I am in the middle of building my first TTBH. 42" long, ~19" wide and ~10" deep (sized to take standard frames).
I was planning on installing a SBB, and have place a sliding board underneath but open on the ends, or just one end (basically creating a 2-3" high tunnel under the SBB). I don't like the idea of opening and closing the bottom because it gives them a new environment to get used to, so I was hoping this would give me some ventilation and allow the mites to drop out, but still confine it enough that it can be left like that year round. (we get in the upper 90's in the summer and down to 0 maybe a little lower in the winter)
Too much work? Bad idea?
For a SBB to be effective for mite control does the bottom need to be completely open?
If you have a bottom board under a SBB, will the mites just climb back up into the hive?