has anyone tried gluing sand

[Dcal]

Sounds like a dumb question but think about it lol

Leaning towards bare bottom because I want high flow but still hesitant because the look. Could I somehow glue the sand or something like that to the bottom so that it is hard and won't move around?


EDIT: it is called faux sandbed apparently if anyone else finds this looking for it

Can I go Bare-Bottom with sand "glued" to bottom pane? - Reef Central Online Community

Can I go Bare-Bottom with sand "glued" to bottom pane? SPS Keepers

www.reefcentral.com

 

[MnFish1]

Sounds like a dumb question but think about it lol

Leaning towards bare bottom because I want high flow but still hesitant because the look. Could I somehow glue the sand or something like that to the bottom so that it is hard and won't move around?

This is actually a really interesting idea.... I do not personally like 'bare bottom' tanks. BUT - and I don't like 'deep sand'. I have about 1/4 inch or fine sand on my tank bottom - which gets blown around here and there. But - were I to do it over again. I might smear a very thin silicone layer (very thin) - and sprinkle sand over it - so it avoids the bare areas. This is not stupid IMHO, its a great idea.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Bumping this idea as I am in the same boat with these tiles I used to avoid a true BB and a sandbed.

 

[Dcal]

Bumping this idea as I am in the same boat with these tiles I used to avoid a true BB and a sandbed.

look at the link i found

 

[Tamberav]

Sounds like a dumb question but think about it lol

Leaning towards bare bottom because I want high flow but still hesitant because the look. Could I somehow glue the sand or something like that to the bottom so that it is hard and won't move around?


EDIT: it is called faux sandbed apparently if anyone else finds this looking for it

Can I go Bare-Bottom with sand "glued" to bottom pane? - Reef Central Online Community

Can I go Bare-Bottom with sand "glued" to bottom pane? SPS Keepers

www.reefcentral.com

yes but coralline algae will cover it up anyways and algae like the rough surface that doesn't move.

best thing I found was to spray paint the outside bottom of the tank with sand colored paints. Then you can still razorblade the coralline away if you want.

Krylon Coarse Texture Spray Paint | Hobby Lobby | 528463

Krylon Stone-Textured Spray Paint enhances any home decor item with the look of stone. It offers a beautiful, stone-like finish, that's quick and easy to apply. It's dry to touch in thirty minutes, and dry to handle in five to six hours. For use with wood, metal, wicker, plastic, glass, craft...

www.hobbylobby.com

 

[MnFish1]

yes but coralline algae will cover it up anyways and algae like the rough surface that doesn't move.

best thing I found was to spray paint the bottom of the tank with sand colored paints.

Krylon Coarse Texture Spray Paint | Hobby Lobby | 528463

Krylon Stone-Textured Spray Paint enhances any home decor item with the look of stone. It offers a beautiful, stone-like finish, that's quick and easy to apply. It's dry to touch in thirty minutes, and dry to handle in five to six hours. For use with wood, metal, wicker, plastic, glass, craft...

www.hobbylobby.com

Thats also interesting - These paints - I used in a waterfall. They degraded over time. Not disagreeing - but - the silicone/sand idea would be definitely non-toxic. Its a really good idea IMHO (only said because the OP said it could be a dumb idea) paraphrased

 

[dhnguyen]

Yes. I've done it when I tried running bare bottom once years ago. It did work for a while until the glued sand came loose when I accidentally knocked over a rock. I suppose if you use a better glue it might adhere to the glass better. I used 2 parts epoxy.

 

[Tamberav]

Outside bottom btw not the inside of the tank. It will hide debris well.

 

[Tamberav]

Thats also interesting - These paints - I used in a waterfall. They degraded over time. Not disagreeing - but - the silicone/sand idea would be definitely non-toxic. Its a really good idea IMHO (only said because the OP said it could be a dumb idea) paraphrased

I meant the outside of the tank. I did it with a display fuge and it looked better then BB and hid debris.

 

[MnFish1]

Outside bottom btw not the inside of the tank. It will hide debris well.

YES - thats also a really good idea. REALLY GOOD.

 

[MnFish1]

I meant the outside of the tank. I did it with a display fuge and it looked better then BB and hid debris.

THATS ALSO A REALLY GOOD IDEA. Curious - in my bare areas, 'bad' algae tends to grow - or it just looks like glass (due to glare from the lights) - Can you see the paint through the bottom glass when the lights are on? to me it would be reflection

 

[dhnguyen]

Now what may work better would be to put a sheet of PVC on the bottom of the tank and glue the sand onto that board instead.

 

[MnFish1]

Now what may work better would be to put a sheet of PVC on the bottom of the tank and glue the sand onto that board instead.

Curious - why? Just incase you want to sell the tank later - and the other person does not want sand glued all over? Thats also IMHO a really good idea

 

[Tamberav]

THATS ALSO A REALLY GOOD IDEA. Curious - in my bare areas, 'bad' algae tends to grow - or it just looks like glass (due to glare from the lights) - Can you see the paint through the bottom glass when the lights are on? to me it would be reflection

It is light color so will reflect light back up to the undersides of corals.

Here are some examples, some used stone paint and some white.

https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/bb-jpg.238280/

 

[dhnguyen]

Curious - why? Just incase you want to sell the tank later - and the other person does not want sand glued all over? Thats also IMHO a really good idea

That and the glue would hold to the PVC a lot better than glass.
Also should you decide you don't want BB anymore it's easy to switch out.

 

[Dcal]

That and the glue would hold to the PVC a lot better than glass.
Also should you decide you don't want BB anymore it's easy to switch out.

Awesome idea i think ill do this

 

[dhnguyen]

Awesome idea i think ill do this

The side benefit of having a PVC board is it will provide some protection to the glass from falling rocks. That always made me nervous when my tank was bare bottom in that at some point I would accidentally knock a rock over and crack the glass. If I was to ever go bare bottom again I would definitely do this.

 

[NoahLikesFish]

Fine sand is more likely to get anaerobic activity. 1/4” of fine sand is comparable to like 2” of rough sand

 

[zalick]

Tons of threads on the various forums over the years about epoxy sand beds. I think the consensus is that it gets covered with coralline or algae so you can’t see it. Probably nice looking but don’t think it will look like sand.

 

[NoahLikesFish]

Yeah I’d just do mabye like a piece of paper with sand printed on it under the tank