Setting up a Bare Bottom Tank and need some input

[Paranoidobseshun]

I am going to be setting up a 40Breeder soon and plan on going bare bottom. I am going to be putting a sump in the stand and I want to keep the areas separated as far as lighting goes. I will have a light on the fuge and dont want it bleeding up into the tank. Just looking for ideas that other people have used on their bare bottom tanks.

 

[calvo15290]

I'd use wight paper underneath

 

[LukeG]

Paint the bottom white or use a styrofoam sheet beneath the tank.

 

[Switzer]

I painted the bottom of my tank a light tan color... it looks just like sand from a distance. and no light bleeds through from my sump. mine is also a 40 breeder

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Another popular option is to use starboard.

 

[The_Stig]

Paint. I would do black

 

[Clearwater]

Starboard. It will protect the glass

 

[Rob&Gab]

tagging along.

 

[Snookin]

I have a 90g bare bottom and used nothing. The bottom actually looks like a mirror when you first set it up and you can not see down into the sump. I never had algae growth or any negative effects in the sump and have used MH and now have Ecotech Radions. Now the bottom is almost completely covered in coraline algae and it looks good.
IMO! I would never put paint near my tank, not in or on bottom where the sump and plumbing would be. Paint fumes, condensation and paint, chipped paint = things I do not want near my reef.
Also, I have seen Starboard in tanks and that looks good and protects glass. Watch for detritus build up around the edges though.

 

[philr]

Many years ago I did paint a 150g barebottom with a sand color. I did like that. However more recently my 90g is also barebottom, and I painted this one black. Not sure who mentioned in this thread that the bottom does take on a mirror affect. The only area that cant be painted is the plastic center brace, and if you look you can actually see through to the stand area. That is perhaps the only flaw.