Silicone Bare Bottom

[plankton99]

I am thinking about using a silicone sheet for my tank with the intent to make it a bare bottom. Please chime in if this is a good idea or not?

My Theory:

1) Since nothing grows on the silicone seams (Coraline, algae etc) Silicone would be the ideal for a bare bottom set up.
2) I will be using food grade silicone sheets 100% silicone, this should be safe correct?

Here is a link to a sheet i might consider.

http://kerekes-bakery-restaurant-eq...froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

Love to hear anyone's thoughts.

 

[Scott-CapeCoral]

Solid red ??

 

[plankton99]

Solid red ??

Red was the only color i found besides light blue here. I would prefer black and maybe white.

Here is the light blue one...

http://www.fondantsource.com/siliconemat.html

 

[tmplge]

coraline and algae do grow on silicone its just a little slower process. I wonder what the chemical effects would be by that amount of colored silicone?

 

[plankton99]

coraline and algae do grow on silicone its just a little slower process. I wonder what the chemical effects would be by that amount of colored silicone?

Yeah that is what I am wondering as well. I have to double check if it is 100% silicone, if it is and it is food grade, it should be safe I hope.

 

[hottuna]

I'd worry about the edges flapping up in the current or something with a sheet that thin....

 

[ziyaadb]

1) Since nothing grows on the silicone seams (Coraline, algae etc) Silicone would be the ideal for a bare bottom set up.

I am sorry but algae will groww on it

 

[plankton99]

Thanks for the replies. I guess it is looking like it will have to be sand. BTW this is the tank...

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oSPIBTL5YLR9Xauh49We25IlG_XcdpwMhBlaVgtpAEg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NXpuq2m0IHc/SbHT_aDvRiI/AAAAAAAAAk0/8qf3w_wDwB0/s800/IMG_2111.jpg" height="600" width="800" /></a>

 

[das75]

you can always just go BB. Only algae I find growing is coralline and some zoas, and mushrooms have taken hold.

 

[jeff@zina.com]

When did you ever see a silicone bottom on the ocean? Or bare glass?

Jeff

 

[mcgyvr]

When did you ever see a silicone bottom on the ocean? Or bare glass?

Jeff

It's there ... It's just been covered up by sand over the years (millions) :twitch:

 

[plankton99]

When did you ever see a silicone bottom on the ocean? Or bare glass?

Jeff

Glass is made from sand

 

[mlb75]

One thing I did on an old tank was cover the bottom of the tank with a very thin layer of aquarium silicone and then sprinkle medium to course gravel over it and press it in (it made a serious mess so wear gloves and tape up the sides of the tank that you don't want silicone on). It took a bit to dry but when it did I had a bare bottom tank that looked like it had substrate. Just another idea...

 

[Stuart60611]

Why not just go with a very shallow 1/8 of inch or less dusting of sand on the bottom. You get the asthetics of a sand bottom with the benefits of a bare bottom. Seems like the easiest solution. I have done so in my fowlr for qutie a while, and it has worked well.

 

[plankton99]

Why not just go with a very shallow 1/8 of inch or less dusting of sand on the bottom. You get the asthetics of a sand bottom with the benefits of a bare bottom. Seems like the easiest solution. I have done so in my fowlr for qutie a while, and it has worked well.

This is a good option. I think this is how I will move forward.

 

[LittlePuff]

Why not just go with a very shallow 1/8 of inch or less dusting of sand on the bottom. You get the asthetics of a sand bottom with the benefits of a bare bottom. Seems like the easiest solution. I have done so in my fowlr for qutie a while, and it has worked well.

Doesn't the sand blow all over the place, since you need higher flow?

 

[Stuart60611]

Doesn't the sand blow all over the place, since you need higher flow?

Well, I have never tried it with real fine sand and have your typical reef grade argonite substrate. What happens is that within 1 month or so the sand gets suffciently coated with bacteria so that the grains stick together and do not blow around. I have a ton of flow in my display and have no issues with my very shallow sandbed. Until the sand solidifies, you may have to be a bit careful with the powerheads. I would think it is a good idea to stay away from a fine grade sand if you go this route.

 

[mlb75]

the flow was the problem I always had with the very shallow beds, heck I still have issues with my deeper bed. I've got two areas in my tank now that I have to constantly (once a week or so) move sand back into otherwise the glass will show.

When i did the silicone trick it looked like there was sand but could have crazy flow and no visible glass. I went back to a sand bottom on my current tank so I could have sand sifting fish...

 

[mlb75]

forgot to mention the use of larger substrate will obviously help with it staying in place but will be more of a long term problem as the larger substrates never really fully develop all the required aerobic / anaerobic zones to be beneficial and will inevitably trap much detritus unless vacuumed regularly. Not saying you need to use sugar sized sand but the super coarse stuff brings on it's own list of problems

 

[Scott-CapeCoral]

Plankton, here's something to think about. What if you set this up get all your live-rock and corals in and you absolutely hate it? Sand is very beneficial.....