? For Barebottom experts

alb_56 · 12/21/2013, 01:54 AM

I have read a lot of different threads on what to line the bottom of the tank with and I was wondering what you guys have to say. What are some of the always good choices and what are some the less conventional materials to use?

brcb7tuner · 12/21/2013, 02:05 AM

I would just paint underneath the tank black, it will be covered in coraline in a few months anyway. If your worried about rocks falling and breaking the bottom some people use something called starboard.

acabgd · 12/21/2013, 06:33 AM

I saw white acrylic which looks nice and also a "fake" sand bottom with a very thin layer of sand actually superglued to the glass.

ThreeMoneyJ · 12/21/2013, 11:26 PM

Fake rock textured background used on the bottom. I love it. I have another tank with a white starboard bottom which I don't like as much.

alb_56 · 12/21/2013, 11:38 PM

did you buy the rock background or make it?

Mr D smack · 12/22/2013, 06:19 AM

I'm no expert but I went with black starboard. The tank is cycling is why I've got the chia pet look.

discocarp · 12/22/2013, 06:29 AM

Just the glass for me.

ThreeMoneyJ · 12/22/2013, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alb_56

did you buy the rock background or make it?

Bought it online from designsbynature . net. No issues with anything leeching into the water.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2291647

NastyZ · 12/22/2013, 11:12 AM

Just glass for me but then again I don't have to worry about rocks falling over just make sure your rock work is secure

alb_56 · 12/22/2013, 11:26 AM

Seems like just the glass is a lot more common then I would have guessed.

BIGSKY · 12/22/2013, 11:57 AM

Glass last 25 years. Back then I was using a trickle filter how things have changed

NastyZ · 12/22/2013, 02:00 PM

If you want the bottom to b white like sand then use starboard (keep I'm mind you'll have to clean it) if you want it to just be coralline then I would just leave the glass

discocarp · 12/22/2013, 02:56 PM

Starboard grows coralline too. It won't stay white.

NastyZ · 12/22/2013, 03:26 PM

That's y I said you'll have to clean it

aquaenthusiast · 12/22/2013, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeMoneyJ

Bought it online from designsbynature . net. No issues with anything leeching into the water.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2291647

brilliant !

miniwhinny · 12/22/2013, 05:31 PM

Glass only. I intend on covering the bottom in corals so just using the glass was fine with me.

Tcook · 12/22/2013, 10:06 PM

I kept the glass clear as well. Make sure the rock is secure. Easy to keep clean.

whosurcaddie · 12/22/2013, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NastyZ

Just glass for me but then again I don't have to worry about rocks falling over just make sure your rock work is secure

This is gonna be so sick when the Zoas cover the bottom.

BIGSKY · 12/22/2013, 11:45 PM

You can have green

NastyZ · 12/23/2013, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whosurcaddie

This is gonna be so sick when the Zoas cover the bottom.

Thanks but there acans and Favias on the bottom zoas growing on the back glass

whosurcaddie · 12/23/2013, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NastyZ

Thanks but there acans and Favias on the bottom zoas growing on the back glass

Oh they looked like zoo colony's to me. It will be even more amazing then.

jorda9095 · 12/23/2013, 10:13 AM

i have just glass and have had my rocks fall without any problems

i guess the water slows them down and its not enough force. i would go with a black bottom if i were you. starboard or azek should work.
dont clutter the bottom with corals if you want that clean minimalist look

12/21/2013, 01:54 AM	#1
alb_56 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Nebraska Posts: 781	? For Barebottom experts I have read a lot of different threads on what to line the bottom of the tank with and I was wondering what you guys have to say. What are some of the always good choices and what are some the less conventional materials to use?

12/21/2013, 11:26 PM	#4
ThreeMoneyJ Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 596	Fake rock textured background used on the bottom. I love it. I have another tank with a white starboard bottom which I don't like as much. __________________ -John (threemoneyj is an anagram) -120 mixed reef. 50 cadlights cube. 40B cardinal/dragonet breeding tank/frag tank.

12/22/2013, 06:19 AM	#6
Mr D smack Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pevely Mo. Posts: 5,485	I'm no expert but I went with black starboard. The tank is cycling is why I've got the chia pet look. __________________ aka Mr D Sack

12/21/2013, 02:05 AM	#2
brcb7tuner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 60	I would just paint underneath the tank black, it will be covered in coraline in a few months anyway. If your worried about rocks falling and breaking the bottom some people use something called starboard.

12/21/2013, 06:33 AM	#3
acabgd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belgrade Posts: 1,086	I saw white acrylic which looks nice and also a "fake" sand bottom with a very thin layer of sand actually superglued to the glass.

12/21/2013, 11:38 PM	#5
alb_56 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Nebraska Posts: 781	did you buy the rock background or make it?

12/22/2013, 06:29 AM	#7
discocarp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 2,707	Just the glass for me.

12/22/2013, 11:12 AM	#9
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	Just glass for me but then again I don't have to worry about rocks falling over just make sure your rock work is secure

12/22/2013, 11:26 AM	#10
alb_56 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Nebraska Posts: 781	Seems like just the glass is a lot more common then I would have guessed.

12/22/2013, 11:57 AM	#11
BIGSKY Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Miles city MT Posts: 238	Glass last 25 years. Back then I was using a trickle filter how things have changed

12/22/2013, 02:00 PM	#12
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	If you want the bottom to b white like sand then use starboard (keep I'm mind you'll have to clean it) if you want it to just be coralline then I would just leave the glass

12/22/2013, 02:56 PM	#13
discocarp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 2,707	Starboard grows coralline too. It won't stay white.

12/22/2013, 03:26 PM	#14
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	That's y I said you'll have to clean it

12/22/2013, 05:31 PM	#16
miniwhinny Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 816	Glass only. I intend on covering the bottom in corals so just using the glass was fine with me.

12/22/2013, 10:06 PM	#17
Tcook Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 1,350	I kept the glass clear as well. Make sure the rock is secure. Easy to keep clean.

12/23/2013, 10:13 AM	#22
jorda9095 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 325	i have just glass and have had my rocks fall without any problems i guess the water slows them down and its not enough force. i would go with a black bottom if i were you. starboard or azek should work. dont clutter the bottom with corals if you want that clean minimalist look