Starboard or bare bottom?

[swk]

Hi guys. Just bought my new tank and I'm deciding between just a plain bare bottom and one with starboard.

Anyone have any strong opinions one way or another?

Anyone know any local sources for black starboard?

 

[edolan]

I don't have an opinion one way or the other but I believe Tap plastics carries black starboard.

 

[swk]

I don't have an opinion one way or the other but I believe Tap plastics carries black starboard.

Awesome. Thanks!

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I got mine from Tap Plastics. I went with 1/4" custom cut to match the bottom of my tank.

Honestly, on my next tank I'll probably skip it. It's not that it looks bad or is particularly bad for your tank, but detritus gets caught around the edges and likely underneath as well.

I added it to protect the bottom of the tank from my rocks. But I'm not sure it was necessary.


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[swk]

And no I'm not worried about rocks breaking it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PgEwEiTyYcs

It was mainly to keep reflections off the bottom but I may just end up painting the bottom of the tank.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

And no I'm not worried about rocks breaking it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PgEwEiTyYcs

It was mainly to keep reflections off the bottom but I may just end up painting the bottom of the tank.

I think you might see reflections initially, but it will get covered in coraline algae. It's hard to tell I have black starboard as it's basically just various shades of pink at this point!

 

[Ssteve]

I got mine from Tap Plastics. I went with 1/4" custom cut to match the bottom of my tank.

Honestly, on my next tank I'll probably skip it. It's not that it looks bad or is particularly bad for your tank, but detritus gets caught around the edges and likely underneath as well.

I added it to protect the bottom of the tank from my rocks. But I'm not sure it was necessary.


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Couldn't you just use a sealant to prevent that issue?

Ive considered this as well and but I plan on covering a lot of the bottom of my tank with chalices and such similar to what worldwide has done on their display tank and I would rather glue to the starboard than the tank glass in case I upgrade I can pull it out.

 

[swk]

If I do starboard it'll be siliconed around the perimeter. It's a productive detritus trap without I'm sure

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Couldn't you just use a sealant to prevent that issue?

Ive considered this as well and but I plan on covering a lot of the bottom of my tank with chalices and such similar to what worldwide has done on their display tank and I would rather glue to the starboard than the tank glass in case I upgrade I can pull it out.

Yes, you can definitely silicone it down. I just didn't want it to be permanent. Once it's siliconed down, removing it would probably bugger the bottom edge tank silicone.


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[LittleBigReef]

I have a 1/4" blue foam pad under my barebottom tank. No paint needed


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[Steve Ruddy]

And no I'm not worried about rocks breaking it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PgEwEiTyYcs

It was mainly to keep reflections off the bottom but I may just end up painting the bottom of the tank.

Unless you plan on scraping coralline growth off there won't be reflections. I would save my money.

 

[swk]

Unless you plan on scraping coralline growth off there won't be reflections. I would save my money.

Thanks Steve. That's where I have arrived as well. Bare glass it is!