So You Want To Go Barebottom But You Have Questions...

Discussion in 'Sand' started by NUHTTY, May 5, 2005.

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  1. satch

    satch Plankton

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    How do you keep your pH constant without a crushed coral or a sustrate like it to buffer the pH? Also do you have to add a calcium addittive? :confused:
     
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  3. mac77

    mac77 Plankton

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    Will a bare bottom tank help me in dealing with green and brown algae? I have problems with algae, they cover the whole bottom of the tank in 2 to 3 days after I vacuum it when I do water changes. The whole entire crushed coral bottom gets basically black in color. What can I do stop this algae taking over of the whole bottom.
    Also will changing the bottom to sand, ( really fine sand ) help in cutting this algae build up? Any recomendation will be greatly appreciated.
     
  4. Birdlady

    Birdlady Finback Whale

    Joined:
    May 8, 2004
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    First question,

    Most folks have to add calcium and/or pH buffers even with sand. The sand only breaks down after the pH has dropped to a bit lower than we would normally keep our tanks. Depending on the animals you keep, some need to add more, others less. I have clams and stony corals. I add a good bit ;)

    Second question,

    Switching to sand probably won't help your algae problems. What it may do, is allow you to get propers substrate maintaining critters, eg. fighting conch, ceriths snails etc.

    I found the biggest aid in keeping my sand clean was flow, flow, flow! Of course , the sand can blow around ;D But I found a happy place between blowing sand and clean sand!