Nice video. Your videos are very informative. Thank you. I use a white ceramic tiles normally used for flooring. It's cut to size and just placed it on the bottom. It works well and easy to clean. If there's some algae build up, I just scrape it with a scraper and my tangs eat it up as I scrape it. I can also have a lot of flow. Most of the poop goes down the overflow and into my socks. My rocks are held together with acrylic rods so they shouldn't fall. I don't know what would happen if a big rock falls on the tile. It should give some protection to the glass bottom.
I personally prefer the look of sand. I do think there is a benefit to sand over a bare bottom as it provides a lot more surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow. It is a trade off as it adds to your regular maintenance of stir up the sand and sucking the detritus out .
I agree. It does add bacterial surface area - live rock does as well and given the low amount of water flowing through sand I wonder how useful that surface area really is. I usually leave my sand for too long and it just gets disgusting between cleanings though hah.
Nice video, I enjoyed the subject matter. It would have been cool to see you install some of the starboard. I am setting up a new system and plan on using Corrugated Plastic Coroplast Sheets for Signs and Posters. Price is right and it should provide protection again rocks. I do plan on running a 2 inch or so sand bottom but have some big heavy live rocks and want to protect my tank bottom. It's black in color and I am thinking about using some on the back wall, instead of having stuff grow on my glass, it would grow on the Corrugated Plastic Sheets.
UltraReef's Channel have you completed your set up with the corrugated plastic bottom? I am looking for something to protect my bare bottom and the price of that is right if it’s working out
Hey Raychill, yes, it's working perfectly. And I used it on my back wall as well. The only thing I didn't do that I would probably do next time it put a few dabs of silicone on the bottom to keep it in place. It moved around a little until I got some sand and rocks on top of it. Check out my latest video on my channel. The 180 gallon in the video is the tank I just set up with the plastic. Here's an ebay item number from the same guy I bought this stuff from, item no. 181702029552. Let me know if you have any other questions.
I use white ceramic tiles for tank bottom. My tank is a 210 (72x24x30) and I used 3 24x24 ceramic tiles cut to fit. It looks great and reflects light back up to the coral. To clean, I just scrape with a blade. Tangs follow the blade eating the scrapings.
I decided to go with 1/4" starboard for my current 565g build I am working on right now. I do plan on using Silicone around the edges just so detritus and stuff doesn't get underneath and create excess N03 / P04 in the tank. Now also with moving everything over from my current 165g to the new build I am probably going to wash my sand and use it as well. It will be a min sand bed with the surface area difference but still like to use sand for Gobies and other saltwater creatures that prefer sand. The main reason I went with Starboard is I am not a big fan of putting the rock right on the glass and I did use the Light diffuser on my current tank but not a big fan of that as well.
Your presence was sorely missed last week. Once again, great video and very informative! :-)
We bought a Model 3 last week, so I was busy with other things!
Nice video. Your videos are very informative. Thank you.
I use a white ceramic tiles normally used for flooring. It's cut to size and just placed it on the bottom. It works well and easy to clean. If there's some algae build up, I just scrape it with a scraper and my tangs eat it up as I scrape it. I can also have a lot of flow. Most of the poop goes down the overflow and into my socks. My rocks are held together with acrylic rods so they shouldn't fall. I don't know what would happen if a big rock falls on the tile. It should give some protection to the glass bottom.
Ceramic tiles! That's a great idea! I've never heard of someone using them, but there's no reason they wouldn't work.
Can you do a video just showing us your tank?
Yes! I will do a video about my tank next.
I personally prefer the look of sand. I do think there is a benefit to sand over a bare bottom as it provides a lot more surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow. It is a trade off as it adds to your regular maintenance of stir up the sand and sucking the detritus out .
I agree. It does add bacterial surface area - live rock does as well and given the low amount of water flowing through sand I wonder how useful that surface area really is. I usually leave my sand for too long and it just gets disgusting between cleanings though hah.
Nice video, I enjoyed the subject matter. It would have been cool to see you install some of the starboard.
I am setting up a new system and plan on using Corrugated Plastic Coroplast Sheets for Signs and Posters. Price is right and it should provide protection again rocks. I do plan on running a 2 inch or so sand bottom but have some big heavy live rocks and want to protect my tank bottom. It's black in color and I am thinking about using some on the back wall, instead of having stuff grow on my glass, it would grow on the Corrugated Plastic Sheets.
Yea, I meant to have a lot more stuff to look at in this video but my hard drive crashed and I lost all my footage 😑
UltraReef's Channel have you completed your set up with the corrugated plastic bottom? I am looking for something to protect my bare bottom and the price of that is right if it’s working out
Hey Raychill, yes, it's working perfectly. And I used it on my back wall as well. The only thing I didn't do that I would probably do next time it put a few dabs of silicone on the bottom to keep it in place. It moved around a little until I got some sand and rocks on top of it. Check out my latest video on my channel. The 180 gallon in the video is the tank I just set up with the plastic. Here's an ebay item number from the same guy I bought this stuff from, item no. 181702029552. Let me know if you have any other questions.
ABS Black Plastic Sheet try that as well
That's a good idea. An acrylic sheet would also work well.
I use white ceramic tiles for tank bottom. My tank is a 210 (72x24x30) and I used 3 24x24 ceramic tiles cut to fit. It looks great and reflects light back up to the coral. To clean, I just scrape with a blade. Tangs follow the blade eating the scrapings.
I have cover with sand bottom just in front its easy to clean and look good. Goby is doing his job.
I decided to go with 1/4" starboard for my current 565g build I am working on right now. I do plan on using Silicone around the edges just so detritus and stuff doesn't get underneath and create excess N03 / P04 in the tank. Now also with moving everything over from my current 165g to the new build I am probably going to wash my sand and use it as well. It will be a min sand bed with the surface area difference but still like to use sand for Gobies and other saltwater creatures that prefer sand. The main reason I went with Starboard is I am not a big fan of putting the rock right on the glass and I did use the Light diffuser on my current tank but not a big fan of that as well.
Hi I'm Reef man LOL
Gotta have a brand 😎
Looks very cloudy if U ask me
Bare bottom 👍