New tank, trying to decide on substrate

[deathmatch782]

The end of this summer i get to set up my 125 thats sitting in my friends garge until i move into a larger apartment.

Right now in my 20 gal that i have set up, i have a ~ 2" sand bed. I like the look, but absolutely hate the mess. So i'm thinking of going BB in the 125. My question is, is it alot more work to keep the tank looking nice w/ BB? I dont think it would be too bad, but i haven't tried yet.

My other idea for the 125 is to make a faux sand bed, like a few others in my area have done. I think it looks really good since the sand is there, but there isnt the mess.

Any opinions on this?

tia

[gman0526]

IME, running a BB is far easier than a DSB. I don't know about everybody else but all the maintenance I do is syphon a little mulm pile every 2 weeks, clean my skimmers cups every other day and set up the kalk drip. Nothing more, nothing less. i don't have to worry about critter counts in the SB, tweaking my flow so I don't get a sand storm while keepin good velocity and distribution all around the LR and SB. i don't have to worry how long b4 my SB has reached it's "storing" limit, blah, blah, blah. I used to clean my glass every 2 days, now I'm down to every 1.5-2wks.

I've never tried a faux bed, seems like a good alternative, but IMO since it will be covered in coralline anyways, I don't see why I should go through the setup of one and have it looking like a glass or starboard bottom, but this will definetely be a matter of personal preference. Geoff is setting one up for his "Mantled Monster" he should be able to help you with this substrate.

[Geoff]

the margin for error with a BB is much less than with a DSB. the DSB acts like a sponge so any negligence on your part can be absorbed by the DSB. if you have to skip a water change for a couple of weeks than a DSB can handle this for a while. in a BB this is not tolerated as well. if you plan on going on lots of vacations and need the safety net of not having to do water changes very regularly than a DSB may be a better choice.

on the other hand BB are very easy to take care of. if properly setup. very open aquascaping so that you can get to all of the detritus piles than maintenance is a snap. a quick 5g water change is all you will need. a 5g is all i did on my 125g system before i had to take it down for Ireland. if really done properly the skimmer should take it all out and not have any siphoning to do. water changes can be nearly automated.

here is a link to a kind of composite SB that matt_b has done. this is gives the best of both worlds. he has a HDPE platform with spraybar on it that supports all of his LR. all around this HDPE platform he has a SB, not quite DSB, but a couple of inches anyway. if needed this SB can easly be siphoned out when full and a new one put in.

as for the FSB (faux sand bed) it is looking great. hope to have the tank up on the mantle tomorrow. will hide the seams then also.

G~

[VWD]

I am very new at BB, My 90 is the first one and so far I like it. I also did a CLS and find it to be very helpful. I will over time learn and see for myself if I think BB is better then DSB for right now all is nice and I like it. I siphon the crap out of the sump and any that may be in the bottom of tank during water changes. But for the last lear or longer I have been doing water change bi monthly an the DSB as with BB. I fine that no matter what system you use the regular water changes are the best. I just like to give all systems a chance . so far BB is alright.