Tumbled Limestone tiles for tank bottom?

[Scuba_Dave]

Any input from members & mad scientists?
I really like this idea:

"For what it's worth... I got away from plastics all together in one system, (as a BB) I used tumbled limestone tiles I found at a tile shop. I siliconed them (4"x4") relatively close together, Then added about 1 cup of sand to the system. The sand "grouted" the joints. It looks like a "ancient road" umderwater that time has fogotten. The limestone is like live rock... it readily grows coraline or, better yet, frags take to it easily.
The tiles are what they call tumbled and unfilled. This means they are beatup around the edges, and there were no filler epoxys used to fill the holes. "

 

[fillibar]

I tried this for a freshwater background at one point. I must not have affixed it perfectly, as water and nutrients got back there. All sorts of detritus also got back there and I had a rather nasty case of algae. Had to take it all out to clean properly, and it was a pretty rotted smell when I did. Might be better in salt, but I would still make sure you have it pretty well sealed.

 

[stugray]

Or install a plenum underneath to purge the dead space.

That would also give you something to set the tiles on so it's not just resting on the glass. I wouldnt use the 'filler' sand then though, just leave the crevices.

That really makes me think that you could make aragocrete tiles to cover the bottoms of standard tanks, it's almost bare bottom.....

Stu

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Maybe make home-made rock & simply coat the entire bottom of the tank
but then you need to worry about curing it

 

[kbecker]

I could see it being used in an "Atlantis" themed tank.

 

[ChemE]

If none of the other mad scientists will weight in I suppose I will. I like the idea, kind of a cross between BB and LS. I'd love to see how it plays out. Are you planning on keeping a remote DSB in the sump for denitrification?

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Yes, I currently have a 75g fuge, which may be replaced with a 125g. I like the idea of a dsb fuge because I can take it off line & clean it out of needed
I may make my own home-made rock tiles
Possibly molding in support "columns" for the rockwork

 

[nofrills]

i like to see some pics! I'm just to the point of gettin' things going w/H20,but will go the tile route if it seems safe and not a problem down the road.