Shallow Sandbed or No Sandbed

[digital canuck]

Originally Posted by Beverly

What is starboard and why would someone use it?

It is a product used in the marine industry for boats. In laymans terms (what I needed explained to me ) is that it is HDPE (High Density Poly Ethylene) - the stuff cutting boards are made out of. It is food grade and will not leach anything into your tank.

Why is is used? To protect the bottom of your tank from any rocks falling if you decide to go Bare Bottom, and it spreads out the pressure of where the rock is sitting on it instead of on glass.

I am just setting up my new 180 gallon tank 72 X 24 X 24 and I just put 1/2 inch HDPE purchased from a local plastics company here in Regina. I have read and am continuing to read a very informative thread on Reef Central - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1 It will take you a few days to read the entire thread, but after the first 20 pages, you will either like the idea or not. I did. I'm in the 40's now and plan on finishing it.

The secret to making this system - bare bottom work is to have mega flow to keep the detrius in suspension in the water column so it can be skimmed, and siphoning out of any detrius which may collect when you do water changes.

I like the idea. I'm going to be adding water to my tank on the weekend, I'm cooking up my salt water and my RO/DI unit is working overtime to produce.

So what if I don't like it after a reasonable period - I'll just put an inch of sand or gravel on top of the HDPE and I have the benefit of the added protection. Nothing lost except the $100. for the plastic.

Just my 2 cents, and not engaging in a for or against DSB's vs Bare Bottoms - it's been debated to death, just time to read the material and make a decision

ps: since originally posting this, I've added water to my tank and the HDPE floated away ;-) I took it out until I'm ready to add my live rock from my 115 gal. I'd forgotten that it would float.

Rick