BB Advise please

[rogergolf66]

I am considering going BB. I know that lots of flow to keep the waste moving so the overflow can remove it to the filter sock. Also I know I have to have an extra large skimmer. I am taking care of that as I am connecting my new skimmer rated for 400gallons on a system with 160gallons of water.

Im not sure what advise I am looking for. Anything that I should exspect that I don't know?

Any special way to setup my closed loop to help with flow to remove the waste? I will post a picture of my new return setup soon. it is just a drawing as of now.

Roger

[mrferrit]

are you goin straight BB or are you gonna do a starboard bottom ?

[rogergolf66]

ok here it is the goal is to have 200Gallons coming out of each return. Is that enough? or should I get an ocean motion or something like that and have the flow keep changeing?

I am thinking about a 2,000-2,500 GPH Sequence pump?

oviously if I go with an ocean motion I will have to increase the size of the returns as 1/2 inch will be to small if I go that way.

[rogergolf66]

Originally posted by mrferrit
are you goin straight BB or are you gonna do a starboard bottom ?

I would but something on the bottom to protect the glass.

[poknsnok]

are you going primarily sps?

[rogergolf66]

yes my softies will all be gone on Tuesday morning exsept the zoathidas and ricordia. after tuesday I will have only SPS and ricordia and zoas.

Roger

[poknsnok]

ok.. a true bb has no sand or refugium. works just as you said. over skimming, lots of random flow to suspend the detritus or direct it somewhere for removal. and the use of filter bags to remove suspended detritus. the bags need to be changed daily or every other day or your nitrates could be a problem. my old 200 was bb and i never had any issues and most of my sps grew very fast.. but, i had a small dsb refugium, that is something to consider,

old 200

[cmjreef]

Hey Roger, I talked to you at Coral Corral. My 90 Gal SPS has had a deep sand bed for years and I recently began to remove sand. I didnt remove all, but i vaccuumed sand out each time i did a WC until it was about one inch thick. My tank has responded very well. Better color, faster growth, etc. I recommend it, but be careful. Not too much at a time.

[rogergolf66]

thanks

[drosen]

If you go starboard here is a site with some good prices and they have all the colors and textures. You might think about textured surface as the regular smooth one might not provide best traction depending on your rock configuration.

I believe these come out of Florida so shipping would be minimized.

http://www.marisafe.com

[drosen]

I am sure you thought of this - but don't order a single sheet to the dimensions of your setup unless you really CAN get it in your tank. I suppose if you remove the top lip and supporting cross bracket..... but tank would have to be empty before I would try that

[rogergolf66]

thanks but I didn't see a size that would fit my tank. nor did I see a size that would fit with out having to cut it. 72X18 bottom