ABS plastic sheet from Amazon reef safe?

[Novicereefer]

Hey,

I have a bare bottom and wanted to make it black and protect the tank from rocks and whatnot. I recently heard about ABS plastic sheets (late to the party I know). I found the material on BRS, but it's discontinued. I found multiple YouTube videos swearing by it for bare bottom tanks. I found it on Amazon (link below. Not sure if it'll work). The problem is, it says nothing about aquarium or saltwater. It's just plain ABS plastic sheets. Does anyone have any experience with this knowing if this is reef safe or not? I don't see anything for or against it

Limited-time deal: Zuvas Black ABS Plastic Sheet 12" x 16" x 0.06" 6 Pack, Flexible Than Plexiglass Sheet, Moldable Than Acrylic Sheet, DIY Materials for Home Decor, Handcrafts (Matte & Textured Finish) https://a.co/d/6EBHxCe

 

[blaxsun]

Why exactly do you want this on the bottom of your tank?

 

[seant2h]

If you go to McMaster-Carr and search for starboard you will find the reef safe hdpe sheets. I’m in the process of setting up a new tank that will have 3/16 black on the bottom. Hope this helps.

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I would assume that if you cleaned it, yes. I have one eighth textured abs sheet on my bare bottom. I ordered mine online I think from us plastics. I wanted a single piece for a six foot long tank. I did place a bead of aquarium safe silicone around the bottom edge to hold and seal it so the nasties do grow under it. I did not want bare glass on the bottom, and I have a lot of encrusting montis and stuff that heaven forbid I ever have to break the tank down I won’t need a jackhammer. Some people use starboard as it’s smooth and available in different colors, like a sand color.

 

[Novicereefer]

If you go to McMaster-Carr and search for starboard you will find the reef safe hdpe sheets. I’m in the process of setting up a new tank that will have 3/16 black on the bottom. Hope this helps.

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

Thanks!

 

[Novicereefer]

Why exactly do you want this on the bottom of your tank?

To make the bottom more athletically pleasing. Since its black it'll make the corals pop more. Also to protect the bottom glass just in case rocks fall over. Honestly, mainly for the look of a black bottom without the sand. I really want to crank up the flow

 

[Reefer911]

To make the bottom more athletically pleasing. Since its black it'll make the corals pop more. Also to protect the bottom glass just in case rocks fall over. Honestly, mainly for the look of a black bottom without the sand. I really want to crank up the flow

Yo fish gonna be playing football in there or something?

 

[Steven Garland]

I have used this to make a AIO section before and never saw ill effects.

 

[reefiniteasy]

I order King Starboard from BoatOutfitters

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[Novicereefer]

I have used this to make a AIO section before and never saw ill effects.

Perfect! Thanks! How long has your AIO section been up? You have corals in your tank right?

 

[Steven Garland]

It was a older tank,and yes while the tank was up,about a year. With softies to sps.

 

[Tamberav]

To make the bottom more athletically pleasing. Since its black it'll make the corals pop more. Also to protect the bottom glass just in case rocks fall over. Honestly, mainly for the look of a black bottom without the sand. I really want to crank up the flow

Coralline algae will just grow on it… and dark/black bottoms absorb light instead of reflecting them back up to the undersides of corals. They tend to show debris easily since particles from rock and poop and such on are generally lighter colored although flow should help.

Just an FYI to the downsides to black. I do think it is a better option than black sand if your heart is set on black though.

 

[Jmp998]

I used food-safe cutting board from cuttingboardcompany.com on the bottom of my tank. Probably more expensive but known safe, variety of colors, and you can order cut to size.

 

[Steven Garland]

Coralline algae will just grow on it… and dark/black bottoms absorb light instead of reflecting them back up to the undersides of corals. They tend to show debris easily since particles from rock and poop and such on are generally lighter colored although flow should help.

Just an FYI to the downsides to black. I do think it is a better option than black sand if your heart is set on black though.

Those are all great points,honestly. I remember Ben's tank with the starboard. Looked so amaImzing. I miss Ben.

Random,you did get that money I sent you right lol ?!

 

[Novicereefer]

It was a older tank,and yes while the tank was up,about a year. With softies to sps.

Great! Thank you. That's all I needed to know. You had sps and everything was fine so that means my LPS and Softies should be fine. Thanks

 

[Tamberav]

Those are all great points,honestly. I remember Ben's tank with the starboard. Looked so amaImzing. I miss Ben.

Random,you did get that money I sent you right lol ?!

Lol
Ya, I forgot about it until it showed up lol

 

[nereefpat]

ABS is reef safe. Some plumbing parts we use is made of the stuff.

 

[blaxsun]

To make the bottom more athletically pleasing. Since its black it'll make the corals pop more. Also to protect the bottom glass just in case rocks fall over. Honestly, mainly for the look of a black bottom without the sand. I really want to crank up the flow

You'll still get some algae growing along the sides of it, no? (I guess with black it will hide most of it)

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Personally I’d use Black Egg Crate and Elevate it Slightly of off the bottom. That way you’ll have a place to put your Coral Plugs. It will eventually grow over with Coraline Algae. BTW, my Oceanic Aquarium, with an Egg Crate bottom. Wouldn’t stay stabilized on the pH and elements needed for Coral Growth, till I added Crushed Coral sand. I even tried running Large Crushed Coral in the Media Basket, that didn’t work.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Why exactly do you want this on the bottom of your tank?

Because it's a sweet way to go BB!