Want to go barebottom, any risk?

Breakin Newz · Dec 24, 2009

Any risk on going barebottom on a established tank with LR, im just worried about the rock falling and cracking the bottom glass, I would usually put starboard down but obviously can not do that now.. :cry:

Soo anyone ever had problems with rock falling on a barebottom with JUST glass/no protective sheet?

roshi719 · Dec 24, 2009

I would remove the sand slowly in small batches if anything so as not to remove too much of the biofilter in one shot.

Blackhawk Fan · Dec 24, 2009

Never had a problem with rocks falling, but that doesn't mean they wont. I would definitely move the rocks around so they are balanced on the glass to prevent that from happening.

Also, don't take all the sand out at once. Do it over a period of a month or so with each water change.

Breakin Newz · Dec 24, 2009

roshi719 said:
I would remove the sand slowly in small batches if anything so as not to remove too much of the biofilter in one shot.

Yea that is my plan, just worried about the rocks tumbling down and cracking the bottom if it ever happens..

Fragged_it · Dec 25, 2009

I know a few people that run bare bottom tanks with no issues.
Good luck.

mufret · Dec 25, 2009

I've run mine BB for quite a while without issues. As has already been mentioned, just take it slow.

pmomberger · Dec 26, 2009

still not sure I understand the advantages and disadvantages of going barebottom. Most tanks I see have sand. I assume maintaining PH is a big advantage of keeping the sand but reduced nitrates would be an advantage of the barebottom system, right?

Reef Pets · Dec 26, 2009

Myself, I would only go bare bottom. Sand does look nice but I just feel that sand is a waste dump in the bottom of the tank, of course thats just my opinion.... Like most things in this hobby, there is typically a possitive and negative effect to every action.

What I like most about bare bottom is that you can have a ton of flow.

Myteemouse · Dec 26, 2009

the only problem I've had in the past is keeping a small frag to sit still on the bottom.. it will swoosh all over the tank.. (maybe glue them down with a touch of supler glue?)

I am actually gonna go bare bottom on my 29 (have before in the past)
BUT there is a twist..
I'm gonna put some great foam down on the bottom of the tank randomly so it looks to be kind of a uneven surface they use two part epoxy and sprinkle sand down on it.

Mr E Wrasse · Dec 26, 2009

On my 150 i have the best of both worlds. I built a dividing wall with 1/4" acrylic about 5" back from the front of the tank, the wall is 4" high and i built an eggcrate rack using PVC to hold up the eggcrate. This way I have water flow under the rocks (using a powerhead) and I don't have to worry about my sand bed going toxic, because i am able to clean all of the sand. So far I haven't had any problems (only 6 months). Of course if you didn't want to use any sand at all it would work just fine.

roscoe · Dec 26, 2009

I've always been a fan of BB. I never had any problems of rocks falling to the extent that it will break the bottom of the tank. My current system has sand but am thinking about removing them down the road sometime.

Znut Reefer · Dec 26, 2009

Always been BB here. I make sure the rock is placed securely. Never had any to fall.

JR's Reef · Dec 26, 2009

I was BB for yrs and when I reset my tank backup a few months ago I put sand back in it. I wish I didnt tho but Ill deal with it til I upgrade to a new tank. If that takes to long I might take the sand out before then its just a pain with rocks in the tank but I put all my rocks in before sand so it would be much easier

OIIIIIO · Dec 26, 2009

Unless there's an avalanche in the tank, you should be fine. Rock weighs less in the water and if it does fall, it will fall slower. I've never had rocks fall in mine but I put HDPE on the bottom just in case and mostly to block some light from hitting my sump area.