Bb or starboard?

Acro maniac · Nov 20, 2017

What would be the benefits of starboard over bare glass? Protection? Lfs store here uses amarineland 180 for a live rock tank, no cracks in years of use.
I know montis can lift off glass when its time to frags but what about starboard? It seems they could attach better to the textured finish of the starboard. Making fragging more difficult.

BigJohnny · Nov 20, 2017

I think people just like starboard because it looks like there is sand (atleast when its not covered in coralline. I guess it protects the glass from scratches, maybe grips the scape better?

BigJohnny · Nov 20, 2017

Oh yeah and if a rock falls it protects the glass. Rocks just sitting on the glass likely no issue but falling the starboard would disperse it.

KJAG · Nov 20, 2017

Protection, and I like the look. Corals pop on top of Black Starboard. I have half inch in my 225 and my 180.

Acro maniac · Nov 21, 2017

I have personally seen people create imo massive avalanches in the live rock dt at the lfs with no problems to the bottom. I have also dropped a 10x 10in rock from just under the surface in my own 90 bb. No issue.
So i guess the real question i was looming ro get an answer to is can you pop corals off starboard or are they attached like on a rock?

KJAG · Nov 22, 2017

Acro maniac said:
I have personally seen people create imo massive avalanches in the live rock dt at the lfs with no problems to the bottom. I have also dropped a 10x 10in rock from just under the surface in my own 90 bb. No issue.
So i guess the real question i was looming ro get an answer to is can you pop corals off starboard or are they attached like on a rock?

I’ve never glued any frags to starboard to be honest but I’d imagine they’d separate much easier from an HDPE surface than from rock. In regards to your point about protection, it would prob be hard to actually crack a tank bottom by dropping a piece of the scape. Scratching is another story but would be covered by coralline anyway. Majority of the reason I have it is for looks. I ordered mine 3” shy of the sides and front glass panes. This adds depth imo. Plus as mentioned corals(and fish) appear brighter when contrasted with a black bottom.

drawman · Nov 22, 2017

Not to derail but I'm kind of curious where you guys are getting yours from. I've seen it for sale on Amazon but are you ordering it to custom fit your tank?

KJAG · Nov 22, 2017

drawman said:
Not to derail but I'm kind of curious where you guys are getting yours from. I've seen it for sale on Amazon but are you ordering it to custom fit your tank?

Custom. Always gotten mine from my local plastics shop. Others order it online cut to size. I’d try local first though.

hart24601 · Nov 22, 2017

I like using starboard and even use it in my FW tanks. I like the looks over glass bottom and rocks can really scratch the bottom up. If that bothers you.

Last tank I did used white starboard and just a bit of large broken LR fragments and bit of sand. That way when the sand or rubble is blown around you see the white starboard and looks like more white sand not glass which is kinda nice.

Got all mine from TAP plastics online. 180, 120, 60 cube.