henward Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Ok, my next tank - aro comm monstrosity i want tob e bare bottom but i HATE the bracing look. so i considrered 2 massive sheets of glass at the bottom so its braced but effectively looks unbraced... if that makes sense. anyhoooo... i decided, i want the bare bottom effect but the substrate look so im going to coat the bottom with silicone, and spread the desired substrate onto the bottom, thsi way, it looks natural, but no way the muck can penetrate the 'substrate' and has the bare bottom effect of cleanliness. AND no worries about bracing cos youc an just build up around the edge of it and it will be invisible.... elegant solution i thought but this is the feedback and critique time. any issues you foresee here are some that you might come up with 1) mvoing it would be hard cos its heavier. I will never move the tank, i will build another onsite where ever i go, tank size im looking at cannot be moved 2) it might be so cool and such an awesome idea that one could explode yes, that is a problem but i will deal with it in time:) thanks for your help in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 sounds like a plan, what about instead of Glueing all your substrate to the bottom, looking at a sheet type substrate (like for turtles) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted August 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 sounds like a plan, what about instead of Glueing all your substrate to the bottom, looking at a sheet type substrate (like for turtles) another idea. where and what type? could be more expensive perhaps? i was thinking tiling but tiling can be ugly! doesnt lok too natural. i was also thinking using stone veneer, but thats expensive!! you know the stone veneer you get for cladding. not sure if they change water parameters though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 there was a thread about turtles the other day that had a few options... to sick to be botherd hunting atm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#!CrunchBang Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 Could do a 3D background, only on the bottom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 viewtopic.php?f=5&t=59777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 I have seen pictures of people putting ceramic floor tiles on the bottom of their tanks. It looks cool and gets away from just plain glass. Easy to clean too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 cheers squirt, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 One of my tank's has a mirror on the bottom, I don't understand why... :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 I still think it could be too abrasive for bottom dwelling fish like your plecs, but I guess it depends on what substrate you use. I think it'll be a PITA when you decide you want a different looking substrate... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted August 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 I still think it could be too abrasive for bottom dwelling fish like your plecs, but I guess it depends on what substrate you use. I think it'll be a PITA when you decide you want a different looking substrate... yes, i think mind changing could be the main issue. i blacked out the bottom of the glass and just put my aro in it this evening, looks very nice bare bottom with black bottom. very sleek, new age type of look haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 what about astroturf??, range of colours, better than bare bottom, easy to clean, soft on bottom dwellers and if you get sick of it, just peel it off the bottom. dunno if its toxic tho, but I doubt it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted August 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 after seeing blacked out bottom bare bottom, i may try that first. see how it goes. i dont plan on having lots of current at the bottom of the tank eventually, so could be ok if i wanna try a thin layer of substrate perhaps. its a tough call. permanent is permanent, so gotta think bout it quite a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 Just a thought but if you paint it like the above link you can always add a different substrate on top if you don't like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted August 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 Just a thought but if you paint it like the above link you can always add a different substrate on top if you don't like it. Yes that's true Haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 Get the tank made with tinted black glass on the bottom, and perhaps discuss the full-sheet bracing idea with Greg see if it will work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 any chance of getting a fine substrate layer between the glass layers??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 I have often wondered about substrate embedded in resin, like these: You could make a piece or pieces separately, then be able to remove them later. Somehow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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