ABS Bottom or Not?

Megability · Dec 2, 2020

This is probably a dumb question but I see posts about using the ABS (or PVC?) mats as bottoms on bare-bottom tanks, to protect the glass, but would they be recommended in a “normal” tank with a 1” sand bed too?

I’ll be setting up a large tank soon and it seems like a good idea to protect the bottom glass, but then again I don’t want create future issues with detritus or a shrimp getting down under, etc.

vtecintegra · Dec 3, 2020

I always put the rock down first, then sand. Can't imagine putting rock directly on the glass. I have a piece of starboard on the bottom to protect it.

Megability · Dec 3, 2020

vtecintegra said:
I always put the rock down first, then sand. Can't imagine putting rock directly on the glass. I have a piece of starboard on the bottom to protect it.

“Rock down first”, but not on the glass?

DangerDave · Dec 3, 2020

My DT rock is directly on my glass, no issues. There is a little sand on it, but the frag tanks are all bare bottom, just glass. I like the sand look. But it’s much easier to maintain a bare bottom imho. If I were to go bare bottom on my DT I might try putting travertine tiles on the bottom. Would give that sand look until the coralline took over, which I think would look pretty cool too...

Megability · Dec 3, 2020

DangerDave said:
My DT rock is directly on my glass, no issues. There is a little sand on it, but the frag tanks are all bare bottom, just glass. I like the sand look. But it’s much easier to maintain a bare bottom imho. If I were to go bare bottom on my DT I might try putting travertine tiles on the bottom. Would give that sand look until the coralline took over, which I think would look pretty cool too...

Thanks, I like the sand look too and am planning on that.

I also consider these “rocks” as not really rocks, they are ancient reef, calcium carbonate, and have just assumed would not scratch glass so placing them directly on the glass bottom is fine, as you said you do.

but for the bare-bottom guys I guess they want extra protection from falling rocks, that’s a different risk than in a sand tank...