CuC for Bare Bottom Nano

Pastey · 02/11/2017, 08:39 AM

Need a little help as I've never run a bare bottom tank before.

Tank thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2610325

I know to avoid sand dwelling and sand cleaners as we are not currently hiring for that position at this time. Essentially, the tank is just 5 sides of glass so a few glass cleaners would likely do the trick? Don't want any frag pushers so hermits, urchins, etc. are out as well. I'm not a huge fan of trochus snail because they need constant supervision. They just did when they fall on their backs. I was thinking maybe 3-4 nerites?

AlSimmons · 02/11/2017, 03:22 PM

I'm assuming your just going to let algae grow wild on the bottom panel? Being that Nerite snails don't get very big you might want to go with half a dozen or so. These in combination with something like a Mag-Float and you should be set.

Pastey · 02/12/2017, 08:40 AM

Since the bottom is glass and my glass cleaner doesn't reach, I really just need some snails to clean up the film algae and detritus that settles there.

AlSimmons · 02/12/2017, 12:38 PM

No matter how many snails you add they're never going to keep that bottom panel spotless for you. With good parameters though eventually it should become covered in coralline algae anyways, so there is hope. As far as the detritus goes, I've yet to see a snail, crab, starfish etc make a pile of this crap disappear in a BB tank. A siphon is your best bet here IMO. You could use a HOB filter if you want, but you'll need to have enough flow in the tank to keep the detritus suspended for long periods of time. The media will have to be cleaned on a regular basis too.

Pastey · 02/12/2017, 03:36 PM

Yea I have a turkey baster to suck up the little piles of crud.

02/11/2017, 08:39 AM	#1
Pastey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 835	CuC for Bare Bottom Nano Need a little help as I've never run a bare bottom tank before. Tank thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2610325 I know to avoid sand dwelling and sand cleaners as we are not currently hiring for that position at this time. Essentially, the tank is just 5 sides of glass so a few glass cleaners would likely do the trick? Don't want any frag pushers so hermits, urchins, etc. are out as well. I'm not a huge fan of trochus snail because they need constant supervision. They just did when they fall on their backs. I was thinking maybe 3-4 nerites? __________________ I got a fever, and the only prescription is more pictures.

02/12/2017, 08:40 AM	#3
Pastey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 835	Since the bottom is glass and my glass cleaner doesn't reach, I really just need some snails to clean up the film algae and detritus that settles there. __________________ I got a fever, and the only prescription is more pictures.

02/12/2017, 03:36 PM	#5
Pastey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 835	Yea I have a turkey baster to suck up the little piles of crud. __________________ I got a fever, and the only prescription is more pictures.

02/11/2017, 03:22 PM	#2
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	I'm assuming your just going to let algae grow wild on the bottom panel? Being that Nerite snails don't get very big you might want to go with half a dozen or so. These in combination with something like a Mag-Float and you should be set.

02/12/2017, 12:38 PM	#4
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	No matter how many snails you add they're never going to keep that bottom panel spotless for you. With good parameters though eventually it should become covered in coralline algae anyways, so there is hope. As far as the detritus goes, I've yet to see a snail, crab, starfish etc make a pile of this crap disappear in a BB tank. A siphon is your best bet here IMO. You could use a HOB filter if you want, but you'll need to have enough flow in the tank to keep the detritus suspended for long periods of time. The media will have to be cleaned on a regular basis too.