attach aquarium background to bottom of tank

Enki · 06/20/2015, 07:57 AM

I have a 93 gallon cube bare bottom aquarium with no starboard. I want to install a light on my sump under the aquarium to run opposite of when my display lights are running. Since I have no barrier between the bottom and the top I want to place background on the bottom of the tank. Does anyone have ideas of how to best install the background to the bottom of running aquarium ?

slief · 06/20/2015, 08:15 AM

In a heathy tank, the bottom will get covered in coraline algae pretty quick so the background won't be seen for long and it might look kind of cheesy. If it were me, I'd either paint the bottom of the tank with some krylon or plastidip or screw a piece of plywood or black acrylic to the underside of the stand. Another option would be to get some black (or any other color) adhesive backed vinyl such as they stuff they use for sign making and stick that to the bottom of the tank.

ReefCowboy · 06/20/2015, 08:27 AM

I've seen this idea here somewhere before. It looks pretty cool, but I wonder how people say they have cleaner tanks going bare bottom when they place a board on the bottom under the rocks, where sediment can fall under not allowing you to clean it?

EagleFF · 06/20/2015, 03:07 PM

why would anyone place a board under the rocks? I believe he says to place the board under the stand to shield the tank form the light underneath.

Wazzel · 06/20/2015, 03:13 PM

The board is plastic. I never seen a need, but some do it as a precaution against falling rocks. If you just want to block the light you can get colored vinyl and just install it like window film.

slief · 06/20/2015, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleFF

why would anyone place a board under the rocks? I believe he says to place the board under the stand to shield the tank form the light underneath.

Because he probably has a glass tank and wants to protect the bottom from the rock. This is generally considered a good idea with a glass tank because it can prevent the bottom of the tank from cracking as the points on rocks create pressure points on the glass bottom. Many use egg crate as an alternative to marine grade starboard or HPDE.

Enki · 06/21/2015, 07:15 AM

Thanks for all the input.
The aquarium is already set up and has been running for 18 months. The sump has some empty space. I want to establish a barrier between the display and the sump area so I can use a light in the sump. I want to run my sump with an ATS algae turf scrubber or have it be a refugium to out compete algae problems in my main tank. In the past I used algae fix in display and it worked great. I was going to dose with Lanthanum Chloride, but I don't know what the long term affects will be and have read it can be dangerous for some fish. If I can, I am going to avoid adding chemicals to the display.

Having two zones on the display will allow me try different methods and use the space in the future for different ideas. Painting while it is running might be a huge problem with fumes. Using some kind of plaster board or vinyl board may work for the application.

I like the idea of coraline algae growing over the bottom but I have very little coraline algae in the display. I do have a dozen corals in the tank that are growing my calcium and alkalinity are fine my magnesium may be a little off ,1200-1220ish. I do not dose at this time just 5-15% weekly water changes.

I do have aquarium background the blue on one side black on the other. Getting the background to apply evenly has been a problem. working upside down and getting it to cover 100% in the corners has been tricky. So, With the current method of the blue / black background what is the best way to attach it to the bottom of the aquarium?

Interestingly enough, after reading various ideas over the past several days I came across an idea to get rid of algae problems: putting more corals in your display gets rid of algae.

KingTriton1 · 06/21/2015, 08:14 AM

Spray painted the bottom outside black with krypton fusion. As for your live rock use Marco Prime cut for the base with any remaining top rock epoxied to it to prevent falls. It sits flush with the glass. No worries here.

KingTriton1 · 06/21/2015, 08:17 AM

Nvm I just realize the tank is already running

ericarenee · 06/21/2015, 12:40 PM

Our Tank is Bare bottom as well. I Wish i had put some type of plastic on the bottom instead of just put the life rock on the glass.The glass is slick and rocks can slide.So it kinda limits some aquascaping. Going to solve this soon .
I Painted the bottom Black except for some areas i could not reach in the far back .(behind the shelf ) You can see the tank in my photo on left..
The Tank is MUCH Cleaner less of a nitrate battle as well. I have a Deep sand bed in the Fuge that is actually in 4 containers. I can pull one container out every 3 months and rinse it Rotating the containers this way does not upset the bio cycle.

I ALSO Have Coraline algae Almost totally covering the bottom. But i have two 1150 hydor power heads one on each side right on the bottom. If it were not from the wave pumps the bottom would get cluttered quickly. OHH Crabs do not like the Glass until the coraline algae starts to grow on it. they just slip around and end up upside down..

