bare bottom tank, painted?

[ktkreegs]

Anyone know of or see someone paint the bottom of the tank for a bare bottom look?

Like paint it blue, so it shows more color in the tank.

Or paint it white to reflect more.

or paint it black, to do the same thing as blue color.


any suggestions or thoughts?

 

[d4a2n0k]

Get some starboard from: http://www.cuttingboardcompany.com/

You can put the rocks directly on the glass but if you ever slip and drop a rock you could have some serious problems. Better off proctecting the glass.

 

[SeanT]

Most of us use Starboard (cutting board) available in many colors and from places such as www.cuttinboardcomapny.com
I use black and love it.
It will also help to protect your glass bottom from avalanches.

hth,
Sean

 

[ktkreegs]

where you worried about which size to get?

I know the dimensions of the tank but I guess I should double check the inside of the tank before making a purchase.

Any pics. of your cutting board in the tank to see what it looks like?

 

[d4a2n0k]

Yes, wait to measure the tank. You sometimes have to cut it in 2-3 pieces if you have cross braces that stop you from putting in one complete piece.

In a few months time its covered in coralline anyway.

 

[Boat Racer]

I just put White starboard in my 75 gallon tank in one peice.You just have to cut it just barley smaller than the length and width of the plastic rim at the top of the tank.It will be a bout 1.5" smaller than the width of the glass inside but thats ok because you dont want it to rest on the cilicone anyway.You can just slide the one peice in from one side or the other just under the cross member.And as far as the width gap you just push the board to the front and the back where where the gap is isnt realy seen anyway.It doesnt look bad at all her are a couple pics

 

[ktkreegs]

I think I like the look. I'm still debating whether or not to go bare bottom.

Is there any pics. of established tanks with bare bottom that I can take a look at?

 

[ktkreegs]

Did you say what thickness board you bought?

 

[Boat Racer]

My board is 1/2"...There is a thread called "show your Bare Bottom tank pics" here somewhere.I'll try to find it and post the link.

 

[Boat Racer]

Here is a link to the thread with many pics of established BB tanks.Warning "The anti BB guys infiltrated this thread to" http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=640711

 

[ktkreegs]

thanks for the link

 

[nofrills]

I'm using a peice of 3/8 acrylic that i would like to paint black. What kind of paint can i use to do that?

 

[Boat Racer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6602995#post6602995 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nofrills
I'm using a peice of 3/8 acrylic that i would like to paint black. What kind of paint can i use to do that?

I wouldnt use acrylic or paint.I dont think there is a paint out there that would stand up to this environment that isnt full of bad minerals like copper and zinc etc...The paint would leach into the water and could possibly flake.Paint and plastics dont mix well for very long.It will also be too slick for the rocks and a land slide may happen thus breaking the tank.It also has been known to warp.Bite the bullet and by the Starboard.It comes in many different colors.The peice I bought was 5' x 2' and cost $54.00 at a local Marine surplus store.It was new and has a sheet of protective plastic on it that you remove just before placing it in your tank.

 

[MiddletonMark]

No starboard, no paint.

Kind of like it, easier to check on my serpent starfish - provides a little light in the sump so I can see what's going on, what I'm working on.

Given the bottom just grows with coralline where it's lit anyway .... it would only be temporary.

If painting, I'd paint the bottom of the lower glass - outside the water area ... probably would last better, no toxic issues.

 

[Boat Racer]

Good point Mark

 

[nofrills]

great idea...did'nt think of paining the outside bottom...cool!