substrateless tank ok?

Originally posted by thom336
only thing that concerns me about this painted tank base is the reflection of light from it, or would it reflect more if it wasnt painted? bottom less tanks unfortunately turn out to look more dirty than tanks with a substrate...but on a centralised system that shouldnt be a problem.
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It would reflect more light painted. All the light reflected by the glass, plus the (now colored) light reflected off the paint on the bottom

Yes, they can look more dirty - you've gotta scrub algae on the bottom now!
 
If you are just starting or can remove your fish and water from the tank. This might work for you. Cover your aquarium's bottom with wads of silicone along your tanks bottom and spread with a really wet paint brush. Then drop in your gravel and press it in a little. Make sure the layer of silicone is thick enough. After drying time (I added water in 24 hours) Siphon the loose garavel that did not adhere to the bottom. It looks pretty good, better than a glass bottom I think.
 
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PS. Don't paint the bottom unless you can let it cure for a month at least. The paint whether it is oil base or acrylic will leach chemicals and not adhere properly in water. Sometime down the road you wil have a real mess. Unless someone makes an aquarium paint I would not do it.
 
I don't like the way an aquarium looks without some kind of substrate. I've seen many Discus tanks that were just glass walls and water. Those fish were very skittish...... My opinion is that fish need at least some kind of a secure area. Maybe a few rocks in a bare bottom tank would help..
 
I think the Idea was to paint the under side of the tank spikekillfish:) But like the glued gravel Idea:cool:
No it wont be empty at all.I have a few huge poted(4"teracota) anubis nanas.Allso will build a large multi level slate center piece.The to enhance opon that some nice drift wood pieces with moss attached.The only thought was for the bottom feeders could have acsess to 100% of the bottom.The royal likes live blackworms and wont come up to any kinda feeder.+I would like to pair off and try to breed my albino pushbrooms.
As for fish some rams a cory or two.
 
substrateless tank

So you like the look of a bare bottomed tank (which looks like a mirror when viewed from the front or side) but want to make the fish feel more secure?

Stick photos or photocopies of gravel substrate to the underside of the tank from the outside. You shouldn't be able to see it but your fish certainly will.

(The silicon idea might work but you'll see mostly silicon and may bust the tank bottom)

Gumby
 
(The silicon idea might work but you'll see mostly silicon and may bust the tank bottom)
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This is simply not true. The silicon will not cause the bottom of your tank to break. This method is commonly used by advanced hobbiests and is recomended for keeping small Dartersand the like. If done the right way the silicon will become almost unnoticeable. You can mix in larger rocks as well.
 
Originally posted by BluEyes
Just curious, where did the theory that you'd burst the tank bottom come from?
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I may have completely misunderstood but here's what I thought you meant and why it was problematic.

1) Smear outside bottom of tank with silicone.
2) Attach gravel.

If you did this its possible the tank would be bearing on some of the gravel creating stress points and cracking the bottom. If your bottom is sufficently recessed then it shouldn't be a problem. It really depends on the tank and stand design, which is why I wanted to raise the point.

Also, I think this arrangement will show mostly silicone from inside the tank as you smeared the outside bottom and stuck gravel in it.

(However if you are doing this on the INSIDE of the tank I don't see any purpose what so ever.)

Gumby
 
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