barebottom

[pfcreed]

What are your thoughts on bare bottom tanks, Im dead set on doing one but the things that im on the fence about is do I try to hunt down some kind of cutting board to put on the bottom, do I use limestone tile, do I go with straight glass. I like the ideal of straight glass the most but Im not that lucky and I know something would happen. Have any of you went bare bottom before, what was your experiences.

[SoLiD]

I've see quite a bit bare of bottom tanks that look really nice, but you will notice every bit of detritus on the bottom glass until you clean it or cover it. They can be a lot of work if you are a clean freak.

[Mr Cob]

As long as you have heavy flow you won't have any detritus problems, I have half foam and half bare bottom glass on the 85g. I would go glass only but have the live rock in the display stacked with acrylic rods, that's what I used in the 85g.

[Roo&Lis]

I currently have a barebottom. I do have really high flow. The detritus piles up in one corner making it super easy to clean. I placed a couple of Zoas frags here and there and its beginning to look like carpet. I will never do sand again.

[350gt]

I have a bare bottom and yes it usually piles up in a corner or sometimes behind a rock.


I think I would have done sand if I could do it all over again.. Only cause I would rather see a flat sand bed rather then a pile of stuff in one corner, crab shells rolling around... Frags placed on bottom getting pushed around by the current, or all the algae and coralline stains on the bottom.

But then again, I don't miss my mp 40 kicking sand over all my frags or frags places on the bottom getting buried..

[pfcreed]

Im dead set on doing it. The problem im havng now is that im worried about my rcks falling and breaking my glass. Honestly im not gunna epoxy my rocks together so i need to put something down in there. I was really hoping to keep it see through but from what ive read is Im going to have to use a piece of cutting board. What sucks about that is the cost. also I have a 90 gallon tank, a mag9 a korola 1050,1400,and a 750. whats considered high flow.

[jroescher]

A thick piece of clear acrylic? Maybe kind of expensive, but it wouldn't need to be the good kind since it wouldn't have any structural use. Maybe Home Depot special.

[Troy Valentine]

I have known several people who have had great luck with starboard.... Here is a Reefcental TOTM link, check out the paragraph titled "Got Substrate?"
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/totm/index.php

[MIOR6485]

I started my 200BB tank in 2003 and still running today. Go to Regal plastics in San Antonio and buy the HDPE in 1/4". for a few bucks they cut it to size. Not only does it protect the bottom of the tank but being its like cutting board, the rocks stay in place and dont slide. corraline will take over and cover the bottom if not coral. As for the detris, I rather see it then have it hiding in my sand bed. Also powerhead placement vs sand bed is not an issue. After 7 years 80% of the bottom is covered by coral etc. Siphoning is easy. What I do is put a large filter sock in the sump and with a hose, I start a siphon

[Mr Cob]

I seriously do not have and detritus build up in the 85g which is half BB and half foam bottom... I used to before I increased the flow. 2 x 1500 evos in the back and an mp40 up front (side) keeps it all suspended and sends it to the sump eventually.

[pfcreed]

entire tank is down about to go pick up plumbing to hook everything up and low and behold I cant even put a 20 gal long tank under my stand. I have an Aqueon classic 90 gal tank and stand and im thinking about taking a jigsaw to the side of it to make myself a door. I saw this on someones tank before same stand and everything, Im just afraid to try actually cut into it.