Bare Bottom Cutting Boards...

[Dave Harms]

I'm thinking about ordering a cutting board cut to the dimensions of my tank, but I have a question for those of you who use one. How do you determine what size you need? Did you use the inside the glass dimensions?

I ask because the trim on top of my tank is a bit smaller than the actual bottom of the tank, it over hangs by about 1/2" all the way around. I'm wondering if I would have trouble physically getting the cutting board into the tank if I order it to fit the inside the glass dimensions. IE, will it be too big to fit thru the opening? Or will I be able to sorta angle it thru the hole, then flatten it out on the bottom.

Tell me what to do!

 

[kraze3]

Most that I have seen are cut smaller. Ive seen them from one to two inches in on the sides and front. The ones I saw were all the way to the back with the rock stacked against the back wall.

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Leave some space around the edges so you don't risk the silicone. Also makes for convenient detritus siphoning.

 

[hottuna]

right up to the inside edge of the silicone on the bottom is how I cut mine...looks great..

 

[mustang51js]

anyone have a pic of this, ive never seen anyone use a cutting board in there tank, and i thought it wasnt good to put wood in a tank because of ph problems

 

[otrlynn]

I'm sure the "cutting board" referenced is the newer type fabricated from some kind of man-made material (looks like plastic) not wood.

 

[Dave Harms]

Yes, plastic cutting boards:

http://www.cuttingboardcompany.com/custom.asp

Thanks for the info guys. If I decide to jump into this project I'll order it smaller to leave room around three sides. The detritus siphoning thing makes sense.

 

[Dave Harms]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14763274#post14763274 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hottuna
right up to the inside edge of the silicone on the bottom is how I cut mine...looks great..

Got a photo or two?

 

[Dave Harms]

Part two of this question: do people silicone the board to the bottom or just put rocks on top of them to hold it down?

 

[CeeGee]

silicone. You don't want dirt getting under it where you can't siphon it out.

 

[Dave Harms]

Makes sense I reckon!

 

[crvz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14763852#post14763852 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CeeGee
silicone. You don't want dirt getting under it where you can't siphon it out.

If you place it flat on the glass, this isnt an issue. I've had mine in my 150 for about 2 years now and i have nothing collected under it. The first time I did this, I put it in my 58 gallon without really cleaning the tank out first. Some small pieces of rock, snail shells, etc., kept the board from laying flat and detritus collected. But on the 150, I put the board in before I had water in the tank and it has worked out fine without silicone.

Regarding placement, I left a good 1"+ all around the edge to ensure it kept off the silicone, again in an effort to keep it flat on the glass.

 

[bubbly]

what's the point of doing this?

For those of you who have done this a while ago, what differences did you see that made it worth it?

 

[crvz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14770508#post14770508 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bubbly
what's the point of doing this?

For those of you who have done this a while ago, what differences did you see that made it worth it?

which point are you asking about? going barebottom, using cuttingboard/starboard, or siliconing it in place?

 

[mustang51js]

i would think it would be for not breaking the glass from to much rock on the bottom of the tank

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

The starboard theoretically helps you in the event of a rockslide. It also can reflet some light, and keep light out of your sump. Mine is just flat on the glass, I installed it into a wet tank. I can't see any accumulation underneath it after 4 months.

 

[Dave Harms]

I think I'll be doing a quicky install... take the rocks and stuff out of the tank... suck the water into a bucket ... vacuum out the sand, quick rinse, then put the board in and reverse the process. No silicone.

I ordered the board 10 1/2" by 21 1/2". This will leave about an inch around the sides and front and just a tiny bit on the back.

 

[mg426]

Anyone ever paint the bottom(Under/ouside) of their tank?

 

[jonnybravo22]

i use a superboard cutting board:
http://www.amazon.com/SuperBoard-Pu...2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1239064132&sr=8-2

no silicone, just rocks holding it down.

 

[bubbly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14770926#post14770926 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crvz
which point are you asking about? going barebottom, using cuttingboard/starboard, or siliconing it in place?

I have a barebottom tank, and I see the point of siliconing it so there is no debris under it, was just wondering about the purpose of using the cuttingboard / starboard.

Is it just to make sure the glass isn't cracked if a rock falls? Bigger tanks have heavy rocks, so that makes sense. Are there any other benefits? I wonder how it looks.