PVC bottom

[john.m.cole3]

I've heard of other reefers running a PVC bottom for their bare bottom tanks so that if a rock falls, it won't crack the bottom of your tank. Where do you find flat sheets of PVC from?

If anyone can post pics that'd be real helpful.

 

[TUSI]

Some guys use PVC cutting boards and shape them to the tank

 

[mcarroll]

I suppose sticking a chunk of PVC in the bottom of your tank won't hurt anything, but a much much much much much much much better plan for safety - not breaking the tank glass - is to set up your tank properly.

You will note the vast majority of successful tanks do not have PVC in the bottom.

Essentially this means doing your stack of rocks on the bottom glass of the tank. Then and only then add the sand, if any.

People do it wrong all the time by stacking the rocks on top of their sand. This situation is ripe for a collapse if the sand were to ever significantly shift. Do this right and you should have no worries. Do this wrong and that piece of PVC won't do anything to help you because one of your side glass panels will get it knocked out.

$0.02

 

[AlexG]

I am planning to line the bottom of my plywood tank with an HDPE sheet. For the most part this will be for the possibility of a falling rock but it will also act as a light colored bottom that will reflect light. I agree that rocks should not be stacked on sand but should be on the bottom first then sand filled in around them.

 

[IronVulture]

I used black starboard from eplastics.com they do have other colors available. I went with 1/2 in. thick but could probably get away with 1/4. I did use black silicone around the edges to keep detritus from building up underneath.

 

[Jlobes]

^^this. if you want a plastic bottom on your tank, starboard is the way to go.

some cutting boards may work, others float....save yourself the hassle and use the appropriate option, starboard.

 

[john.m.cole3]

I want something on the bottom of the tank b/c I don't plan on using epoxy or glue to hold these rocks in place. I only plan on staying in this rental home for a year, so I want to be able to take down the rocks w/o any problems. I initially went bare nottom b/c/ I had a hard time keeping my sand bed looking good.