solid reef bottom?

[MarkoD]

ok so im setting up a new 200 gallon tank.

i like the idea of bare bottom tank but dont like the look


i was wondering if it would be possible to build some sort of solid plate (or in sections) to cover the bottom of the tank. probably using aragonite and portland cement. make it about an inch thick and rough to look like rock.

has anyone done this before?

[hollister]

That area would only collect unwanted waste and promote unwanted algea growth.

[MattyO]

U mean take starboard and glue some sand and rock to it? Should be ok if u can keep detritus out of the nooks and crannies. By having the sand glued down u can really get a power head o pn it during cleanings

[Reefmedic79]

I've seen someone on here spary paint the bottom (outside) of the tank. They used the special spray paint that looked like rock in a shade similar to sand and it actually looked like a sand bottom from the inside of the tank.

[biecacka]

Yea a guy near me did it. Looks great in person
Corey

[bongarone]

Use low viscosity epoxy instead of portland cement. Sand + epoxy is pretty much the formula for making man-made stone countertops (polymer concrete).

You'll probably need at least 2 gallons to cover the bottom of a 220.

[Mouse]

Do a search on Faux sand beds, If I recall one of the major issues was coraline algae growing on it and throwing off the look.