bb question ????

[PL-Reef]

i'll be changing over my reef from a DSB to a BB in the next few weeks. my question is.... instead of using starboard could i cut a piece of 1/4" acrylic to fit the the bottom of the tank, paint the bottom side white, and silicone it into the bottom of the tank? this way i could scrape the coralline algae off and keep it white.
does anyone see a problem with this?

Jas

[Fly Guy]

Keep in mind that that silicone wont hold acrylic long term.

Although...i would probably think for what you want it would be better to simply paint the outside bottom of the tank white instead and lose the piece iun between altogether.

Is this a glass tank?

[Wiskey]

Your talking about painting the underside of the acrilic then Siliconing it to the tank bottom?

I wouldn't do it because over time acrilic tends to warp, plus Silicone won't bond to acrilic very well. I think eventually water would get under to that paint.

Whiskey

[SPC]

Personally I wouldn't trust any type of paint in my tank long term.

Originally Posted by PL-Reef

this way i could scrape the coralline algae off and keep it white.

If I were going to do this I would just attach a white piece of construction paper to the outside bottom of the tank.
Steve

[Leonardo's Reef]

Just paint the underside of the tank white. I tried it with a small tank, it works, and have the same look as starboard.

Leonardo

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

The only reason I used starboard is in the event of a rockslide.

[PL-Reef]

i thought about painting the bottom of the tank. i'm just alittle worried i'll have a rockslide a bust up my tank.

[Viv]

Yup, that's why people use the starboard, it comes in white, so no paint...you don't have to sillicone it the rock will keep it down. If you are concerned about detrius getting under it, well you can blow that out with a power head...I am currently living dangerously with out anything on the bottom of the tank, I have had rocks fall but at most all they have done is scrap up the bottoms surface, but if one hits it just right, well there will be a lot of water to mop up!