NY_Caveman
likes words, fish and arbitrary statistics
QUESTION: I am curious if anyone has ever placed shelf dry rock to try and cover the bottom of an aquarium. Essentially a somewhat level rock substrate made of flat dry rock. Then, cycle the tank with live rock atop as you normally would. Would you consider this bare bottom? Am I nuts?
BACKGROUND: I am returning to reef keeping after many years. The tank I am considering is around 36"L x 16"W with a 27 gallon display. So a long, not tall, tank. The flow will be fairly high for coral and I want a natural look. My idea is to consider something different because I do not love the three standard substrate options (or starboard either).
I prefer sand the least. It is messy from flow and from critter activity including the biggest critter regularly poking around in there - me. I understand it works well for most and looks natural. There is no debating that. It is not for me in this tank. When I have used sand in the past it was always courser (1-2 mm), shallow (less than an inch) and mostly for aesthetics.
Bare bottom tanks also work fine for many, and I have greatly considered it. I just do not personally want that look. That smooth encrusting growth over the glass bottom like a paint can spill is very cool, but not my vision for my aquarium.
When I started with reef tanks long ago crushed coral was all the rage and it worked great in my experience. My longest running tank was a 55 gallon reef with crushed coral I kept for six years that was fully moved twice with a very high survival rate. The tank had a lot of flow, metal halide lighting and a protein skimmer as the only filtration. There were few fish and I added a light amount of food once a week. I understand there is risk with any substrate though so not sure this is the best option now.
If I were to pick one of these three options right now I would pick a thin layer of crushed coral no more than 1" deep. I am probably used to that aesthetically. First I would arrange a simple base of dry rock to the left, then cover that with live rock halfway up the tank, place live rock a bit lower to the right, then add the thin layer of crushed coral to fill.
I understand many may want to comment a one line post that crushed coral is a death trap, but before you do consider, Did you use crushed coral? Were there many fish in the tank? Did you add food and substances daily? If you want to "con" crushed coral from experience, please do so, but include your bioload and feeding habits. This tank I envision will not have more than 2 fish if it has any. For that reason, my bioload will be low and I will feed very sparingly. This and regular, sectional vacuuming will lower the risk of the substrate. I love corals, shrimp and all of the little critters that work the reef. They will be the focus of this tank which will be grown PATIENTLY.
My question up top is me trying to find a better solution whatever that idea is worth. I welcome any thoughts and recommendations for different or unique substrate ideas that others may have tried. Thanks
BACKGROUND: I am returning to reef keeping after many years. The tank I am considering is around 36"L x 16"W with a 27 gallon display. So a long, not tall, tank. The flow will be fairly high for coral and I want a natural look. My idea is to consider something different because I do not love the three standard substrate options (or starboard either).
I prefer sand the least. It is messy from flow and from critter activity including the biggest critter regularly poking around in there - me. I understand it works well for most and looks natural. There is no debating that. It is not for me in this tank. When I have used sand in the past it was always courser (1-2 mm), shallow (less than an inch) and mostly for aesthetics.
Bare bottom tanks also work fine for many, and I have greatly considered it. I just do not personally want that look. That smooth encrusting growth over the glass bottom like a paint can spill is very cool, but not my vision for my aquarium.
When I started with reef tanks long ago crushed coral was all the rage and it worked great in my experience. My longest running tank was a 55 gallon reef with crushed coral I kept for six years that was fully moved twice with a very high survival rate. The tank had a lot of flow, metal halide lighting and a protein skimmer as the only filtration. There were few fish and I added a light amount of food once a week. I understand there is risk with any substrate though so not sure this is the best option now.
If I were to pick one of these three options right now I would pick a thin layer of crushed coral no more than 1" deep. I am probably used to that aesthetically. First I would arrange a simple base of dry rock to the left, then cover that with live rock halfway up the tank, place live rock a bit lower to the right, then add the thin layer of crushed coral to fill.
I understand many may want to comment a one line post that crushed coral is a death trap, but before you do consider, Did you use crushed coral? Were there many fish in the tank? Did you add food and substances daily? If you want to "con" crushed coral from experience, please do so, but include your bioload and feeding habits. This tank I envision will not have more than 2 fish if it has any. For that reason, my bioload will be low and I will feed very sparingly. This and regular, sectional vacuuming will lower the risk of the substrate. I love corals, shrimp and all of the little critters that work the reef. They will be the focus of this tank which will be grown PATIENTLY.
My question up top is me trying to find a better solution whatever that idea is worth. I welcome any thoughts and recommendations for different or unique substrate ideas that others may have tried. Thanks
