Barebottom Hybrid questions

[StevenSeas]

So I like the Idea of Barebottom tanks, especially since I will be moving my tank every 4 months or so. ( I think moving my sandbed this last time is the reason my mated pair of tomatoes got sick and died :( ) But I dont like the look of barebottom tanks too much.

So I was thinking of ways to get something on the bottom so it isnt just glass and this is what I came up with:

Letting some nice metalic star polyps take over the bottom
or
Use Mr. Cobs foaming and foam the bottom and place sand on it while drying and then remove the excess.

So could I get away with either of these thoughts and still have the majority or all of the pros of barebottom tanks?

[txg8gxp]

Hey, don't you go stealing my gsp covered bottom idea....J/K The main reason I like bare bottom setup's is nutrient export. It's more work, but I would rather suck the stuff out then it get stuck in the sand bed.

[StevenSeas]

ya thats what im thinking, plus much easier to move and i dont have to worry bout a nitrate spike or anything like that. and i gave you the gsp idea, common now

[ErikH]

I have successfully moved several tanks with the sandbeds intact. Just as long as you don't disturb it, it's fairly easy. If that scares you, just use new dry sand each move.

[StevenSeas]

I too have moved my tank many times (like 5 or 6) with my sandbed and it not be an issue, but it would be a lot easier and more economical to move without one or replacing one. I wish I could take your advice but im just not in a position to right now. thanks for the input though

[kkiel02]

Why dont you just use a smaller amount of sand, 1" or less? Keep it aerobic so even if you disturb it, it wont hurt anything. The sand beds you have to be careful with are 1+ in depth where anaerobic areas can occur. Just use enough to cover the bottom and thats it.

[hobogato]

Why dont you just use a smaller amount of sand, 1" or less? Keep it aerobic so even if you disturb it, it wont hurt anything. The sand beds you have to be careful with are 1+ in depth where anaerobic areas can occur. Just use enough to cover the bottom and thats it.

+1

[ballardjr2000]

+2 really thin sand bed just for "looks"

[StevenSeas]

thats what i was thinking of replicating with the sand encrusted foam but much easier to move. plus cleaning detrius would be easier, wouldnt lose sand.... but I dont know if i would be loosing too much good stuff by going barebottom

[ismvel]

thats what i was thinking of replicating with the sand encrusted foam but much easier to move. plus cleaning detrius would be easier, wouldnt lose sand
Perhaps Mr. Cob can chime in, but when I was at his house for that foaming demonstration he did, he mentioned that not much of the sand will actually encrust into the foam. He was using it more for texture, that eventually with the water getting introduced, it would simply wash the sand away.

I could have misunderstood, but I think that is what will happen with the fine grain sand. If you use more of the coarse and bigger types of sand, it may work.


.... but I dont know if i would be loosing too much good stuff by going barebottom
If you are worried about losing the "good stuff" by going bare bottom, why not put a deep sand bed in your sump area, if it allows, then use the thin layer of sand in the display.

[Europhyllia]

foam has its downsides too. Did you read Firewater's thread on tearing down his 90 gallon tank?

[StevenSeas]

foam has its downsides too. Did you read Firewater's thread on tearing down his 90 gallon tank?

No I hadn't read his thread fully, wasnt it something about urchins were eating the foam which caused it to leach stuff out? IDK something to read I guess

Also its for my nano so I wont have a sump, my biological filtration will most likely be live rock and cheato or another form of macro

[kkiel02]

Im a little confused, I guess, about why you are saying the decorative sandbed is hard to move? The only problem I see is if the tank tipped over for some reason? Is that what you are talking about?

[StevenSeas]

no i have to completely remove all the sand and transport the tank dry, due to the way its built, which causes problems right??? I am pretty sure thats what did my clowns