Starboard
- Thread starter comatose
- Start date
Thanks, it came out a little better than i expected also, but time will tell as in anything new, the good thing is if it doen't work out it would be very easy to take out, just two pieces.
i still do have a 3" sand bed in the fug which is 48x13, so that should function for the tank.
i was filling the tank today and the in-tank overflows both came apart at the seems from the pressure, i had to drain the tank again then run to the plastics supply place and had them cut me a few pieces, i bonded them together and just finished putting them in the tank and put chaulk all around them, now i have to wait at least 24-36 hrs before filling the tank again....bummer, i was all ready to have it filled today and check for leaks since i also ran flex PVC for the overflows and return 12' into the next room where the fug and utility room is.
i still do have a 3" sand bed in the fug which is 48x13, so that should function for the tank.
i was filling the tank today and the in-tank overflows both came apart at the seems from the pressure, i had to drain the tank again then run to the plastics supply place and had them cut me a few pieces, i bonded them together and just finished putting them in the tank and put chaulk all around them, now i have to wait at least 24-36 hrs before filling the tank again....bummer, i was all ready to have it filled today and check for leaks since i also ran flex PVC for the overflows and return 12' into the next room where the fug and utility room is.
Louey":315y9abx said:
It's holding perfect, i can't even break it off, no bare spots at all, i've moved rock across it countless times and none ever breaks off.
It's been almost nine months now and it's covered with coraline i will take some pics of it today and post them later for you to see. i think it looks much better and more natural then tanks i've seen without glueing anything to the starboard.
i didn't glue it to the bottom but i did use a light bead of silicone all around the edge just to keep dirt from building up under it.
i figured once i got the tank all set up and finished with adding all my live rock and coral that it would be impossible to clean under the starboard so i wanted to prevent any dirt from getting under it, i wanted to seal it pretty good. i thought better safe than sorry.
the space around the tank and starboard is 1/4" - 3/8" all around the edge.
since my tank is a AGA 180 gal i had to use two pieces of board and that barely made it past the two braces on the top of the tank. Once I got both pieces in the tank there was one seam right down the center, all i did there was put a thick bead of silicone over the seem and pushed more coral into it to cover the seam and let it dry another day or so,
The only thing i would change if i was to do it all over again is use a very coarse or coarse aquarium sand instead of the crushed coral. some of that crushed coral can have some sharp edges. and the sand would be easier to glue to the starboard.
i figured once i got the tank all set up and finished with adding all my live rock and coral that it would be impossible to clean under the starboard so i wanted to prevent any dirt from getting under it, i wanted to seal it pretty good. i thought better safe than sorry.
the space around the tank and starboard is 1/4" - 3/8" all around the edge.
since my tank is a AGA 180 gal i had to use two pieces of board and that barely made it past the two braces on the top of the tank. Once I got both pieces in the tank there was one seam right down the center, all i did there was put a thick bead of silicone over the seem and pushed more coral into it to cover the seam and let it dry another day or so,
The only thing i would change if i was to do it all over again is use a very coarse or coarse aquarium sand instead of the crushed coral. some of that crushed coral can have some sharp edges. and the sand would be easier to glue to the starboard.
My tank is going to be 84 X 30 with 3" Eurobracing 3 - 3" center braces. So I basically have 4 - 2X2 areas but with the bracing, the openings are 18" wide. I think I could get the 54" X 24" sheets, cut them down to 29" so that I would have 1/2" to spare on the sides. I should be able to get the 24" sheets through my openings diagonally. I need (3) 54X24 sheets total so I will have quite a few joints to patch in the tank.
Did you use clear aquarium silicone?
I wonder how Aragonite than is used for CA reactors would work? Still too course you think?
Louey
Did you use clear aquarium silicone?
I wonder how Aragonite than is used for CA reactors would work? Still too course you think?
Louey
the best way to figure out how big of a piece of starboard would fit thru the bracing is to get a piece of carboard and cut it as big as you want it, then if it doesn't fit cut it a little smaller each time till it does.
yes i used clear silicone, but i bought it at Home Depot in a tube for use in my chaulking gun, much cheaper, i used the GE 100% Silicone II (for windows and doors).
you don't want to use the silicone marked for bathrooms and kitchens cause it has mildew resistent chemicals in it.
Aragonite sand for Ca reactors would be OK, at least it wouldn't have any sharp edges, but personally i think i would still go just a tad smaller to give it that coarse sandy bottom look.
yes i used clear silicone, but i bought it at Home Depot in a tube for use in my chaulking gun, much cheaper, i used the GE 100% Silicone II (for windows and doors).
you don't want to use the silicone marked for bathrooms and kitchens cause it has mildew resistent chemicals in it.
Aragonite sand for Ca reactors would be OK, at least it wouldn't have any sharp edges, but personally i think i would still go just a tad smaller to give it that coarse sandy bottom look.
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