The "How to go Barebottom thread."

[Mojoreef]

Mike, I still think that's a slower process. If you really "cook" them you're going to kill the bacteria that you need to mobilize, transport, and remove nutrients from the rock.

Yea I would say its as slow as regular dark cooking for sure. The bacteria do begin repopulating right away but I would assume the proper population levels wont get back to where they need to be for a couple of months at least. What it does for me is allow me to get my reef back up and running right away, aquascaping and coral replacement wise. Also being back in the tank the population levels come back alot quicker (because of the bioload) i place in the tank. Again remember this is just a percentage of the overall rock mass. Another good thing I like about it is that it makes a great seed surface for corraline algae and they purple up with in a week or so.
I have also taken out sinle rocks that were getting old and look nutrient loaded (shedding detritus like crasy, hold various algae types) and done a quick boil and then replace. Its always worked well for me so far, but again its a quick harsh method.

Mike

[SeanT]

Originally posted by Mojoreef
I do fully understand the concept of cooking LR and it does work very well. I have just never heard it used as a requirement before.

Originally posted by SeanT
So I have decided to share my experience and experiences on the way I perceive to be the safest (not necessarily easiest) way to go barebottom.

[SeanT]

Originally posted by ezhoops
any thoughts, suggestions on my set up?

Yes.
I would have your UV be part of your drain system and have it exit in front of your skimmers input.

[Bomber]

Originally posted by Mojoreef
Also being back in the tank the population levels come back alot quicker (because of the bioload) i place in the tank.
Mike

I think the population would come back a lot sooner because in the process of actually boiling those rocks, you kill off what's alive that had those nutrients inside them, release a lot of nutrients that were bound, and all that free food creates a bacterial bloom.

Just like getting aquacluttered rock that's been shipped dry kills off stuff that dies, decomposes, and releases nutrients. Then you have to wait on all that stuff to decompose, bacterial levels to get reestablished - just like setting up a DSB, and then migrate it out of the rock.

[Mojoreef]

Just like getting aquacluttered rock that's been shipped dry kills off stuff that dies, decomposes, and releases nutrients. Then you have to wait on all that stuff to decompose, bacterial levels to get reestablished - just like setting up a DSB, and then migrate it out of the rock.

When it is boiling a very large amount of organics come out of the rocks, I would imagine through vapor transmission?? But you end up with a net skimning the crap out as it is boiling, after a few hours when you pull out the rock thier is alot of solids on the bottom of the pot also.
I dont think by any means I get all of it but I think I get most of it, from thier as you say its a re population and migration thing. I am not trying to tout this, just something I have done for years with sucess.


Mike

[mattrix]

Originally posted by SeanT
Yes.
I would have your UV be part of your drain system and have it exit in front of your skimmers input.

In general, is it OK to have the UV on the drain system? I'm wondering if the UV would do better with some head pressure.

In a setup with multiple drains, I suppose it would be best to try feeding all drains through the UV?

[ezhoops]

In a setup with multiple drains, I suppose it would be best to try feeding all drains through the UV?

I really only use the one drain, the other is purely for power outage to prevent a flood.

In general, is it OK to have the UV on the drain system? I'm wondering if the UV would do better with some head pressure.

wouldn't the UV slow the pump pressure? (never used a UV before)

could you also recommend one?
thanks

What are your thougths on my flow? enough, too much, etc

[kewwlkat123]

Just taggin along...interesting thread nonetheless

[causeofhim]

Just started cooking my rocks tonight.

Took my first big step towards barebottom.

[Bryan89]

ezhoops - there will be some headloss associated with the UV sterilizer. But, the slower the flow rate through it, the more likely you are to eradicate everything that is in the water (to a point). So, IMO you could easily hook it up on a drain, but you need to make sure that the second drain you have can handle 100% of tank flow in case you isolate the UV to work on it.

I purchased a 120W Aqua UV, excellent device with great customer service.

[SeanT]

I agree with Bryan.
Use it on a drain line.

Sean

[causeofhim]

Should I put some snails or anything in with the rock I am cooking?

[matt the fiddler]

ok random BB q.. and this comes after 6 months or so of being BB

under the starboard .. i have a .. collection of filth and pods that i can see looking up at the tank.. is this going to be a problem? Or should I investigate ways to either seal it.. or give t a good wash out?

BB rocks

[Bomber]

Matt, you have a lot more in the rocks that you can't see. You want/need a certain amount, you just don't want so much you over whelm your system with it. Having a 'tad' under the SB is not a problem.

[causeofhim]

When I startup my tank, would it be benificial to put a line of silicone around the starboard to keep that from happening?

[Bomber]

It's really moot.

I can't get over the irony of this though. People have changed from 4-6" of detritus to what can squeeze between a flat piece of starboad and a flat piece of glass, and now they worry about it.

You don't want it all out, you can't get it all out, and you can't run a system "sterile".

[SeanT]

Originally posted by causeofhim
Should I put some snails or anything in with the rock I am cooking?

Nope.

[SeanT]

On a perosnal side note,
I have had a 'dirty' little secret for the past 6 months...my grow out tank.
With all the rocks and racks in there it was physically impossible to siphon detrius in there without removing the corals.
I could get a few spots here and there...but only 10% of it.
I recently sold almost all the corals in there and have gotten 99% of the detrius out about 3 days ago.

It feels good to be clean(er).

Sean

[just dave]

Originally posted by Bomber
....... and you can't run a system "sterile".

Nor would you /should you want to.

I know Bomber and many others know that but just thought I'd say it anyway.

[matt the fiddler]

just double checking.. i don't remember that being mentioned on any of the BB threads that I have read..

BTW> i "upgraded" from a eductor to two tunzes 6000 . man i am missing the flow the eductor got in my 75 i should have just broken donw and started with at least 1 6100

[kwjones]

Matt,

Are you saying that you got more flow with the eductor and you replaced it with 2 Tunze that don't provide the same amount of flow? I'm just curious becuase I've been thinking about putting an eductor on my 2400 gph CLS. a $30 eductor vs. a Tunze.

[Bomber]

Originally posted by kwjones
a $30 eductor vs. a Tunze.

that's how this whole eductor thing got started in the first place-

I'm cheap. LOL

[kwjones]

Just a thought about the detritus under your Starboard/cutting board. Mine is in two pieces so I could get it in the tank. I've noticed that the only places it doesn't collect underneath are the places where the rock sits on top. Like Bomber said, it doesn't matter, but if you're really anal about it, it doesn't collect where the rocks are pushing on it. It really collects "a lot" on the outside edges and the seam in the middle.

[matt the fiddler]

yes.. i had an eductor on a pan world 150PS before that, a panworld 50px
both had more flow than a single 6000 the huge pump bigger than both
i decided on a better power usage situation [not 180 watts]
now, i do have wave control which is worth something..

i might put the eductor back in on the 50px...


i might mod one of the 6000's for the more flow situation...


I have also been pullign out loads of rock i don't need to free up space.. my softies might get pulled to another tank...

[kwjones]

Matt:
Ahh...ok. I can't really blame you for going with the most energy efficient solution. My power bill tripled this month because of the heat/humidity wave we're having here. I think I heard the house AC turn off for the first time this month last night.