What can I use to cover a bare bottom tank??????????

[gomezladdams]

I think you should silicone the tiles down.Id be cocerned with anaerobic activity in the sand under the tiles.As for plants,plant them in terracotta pots,I think that would look cool on the tiles

 

[doubledragon]

It works and it's been done.. look up street cyphers (might be all one word) tank. He has marble tile in his 180g.



Unless you have the hulk hogan or the incredible hulk of fish in all honesty you have nothing to worry about. Many many people use decorations with bare bottom tanks and I've never heard of decorations being pushed into the silicone being a problem.

If you have a fish that provides that much pushing force I'd be more worried about the glass on the tank than the silicone seams.

I'm really not trying to be sarcastic here so don't take this the wrong way, but have you ever had catfish around 18" plus? They can be little hulkimaniacs. Mine move the three big ceramic pieces of driftwood around easily with gravel and I know as soon as I go bare bottom they will be able to do this that much easier.
I'm not worried about them breaking the glass, but think if they were to push the decorations into the corner over and over it might catch the silicone just right and maybe damage it or start to peel it up in the same spot after repeated bashings.
I could just take the ornaments out when I go to bare bottom but then my cat's will fight cause the caves are the only thing that keeps peace and harmony in the tank. I was just wondering if anybody has any ideas of how to protect the silicone from ornaments being jabbed into it. I'm tired of doing gravel cleanings in this tank......

 

[doubledragon]

Thought you said "bare bottom".
Tiles or anything else for that matter is not really "bare bottom"
Most tiles can be used. Just be sure they are not sprayed or otherwise impregnated with any fungicide/mildewcide/anti-bacterial/microbial chemicals.
It is a good look even if it's not "bare bottom". :j/k:

I would like bare bottom if I could figure out a way to protect the silicone from ornaments jabbing it and possibly damaging it.

Where can I find these safe to use tiles????? Home Depot, Lowes????
Will the specificaly be labled free of any of the things you mentioned???

 

[doubledragon]

i know you guys are talking about tile but i see your really not wanting a barebottom but you want a natural look. you can use color quartz which is similar to sand but better in the fact that sand in a tank is get in the filter and can mess them up. It comes in s-type or t type. i use t- type it is the most similar to sand. and s- type is closer to gravel. they come in different colors so you can get the natural look or not. i chose to go with a smurf blue in my 55 gallon. my fish love it and move it around. the waste settles on top and is easy to sifion out. one 51 pound bag will fill a 55 gal. tank if you want more google color quartz or go to www.3m.com

The waste never mixes with the sand??? Ever???? It just sit's on top? I've also been thinkin of setting up some of my tanks with sand...

 

[doubledragon]

^^^thats no different than a gravel bottom tank. The tile is actually a great idea and i think im going to convert one of my tanks from gravel to this. Its the perfect solution to getting great water quality without making your tank look like its just some glass tub. I think im going to just silicone it to the bottom and then use some slate rock to create a multi level bottom. This rock can just be taken out when siphoning. Great Idea on the Tile!!

If you silicone it to the bottom and decide to remove it later will the new silicone that is overlapping the old silicone, around the sides, damage it when you try to take the tiles out???

Anybody???

 

[fishdance]

Why dont you use some realistic lino (vinyl) floor covering? There are industrial thickness/strength grades available, heaps of realistic designs and some which has the pattern right through so scratching doent matter.

I personally just keep a bare glass bottom and if I do need plants, put them in a terracotta pot.

 

[doubledragon]

Why dont you use some realistic lino (vinyl) floor covering? There are industrial thickness/strength grades available, heaps of realistic designs and some which has the pattern right through so scratching doent matter.

I personally just keep a bare glass bottom and if I do need plants, put them in a terracotta pot.

Where can I find some of this. Thank's