Custom-made Sand-embeded Starboard

[Anonymous]

I feel that there is not many epoxy or glue that can do a good job with Starboard (that's one of the reason it is used for cutting board application), but some says their DIY Starboard for faux sand bed is still holding up fine.

At any rate, I wonder if there is sufficient number of people who are interested in purchasing Starboard with sand embeded (not glued) on the surface of the material?

It will be available in various textures (South Down to medium-grade sand).

It will be available as flat plane of 1/4 inch in thickness or more, or a sheet with non-uniform thickness of 1/8 to 3/4 inch.

The price will be several times higher than a flat piece of Starboard, more specifically, roughly about 3 to 6 times, depends on finish and texture.

At minimium, think of it as a large piece of sanding block that you can use to file your nails if your spouse ask you why want to buy one. Other potential application is to help you car get out if it got stucked in snow or ice....

Seriously, let me know what you think.

 

[Timbo1]

Why even bother using starboard? Starboard imo is only popular because we've publicised it so much. It's not any better then many other materials that could be used for the bottom of a sandbed.

I really like the idea of someone selling commericial faux sand beds, but my suggestion is to not use starboard as a starting point because its only going to drive up costs.

Make a mold, mix sand and epoxy, and sell squares of this mixture. Hell, don't even bother using epoxy, use some kind of silicone or rubberized material so that when you put a piece of liverock on top of the faux sandbed, it sinks somewhat and looks more realistic.

Bottom line, starboard is stupid. :wink:

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

yeah out of curiousity why is starboard even used at all? Just as a protective base of the bottom of the tank against the rocks? white reflective background?

 

[Anonymous]

Timbo, you have some very good points.

Starboard has several characteristics that make them good choice for faux sandbed.

First, it is used to protect the bottom of the glass tank. There are many other materials that have better properties, such as water absorption, density, strength, workability, cost and availability.

It is not transparent so that if the sand got "washed" off, you will only see the white color, and not the junks underneath it. That is, things hide better under white opague plastic.

If rubberized material is used, there will be a depression near where the rock touches the material, and det. tends to collects in such area. For hard surface, it is not perfect either. There is a small area where the faux sand and rock touches, which make it to look un-natural.

 

[GSchiemer]

Bottom line, starboard is stupid. :wink:

Tim

I'm with Tim on this. Somehow this "theory" that we have to protect the glass bottom of our aquarium propagated itself through the internet. It's like one of those urban myths that spread through the internet. It has no basis in fact. In my over 30 years of my involvement with glass aquariums, I've never even heard of this happening. Why not also cover the back and sides with Starboard? Typically they're constructed of thinner glass than the bottom and are more prone to breakage, and you'd get reflections from the side! If this sounds "stupid," it is, and so is the whole "starboard" craze. I recently read one of those aquarium setup threads in which the owner was attaching starboard to the bottom of his acrylic aquarium. That's beyond stupid.

Greg

 

[SavetheReefs]

Well I might as well chime in. Personally I am against anything but a natural sandbed. But as far as one reason to use starboard, to protect the bottom of tank. Thats kind of like putting socks over your sneakers to protect your driveway.
100% a waste of time

SaveTheReefs

 

[Anonymous]

It is kind of silly putting cutting boards in the bottom of a tank. I do not see the need unless you like a white bottom. You could always just paint the bottom of the tank white and be done with it for a lot cheaper.

 

[Anonymous]

The purpose for starboard in my tank is simply to give the look of sand without actually having it since it would get blown all around by the flow in my tank. I never for a moment thought that I needed starboard to protect my glass from falling rocks or anything else. It's just a faux bottom. Nothing stupid about it at all.

I suppose in some cases you could just glue the sand directly to the glass and accomplish the same thing.

7E - I doubt anyone would be willing to spend 3 - 6 times the price of standard starboard. It is already pricey and the method I used has held up well for 6 months. I have no doubt that it is durable enough to not be a concern. And besides, any flaws that may develop will get covered in coralline algae soon enough anyways.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

If you purpose is to have a white of faux sand bead then it fits the purpose. Considering the amount of stuff I have dropped in tank over the years, full and empty, and never broke one. Having to place a layer of protection in the tank seems silly.

 

[Anonymous]

:lol: I just want to test the water, so to speak. I guess the water is a bit heated this time.

I am thinking about this starboard thing because there are 7 large patches on the bottom of my acrylic tank being setup, and I am thinking about putting a lot of flow into it this time.

 

[Anonymous]

We use a material at work called "sintra." I would think this would make a great bottom. It comes in lots of colors (even a tan and brown) so you would already have a good starting point for a sandy-look.

It also comes in many thicknesses, is inert, and easy to work with.

I think I would use this if I was ever going to go that direction.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh yeah, I recall that from my wage-slave days. Sintra would be good I think.

 

[Timbo1]

So what if there's some depressions in a rubbery faux sandbed for detritus to collect? There's no sand so just up the flow and woosh, no more detritus.

I really do think that someone making faux sandbed squares for tanks is a decent idea, but honestly the whole starboard thing is stupid. Don't just use what's already out there, be innovative and come out with something better.

Tim

 

[FragMaster]

Why would one not "need" a sand bed or aragonite bed in a reef?

 

[Timbo1]

It's all about personal preference but lately some people agree that a sandbed has minimal benefit to a reef aquarium and that by removing it you actually are better off because you can keep detritus suspended where it can then be removed by heavy protein skimming.

Its another example of the hobby coming in a full circle, as bare bottoms were popular before the advent of the Berlin Method.

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

It bothers me when people state categorically that what others are doing is stupid - 'specially in regards to the of decorating a tank.

I used cutting board to make a FSB, not for protection, but because others had already done it and it worked.

I innovated my butt of on my new built in, and I had neither the time nor the energy to experiment and be innovative on my FSB. Cutting board works, its pretty cheap, you can get it custom cut & delivered to your door, it doesn't curl, its reef safe.

If you have the time and effort to come up with something new for an FSB, more power to you.

I don't think the idea of protection idea entered into my thinking. All I wanted was a removable FSB.




seven,
I think something commercially available for an FSB would be great. As with everything in this hobby, price point is the issue.

 

[GSchiemer]

FWIW, I apologize for my use of the word "stupid." While I do think this "starboard" thing is an unnecessary complication and expense in setting up a reef aquarium, it's certainly not "stupid" for someone to decorate an aquarium anyway that pleases them. Heck, I can recall decorating my freshwater aquarium with air-activated water mills and treasure chests.

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

Action Diving Sea Dog was my favorite.

 

[FragMaster]

Air powered clam shell here! LOL!