Starboard question..

[littlesilvermax]

Zoo covered bottom FTW!


My next tank will have a normal glass bottom, then I will silicone starboard in and I will silicone it in well. Right now I have a starboard bottom, but have a gap around the edges, stuff collects in there. Also, when snails get the exact right size (which happens to all of them) they will get stuck in the edge.

Starboard does not stick to silicone, but if the whole thing is silliconed in well, as if it actually were the bottom of the tank, you will not regret it.

FWIW the small bit of water trapped under there will never harm anything.

[Doug]

I would have used starboard in mine, if I could purchase it locally. Seems whenever I,m in Winnipeg I dont have time to get some and then its inconvenient when back home setting up a tank.

My rubble is easily siphon cleaned, although it does trap detritus. I just lifted my rock to an eggcrate platform, supported by 4in. pvc pipe. The pipe is horizontal though, creating homes for the fish. Not a look everyone would like but once grown over with corals, will be fine.

As the eggcrate extends more to the front than is covered by rock, I covered it with the rubble. Solved two problems, the look and collecting detritus. So my bottom is now clear for the pumps to keep the detritus suspended or pooled for easy cleaning and its sort of protected with the rock on the eggcrate.

[jasond]

Just wondering if it would still be possible to keep a mandarin in a BB? Can you still keep a good population of pods??

[Delphinus]

To me, keeping a mandarin is more dependent on size of system (or amount of live rock, depending on how you look at it, but these two variables are roughly linearly related), and whether the fish adapts to being fed, and how much competition there is.

The population of pods surely is larger with a sandy or rubble substrate but I think relying on the tank to self-sufficiently feed the mandarin is likely doomed, since pod populations tend to come and go anyhow.

One trick you can try, get some coral rubble pieces and pile them up. This technique is called "pod piles" (if you want to do a search), but the basic idea is that it gives the pods a spot to hang out and theoretically escape predation therefore increasing their numbers. A sort of in-tank refugium, so to speak.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by jasond

Just wondering if it would still be possible to keep a mandarin in a BB? Can you still keep a good population of pods??

Mine was near 4 yrs. old when I switched to a barebottom. Despite him eating mysis & bloodworms, he did start loosing weight. Had to move him to a friends pod loaded tank to fatten up.

I agree with Tony. If one has a large amount of rock, which seems not to go with the barebottom idea and things like rubble piles or something, which also collect detritus, then the pods would have someplace to hide. Or a large enough tank.

[jasond]

Interesting, thanks guys. I would really like to have a mandarin, but I obviously need to make sure I am able to keep enough pods to keep one healthy. I have read various ways, so once I am up and running, I will give it a shot.

Thanks again!