starboard?

[dicjones]

I've been using the search tools and not having much luck finding pics or info about this. I was wondering what the whole starboard thing is all about. I currently have crushed coral and was thinking of going bare bottom when I came across a thread about starboard. It's really the first I have heard about it.

Thanks!!

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

It's basically cutting board material. Sold mostly at marine / boating stores and plastics shops. You'd want it in a bare bottom tank if you want to protect the bottom glass from breaking in a rockslide situation, and coraline algae will stick to it much better than glass if you're concerned about coverage on a bare bottom tank. Black looks pretty cool (but eventually it's all just coraline), white is more widely available.

 

[chrismunn]

corian is perfect for the starboard reef

 

[dicjones]

I'm sorry, what is corian?

 

[reefarchitect]

If you go with starboard, spend the extra money and get the 3/4" as it is less likely to warp. Also have the seller cut it to your specs. I made a real mess of some using a jig-saw.

 

[dicjones]

Thanks reefarchitect. Did you switch over to starboard or did you start with that. Would it be worth the trouble in your opinion.

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Use a table saw for long straight rips!!! Agree on the 3/4". Corian is a countertop surface that's quite expensive for this application, unless you just had some extra laying around (sink cutout, etc.). All you're doing is trying to keep rocks from breaking the bottom glass -- many people do it straight on the glass...

Hard to say if it's worth the trouble, just depends on how likely your rock work is to collapse and break the bottom -- it doesn't serve any other purpose (other than aesthetics if you don't like looking at your sump while you wait for the coraline coverage).

 

[Chihuahua6]

I got mine at http://www.thecuttingboardcompany.com
They shipped it super fast and the price was reasonable. My husband cut it to size on his table saw. A jigsaw would be more difficult to use but not impossible.

 

[chrismunn]

corian is an acrylic solid surface material used to make countertops for home, commercial, and laboratory use. go to www.duracite.com or www.dupont.com and click on "corian"

its non pourus, 100% sterile, and comes in like 500+ different colors.
here is an entire tank i made from it

in my opinion its perfect not only for starboard, but for the entire tank! real versitile stuff there, the corian is!

 

[reefarchitect]

dicjones,

I have several friends whose rocks are on the glass. Although the likelyhood of your rocks cracking or breaking the bottom of your tank are remote, I just don't like the look of glass on the bottom. Some people have had a nece effect by painting the bottom of their tanks, but I thing the starboard is nice and almost has a sandlike appearance in that it is white and takes on a texture once the coraline starts growing on it.

The cuttinboard company has great prices, especially on the pre-cut pieces in common sizes, but once I factored in shipping, it was cheaper at my local acrylic shop.

 

[reefarchitect]

double post,

my appologies

 

[dicjones]

I found a site with starboard pretty cheap. Thanks for all the info everyone. Still debating the BB thing...I originally thought it was ugly until I saw some pics. That raised my curiosity. I then started thinking about all the advantages and really thought it might be for me.

Here is the site:http://freckleface.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/squareandrectanglecuttingboards.html

 

[reefarchitect]

I just checked the site, make sure the board you use is UV rated, I think that is the main difference between starboard and regular cuttingboard.

 

[dicjones]

Thanks for the heads up architect...never knew.