Starboard?

[mr.maroonsalty]

Are people still happy using starboard (cutting boards), or have problems come up using them? I'm planning a mostly barebottom with a partitioned off sandbed if it fits. The problem I have found with stacking on the bare bottom is the rocks slowly slide, I'm thinking to prevent this using starboard and epoxy w/superglue to hold the key pieces in place on the cutting boards.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I think Steve Helinski is still using Starboard.

I never chose to try it........

 

[tropills]

If you go the starboard route I have some you can have. it came out of my old 6 foot 125.

 

[ryan_]

If you go the starboard route I have some you can have. it came out of my old 6 foot 125.

well that pretty much says it huh

 

[ryan_]

one way to prevent the movement would be to drill the rocks and use acrylic rod to hold them together. I did this in my 120 for a cool aquascape solution. Its easy to do and fun to work the rock into unusual formations.

 

[Johnsy85]

What drill bits do you use to do this?

Thanks
Ben

 

[ryan_]

you use a masonry bit. I have a couple, I could throw one your way(they dont cost much at the depot though). Here is a pic of my rock work using the rods. I re-did it a few times but used the same holes, just turned rocks around.

 

[tropills]

well that pretty much says it huh

Yep sure does.. EPDM pond liner doesn't slip.. nice nano ya tool..
sorry salty.. if your going to glue your base rock key pieces anyway why not just silicon them to the glass. ?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

jmo

jmo

I wouldn't dismiss the use of Starboard simply based on what's being posted in any single thread.
Some of the best reef aquariums I've ever seen employed the use of Starboard!

Steve Helinski's aquarium(s) have been outstanding and drtango's was (and still is) an inspiration to me.

 

[dreaminmel]

If you choose to go the starboard route, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. The ONLY concern I've ever seen anyone have with it is detritus collecting underneath which is pretty darn easy to address with a bead of silicone around the edge.

Although using rods to stack rocks is fun and creative, it still won't address the concern of the bottom one sliding on glass if that is your main goal.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

the original

the original


Starboard Reef

Reefkeeping history lesson 101:
as reefkeepers began to realize the shortcomings of DSB's in the display aquarium they gravitated back towards bare bottom and shallow sandbeds that were popular before DSB's.

 

[tmz]

I've seen starboard used successfully. Never tried it. I'd be concerned about a dead water area underneath with dissolved or undissolved organics in it with any liner. Mel's suggestion to silcone it in with aquarium safe silicone makes sense to me.

Oh, Gary do you really want to go into the deep sand bed thing. Folks swarm that issue like biting flies on both sides of it.

 

[acdraindrps]

I wouldn't dismiss the use of Starboard simply based on what's being posted in any single thread.
Some of the best reef aquariums I've ever seen employed the use of Starboard!

Steve Helinski's aquarium(s) have been outstanding and drtango's was (and still is) an inspiration to me.

It's no longer STEVE's aquarium. :rollface:

I had the privilege of seeing John's tank in person before it was taken down. He surely can grow some coral. Hopefully one day he will get the ball rolling again.

Some of you might remember these pics.

Judging by those results, I think starboard could work!

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

I was a little shocked to see Melev "moved on."

I'd be careful judging a dialed in reefers success based on a single element. I like the look of sand, and once thought a tank shouldn't be without it. I've seen the light. DSB's are hard to maintain in a dt, and belong elsewhere if used in most systems. I want to keep some sandbed creatures, so will need sand somewhere; if not for that, being able to syphon a weeks worth of detritus from its collection eddy would far outweigh any reason I've found for having sand in the display.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

older thread bumped up for starboard info

older thread bumped up for starboard info

but (as always) ongoing input regarding the topic is appreciated.

Who ended up with Helinski's aquarium?

FWIW: I didn't use starboard with any of my reefs simply because an aquarium's glass bare bottom is a better choice IMO

 

[toddmh]

thanks for bumping this starboard thread Gary..I have seen the light

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

The only drawback I've found in my bb is the movement of rocks.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

no rock movement here with MP60 and Iwaki100RLT through penductors HOWEVER all my bottom rocks are extremely large and heavy

 

[acdraindrps]

but (as always) ongoing input regarding the topic is appreciated.

Who ended up with Helinski's aquarium?

FWIW: I didn't use starboard with any of my reefs simply because an aquarium's glass bare bottom is a better choice IMO

It will always be Steve's tank...:hammer:

Last I heard though Steve took an out of town job and his father has been looking after things. I figured Steve lurks here sometimes and would have seen my post and spoke up, guessed wrong!

I agree with the glass BB statement you made, never saw the need for starboard.

 

[tmz]

Steve is in El Paso serving on the border patrol . Hope he stays safe. His Dad , and he stopped by to pick up a few frags several months ago and his dad ,Don, who I bumped into at the frag swap on Saturday, is keeping the tank. Steve is also starting one .