt explain it properly. It would be more like gutter.
Currently i have to slide the rock formations around on one side to get to the detritus that settles between. Which is getting really old. I Would like to put a small power head there to keep everything suspended, but i dont know where it would settle if i did.
And i Might endup worse off.
Just trying to come up with a better solution for this new build.

Cory · Jul 25, 2017

Acro maniac said:
Thanks for the response. The edge will be or would be sealed. I guess i didnt explain it properly. It would be more like gutter.
Currently i have to slide the rock formations around on one side to get to the detritus that settles between. Which is getting really old. I Would like to put a small power head there to keep everything suspended, but i dont know where it would settle if i did.
And i Might endup worse off.
Just trying to come up with a better solution for this new build.

Yeah thats what i thought like a gutter. I still think its not worth it. Just push it all to one side with a powerhead

Acro maniac · Jul 25, 2017

Cory said:
Yeah thats what i thought like a gutter. I still think its not worth it. Just push it all to one side with a powerhead

Powerhead in my current tank isnt really ideal. I always endup breaking the tips off the corals due to not being able to watch the cord while blowing stuff around.
Also not sure i like the idea of blowing the crap back into the rocks after spending the time blowing it out with a turkey baster. I have uses an old hydor 1150 and gone back after with a turkey baster and it looked like i didnt even do it. Due to the flow i have setup now i can blow all my rocks out and it all settles at one end around 1 of 4 rock islands in the tank. I would prefer to add another powerhead but not sure where id be digging for the detritus if i did so.
New 180g im building will have much more flow as to make sure there are no dead spots.
I also do tank maintenance weekly so i have a siphon hose with a filter sock in the sump every week. It would be nice to just run it around the edge instead of through the rock work.
I really wish i could find a reason to agree but the more i think about it the more im convincing myself its a good idea.
Help me see the reasoning not to leave a gap. Maybe the front edge is not such a good. I dont see any benifet to leaving a gap on the front but im really considering the sides

biecacka · Jul 25, 2017

Cory,
do you run a swirl filter? If so can I see pictures of it? I have limited space in my area for one but am considering trying one out.

Thanks,

Corey

Cory · Jul 26, 2017

Acro maniac said:
Powerhead in my current tank isnt really ideal. I always endup breaking the tips off the corals due to not being able to watch the cord while blowing stuff around.
Also not sure i like the idea of blowing the crap back into the rocks after spending the time blowing it out with a turkey baster. I have uses an old hydor 1150 and gone back after with a turkey baster and it looked like i didnt even do it. Due to the flow i have setup now i can blow all my rocks out and it all settles at one end around 1 of 4 rock islands in the tank. I would prefer to add another powerhead but not sure where id be digging for the detritus if i did so.
New 180g im building will have much more flow as to make sure there are no dead spots.
I also do tank maintenance weekly so i have a siphon hose with a filter sock in the sump every week. It would be nice to just run it around the edge instead of through the rock work.
I really wish i could find a reason to agree but the more i think about it the more im convincing myself its a good idea.
Help me see the reasoning not to leave a gap. Maybe the front edge is not such a good. I dont see any benifet to leaving a gap on the front but im really considering the sides

Be the pioneer

would be great if it works

Cory · Jul 26, 2017

biecacka said:
Cory,
do you run a swirl filter? If so can I see pictures of it? I have limited space in my area for one but am considering trying one out.

Thanks,

Corey

I have a cheap diy one. It didnt work, its too small. Heres a video of what i will do later on: