starboard
- Thread starter pascal32
- Start date
oneradtek202
Pitcher Hill Reef Society
probably the lack of the ability to grow algae, and kinda looks like sand but can be a barebottom tank.....?? no clue
teamdulski
The Saltiest!
S helinski is the only person I know that has done it, I never really liked it.
I've never used starboard either but my basic understanding of the concept is pretty much inline with what oneradtec stated.
Substrates tend to buildup phosphate ,the idea behind the starborad is that it has the look of substrate without accumulating detritus whitch tend to come with real sediments.
I like real substrate and just gravel vac it but thats just me.
Substrates tend to buildup phosphate ,the idea behind the starborad is that it has the look of substrate without accumulating detritus whitch tend to come with real sediments.
I like real substrate and just gravel vac it but thats just me.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
here's the original Starboard Reef
make sure to read thread!
IME glass bottom can hold rock from top to bottom front to back without protection. Just look at the LR holding vats at your LFS's.
Like graves already posted, a sandbed can accumulate detritus and provide a source for PO4 to be released. So can liverock for that matter.
make sure to read thread!
IME glass bottom can hold rock from top to bottom front to back without protection. Just look at the LR holding vats at your LFS's.
Like graves already posted, a sandbed can accumulate detritus and provide a source for PO4 to be released. So can liverock for that matter.
solRNY
New member
same reason i am using an arcylic bottom, something about rocks on glass gets me a little nervous,
IronMan72
New member
I briefly considered it for my 180 to help distribute the weight of the LR but changed my mind for the exact reason that Gary gives. I went to my LFS and their glass tanks were completely full of LR. I've also read that the corners of the starboard tend to bow upward over time.
Capt_Cully
Active member
I aquascape right on the bare bottom before adding sand. It's a tip I got from Mike Paletta's book when I started out. It creates a more stable scape, and removed succeptibility to sand sifting critters changing the substructure. No worries. Put the rocks on the glass.
Check out this months tank of the month. He uses starboard with a sand apoxy mix attached to the surface. I had the opportunity to see this tank in person and I didn't know that it wasn't a real sand bed until he told me. His main reasons for using are the usual issues that one can have with a sand bed but also to allow for massive water movement without creating a sand storm. I am planning on using this method with my new build.
Haffs09
Member
Yes, starboard floats so you need to secure it to your bottom glass or use rocks to accomplish the same thing. When I first put it in my tank, I only weighed it down a couple feet from each end. The ends did raise and when my MP60's went to 100% output (they're on each end too), the starboard raised ~1.5". Now, after having a bunch of rocks in, I don't have any issues. There is 3/8" perimeter bottom bracing around my tank, and on one end, the starboard comes flush to the bracing, so it is still raising 1/8" on that end. I haven't finalized my rock work on that side of the tank, so I'm not concerned.
I, too, think you're fine going bare bottom with or without starboard. In my case, I created a couple of large rock structures (~80lbs) that I needed to lower into my tank, which is 30" deep. I was concerned that one slip while putting it in could leave me with a flooded house, so I opted for the starboard.
I, too, think you're fine going bare bottom with or without starboard. In my case, I created a couple of large rock structures (~80lbs) that I needed to lower into my tank, which is 30" deep. I was concerned that one slip while putting it in could leave me with a flooded house, so I opted for the starboard.
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