searching for Bare Bottom Alternatives ,questions

Badguy · May 24, 2019

I have a 75g "CUBISH" tank .My question is based on a 180g tank I saw and remember that it had a Bare Bottom with some tiles ..I didn't ask if they were Marine Pure Plates or travertine tiles..Even worse I didn't ask how it was working out. Anyone has any experience with this style of substrate alternative ? I would appreciate any PRO and CONS input very much so .

I'm planning on moving soon so I'm thinking of cycling some plates to set on the bottom of the tank once I move and throw away the sand I currently have which drives me insane cause of all of the flow I have right now .

Answer to why not in the sump ? I currently run a Eshopp RS-2003RD GEN sump . It's currently super full and I have no more space under the stand in the sump area .As I attached DIY 9 gallon refugium for my Cheato made of a plastic 9 gallon Dog Food saver I bought at Pet Supermarket .And the Sump itself is full with my heaters two return pumps and my CoralBox d700+ skimmer . I was tempted to remove my Sump socks ,two 7" rectangle type, and try in that compartment but dont think it would be enough surface area .

HomeSlizzice · May 24, 2019

Badguy said:
I have a 75g "CUBISH" tank .My question is based on a 180g tank I saw and remember that it had a Bare Bottom with some tiles ..I didn't ask if they were Marine Pure Plates or travertine tiles..Even worse I didn't ask how it was working out. Anyone has any experience with this style of substrate alternative ? I would appreciate any PRO and CONS input very much so .

I'm planning on moving soon so I'm thinking of cycling some plates to set on the bottom of the tank once I move and throw away the sand I currently have which drives me insane cause of all of the flow I have right now .

Answer to why not in the sump ? I currently run a Eshopp RS-2003RD GEN sump . It's currently super full and I have no more space under the stand in the sump area .As I attached DIY 9 gallon refugium for my Cheato made of a plastic 9 gallon Dog Food saver I bought at Pet Supermarket .And the Sump itself is full with my heaters two return pumps and my CoralBox d700+ skimmer . I was tempted to remove my Sump socks ,two 7" rectangle type, and try in that compartment but dont think it would be enough surface area .

I have used Home Depot travertine tiles and they work great, but having them all along the floor will be an issue. Detritus will trap under them, for a base for some corals or frags is great, but don't cover the entire bottom with them.

I siliconeed an ABS sheet to my new tank,and so far its cool. We'll see how it ends up after I get some coral growth on it.

TBH I think bare glass works good and is the easiest. Or if you are really want to cover it then do an ABS or starboard bottom.

Badguy · May 24, 2019

I'm trying to cover for the lack of the sand bed. When I move.
In regards to the beneficial bacteria that would not be present anymore.

Aardvark1134 · May 24, 2019

Stick bunch of pond matrix or marine pure in your sump all better.

HomeSlizzice · May 24, 2019

Aardvark1134 said:
Stick bunch of pond matrix or marine pure in your sump all better.

Gotcha,

Well the travertine tiles would certainly help, but I think going with some Seachem Matrix, Brightwell Bio brick, rock rubble, or calcium reactor media like TLF Reborn would also accomplish your goal.

Seminoles76 · May 24, 2019

If you def want something down go with brown starboard.....which will eventually turn purple. I would just paint the bottom brown on the outside and call it a day though if your not worried about your rock structure falling over.

Your rock should have you covered for aerobic bacteria population. If your skimmer and refugium can’t keep up you could always throw some marine pure in the sump as already stated or go with carbon dosing.

Good luck with the move and getting the tank back up and running.

Badguy · May 24, 2019

My biggest issue is that my sump is packed. the skimmer chamber has two enheim 150w heaters. Only space would be if I decide to not use the sump socks. The sock compartment is 7 1/2 x 9 but then no socks and I'm not doing Triton method. Maybe buy one block and use it as skimmer Stand.

Badguy · May 24, 2019

Seminoles76 said:
If you def want something down go with brown starboard.....which will eventually turn purple. I would just paint the bottom brown on the outside and call it a day though if your not worried about your rock structure falling over.

Your rock should have you covered for aerobic bacteria population. If your skimmer and refugium can’t keep up you could always throw some marine pure in the sump as already stated or go with carbon dosing.

Good luck with the move and getting the tank back up and running.

Seems, my Rock work is going to have to pickup the slack for sure. Was really counting on the tile idea. Quick question. Any alternative, would have to be applied in meir hours. As I don't believe I would be able to keep everything alive in dozens of containers over night to give the silicone time to cure for the starboard. Is the silicone needed? or can I go without it? or is there marine safe silicone with quick dry time.?

Saveafish · May 24, 2019

Porcelain NOT ceramic is the key here. Second seal the seams with sillycon. Or nasties will get under it. It works well. Ceramic is not fired hot enough now long enough, it'll leach and erode. porcelain is fired hotter and longer made for under water. Like your toilet.

Badguy · May 24, 2019

Saveafish said:
Porcelain NOT ceramic is the key here. Second seal the seams with sillycon. Or nasties will get under it. It works well. Ceramic is not fired hot enough now long enough, it'll leach and erode. porcelain is fired hotter and longer made for under water. Like your toilet.

Wow, looks amazing.. Questions that come to mind are.... I'm assuming that there's little area for beneficial bacteria as it's porcelain. What's the cure time for the silicone you used? and finally which type of silicone did you use..?

Seminoles76 · May 24, 2019

Badguy said:
Seems, my Rock work is going to have to pickup the slack for sure. Was really counting on the tile idea. Quick question. Any alternative, would have to be applied in meir hours. As I don't believe I would be able to keep everything alive in dozens of containers over night to give the silicone time to cure for the starboard. Is the silicone needed? or can I go without it? or is there marine safe silicone with quick dry time.?

Your rock should more than pick up the aerobic bacteria population once you pull the sand. To avoid any possible problems I’d pull the sand slowly over the course of a couple weeks.

The only silicone I know of is the GE stuff. Believe type 2 but not sure as it’s been a while. I also believe the recommended cure time is 48 hours but you may get away with it in 24. If it were me I’d silicone so you don’t want to get detritus trapped under the tiles.