06/20/2015, 07:57 AM	#1
Enki Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 41	attach aquarium background to bottom of tank I have a 93 gallon cube bare bottom aquarium with no starboard. I want to install a light on my sump under the aquarium to run opposite of when my display lights are running. Since I have no barrier between the bottom and the top I want to place background on the bottom of the tank. Does anyone have ideas of how to best install the background to the bottom of running aquarium ?

06/20/2015, 08:15 AM	#2
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	In a heathy tank, the bottom will get covered in coraline algae pretty quick so the background won't be seen for long and it might look kind of cheesy. If it were me, I'd either paint the bottom of the tank with some krylon or plastidip or screw a piece of plywood or black acrylic to the underside of the stand. Another option would be to get some black (or any other color) adhesive backed vinyl such as they stuff they use for sign making and stick that to the bottom of the tank. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

06/20/2015, 03:07 PM	#4
EagleFF Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Andrews Tx. Posts: 189	why would anyone place a board under the rocks? I believe he says to place the board under the stand to shield the tank form the light underneath. __________________ 190 gal DSA Pro Reef Current Tank Info: 190 Gal DSA Pro Tank

06/20/2015, 03:13 PM	#5
Wazzel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 4,743	The board is plastic. I never seen a need, but some do it as a precaution against falling rocks. If you just want to block the light you can get colored vinyl and just install it like window film. __________________ Mark Beware the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it's a train. Current Tank Info: 120, LED, Bare Bottom, SPS/LPS

06/20/2015, 08:27 AM	#3
ReefCowboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 1,742	I've seen this idea here somewhere before. It looks pretty cool, but I wonder how people say they have cleaner tanks going bare bottom when they place a board on the bottom under the rocks, where sediment can fall under not allowing you to clean it?

06/21/2015, 07:15 AM	#7
Enki Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 41	Thanks for all the input. The aquarium is already set up and has been running for 18 months. The sump has some empty space. I want to establish a barrier between the display and the sump area so I can use a light in the sump. I want to run my sump with an ATS algae turf scrubber or have it be a refugium to out compete algae problems in my main tank. In the past I used algae fix in display and it worked great. I was going to dose with Lanthanum Chloride, but I don't know what the long term affects will be and have read it can be dangerous for some fish. If I can, I am going to avoid adding chemicals to the display. Having two zones on the display will allow me try different methods and use the space in the future for different ideas. Painting while it is running might be a huge problem with fumes. Using some kind of plaster board or vinyl board may work for the application. I like the idea of coraline algae growing over the bottom but I have very little coraline algae in the display. I do have a dozen corals in the tank that are growing my calcium and alkalinity are fine my magnesium may be a little off ,1200-1220ish. I do not dose at this time just 5-15% weekly water changes. I do have aquarium background the blue on one side black on the other. Getting the background to apply evenly has been a problem. working upside down and getting it to cover 100% in the corners has been tricky. So, With the current method of the blue / black background what is the best way to attach it to the bottom of the aquarium? Interestingly enough, after reading various ideas over the past several days I came across an idea to get rid of algae problems: putting more corals in your display gets rid of algae.

06/21/2015, 08:14 AM	#8
KingTriton1 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 642	Spray painted the bottom outside black with krypton fusion. As for your live rock use Marco Prime cut for the base with any remaining top rock epoxied to it to prevent falls. It sits flush with the glass. No worries here.

06/21/2015, 08:17 AM	#9
KingTriton1 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 642	Nvm I just realize the tank is already running

06/21/2015, 12:40 PM	#10
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	Our Tank is Bare bottom as well. I Wish i had put some type of plastic on the bottom instead of just put the life rock on the glass.The glass is slick and rocks can slide.So it kinda limits some aquascaping. Going to solve this soon . I Painted the bottom Black except for some areas i could not reach in the far back .(behind the shelf ) You can see the tank in my photo on left.. The Tank is MUCH Cleaner less of a nitrate battle as well. I have a Deep sand bed in the Fuge that is actually in 4 containers. I can pull one container out every 3 months and rinse it Rotating the containers this way does not upset the bio cycle. I ALSO Have Coraline algae Almost totally covering the bottom. But i have two 1150 hydor power heads one on each side right on the bottom. If it were not from the wave pumps the bottom would get cluttered quickly. OHH Crabs do not like the Glass until the coraline algae starts to grow on it. they just slip around and end up upside down..