New setup with "pseudo substrate"

Hey G-money,

I'm getting ready to do up my "pseudo substrate", and was wondering how much aragonite to order. I was hoping 10lbs. would cover it...? My tank is a 90g, so it's 6" narrower than yours, but still 48" long.... How much aragonite did you use...?

Thanks, man...

Todd
 
Todd,

I had a 50lb bag, so I'm not sure what it took, but I'd think 10 lbs. would cover yours - it might be close. It might be worth having a little extra on hand anyway...in case. Let us know how it goes!



Thanks salty! :D
 
I thought about acrylic and was told it may be more subject to warping than a more rigid plastic. With the rock on it and all, I don't know...it may work. HDPE is pretty affordable, though. It was around $45 for a 2x4 sheet of 1/2" material.
 
Ahh, good point.

Problem I have is how to get it into my braced tank. It is a Clear for Life 60R
 
mattjk, what a lot of people (with Starboards) have done is to actually use two pieces of plastic (such as two 24" long boards for a 48" long tank). This leaves a seam, but with the faux substrate on it, I bet the seam would be barely visable...?
 
My tank has a brace as well, but all you have to do is hold the board up and at an angle and slide it down toward the opposite end of the tank. It worked on the 120. As long as you have enough vertical clearance above the tank, it shouldn't be a problem.

When measuring for the board, be sure to measure the dimensions inside the innermost lip of the top bracing or the board won't fit without some force - if at all.

I suppose one advantage to going with multiple pieces of material is that by having less length, the pieces will be less likely to warp over time. I don't know if this is really an issue or not over the long term...
 
Very cool... and not as ugly gray as my aragocrete plates were originally.

Did the cement actually solve the HDPE at all, or is the bond mostly mechanical?
 
Rob,

It's hard to tell, but it appears mechanical. HDPE is pretty dense stuff (hence the name ;)).

Yeah, what you found with the aragocrete sounds about like what I found by using Portland cement in the first run of the project. Adhesiveness was superb, but the substrate was pretty grey.
 
unless you have the acrylic lying around, it really isn't any cheaper than HDPE... I can get a 17' X 48" HDPE board custom cut at thecuttingboardcompany.com for $47... My local acrylic shop can't touch this price for the same size in acrylic...
 
Yeah actually I do have a couple sheets that are laying around and was trying to find some thing to do with it. If it were in smaller sections and just siliconed the seams would it still warp?

Thanks,
DW
 
If you siliconed the seams on smaller pieces, couldnt that keep it from warping? Kind of like cement driveways having cracks so if the expand it doesnt break the cement. With the acrylic it could have that little bit of bend at the seams instead of in the middle of the plate.
 
Honestly, I try to avoid any potential headaches when it comes to putting things in the bottom of aqauriums... Yes, it may not warp, but what if does AFTER you put in your liverock and livestock? Particularily at the corners...? Wouldn't that look lovely to have the corners of your "sandbed" stickin up! You're gunna go through that to save a few bucks...?

Ask this question in the DIY forum, there's a lot of good knowlegable acrylic guys there who would know the answer or have a better idea for you...
 
I was worried about the edges warping upward.
Supposedly, there are UV issues as well, but I didn't quite understand that, since folks make tanks out of the stuff (thicker I guess?) If it's covered with gravel, the UV isn't really an issue.
 
Finally got the tank aquascaped this past weekend...
This is the front:
1414Aquascape_front_6-1b.JPG

1414Aquascape_front_6-1.JPG


This is the back side:
1414Aquascape_back_6-1b.JPG

1414Aquascape_back_6-1c.JPG


The process went really well and the substrate really held onto the rock. I think it may be the most stable arrangement I've had and it's all pretty much loose. I used a couple fiberglass rods to make overhangs, but it's pretty much just two big hollow piles.
I'm pleased.

The livestock will probably be going back in within the next two weeks. I'll be sure to update! :)
 
Thanks for the pics, G-money... looks really great. I love your aquascaping on that three sided tank... Looks completely natural, and the pseudo substrate is a hit... How could you not choose this over bare HDPE...?!

I am expecting my custom cut HDPE from cuttingboard.com next week, and I just got my 15 lbs. of Geo-Marine (which I don't think will be enough?!), and then will start gluing...! Thanks for the recommendation on the Geo Marine; this is a great substrate that I have never seen it before. Perfect size and look for this project..!

P.S. Is that your protien skimmer in the middle of your living room?
 
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