Is this safe to use as a bottom for rock?

[PhilMStudy]

 

[PhilMStudy]

Was hoping to put something like this beneath my aquascape

 

[rockdiver]

Well over time it probably wouldn't be good.
Why put anything besides sand

 

[Isopod80]

Alot of reefers use starboard which is also HDPE.

 

[burningmime]

Yup; that's safe; reasonably common to see bare butt tanks using starboard. But it'll get covered in coralline unless you are scraping it every week or have an urchin.

 

[JAC-]

Polyethylene (what you have shown) it good, it tends to leach very little into the water. Most Poly compounds are fine, PVC is another good example. I however would advise washing it and rinsing it well as it could have contaminants from the manufacturing process or handling.

 

[Isopod80]

Is the textured variety typically used though? I could see that being more difficult to clean. Algae would also likely grip it better than smooth board.

 

[rockdiver]

Well I didn't know it was the same.
But when you get a tank with star board bottom is it loose or glued down ? Never had anything like that so I don't know.

 

[JAC-]

Is the textured variety typically used though? I could see that being more difficult to clean. Algae would also likely grip it better than smooth board.

Good point, I have no experience in bare bottom so can't say with experience but I wouldn't think it'd make a huge difference because the texture is going to still have the plastic smoothness and be larger bumps than say live rock or something of that nature. It would however have the advantage of providing more surface area for bacteria. I'm curious to see someone with some experience on this. I suppose all bets would be off when it was covered in coraline.