What color starboard on my BB tank build? Black or White?

[JDtimk]

I am trying to decide between a white starboard bottom or a black starboard bottom on my tank build.

This will be bare bottom build and I am trying to consider both the aesthetics of the two choices, as well as any considerations for light reflection vs. absorption or the effect on the livestock.
The tank is a Crystal Dynamics 48" x 48" by 24" high.

What's your opinion on aesthetics and any considerations on the effect on the livestock?

Thanks!

 

[Reeferdood]

I would go Black... White will likely promote more algae growth...

 

[jda]

It won't matter for long. Either will eventually be covered in purple coralline.

 

[Midrats]

Why use anything at all?

 

[jda]

The starboard keeps rocks from sliding around on the glass. It really helps, IME.

 

[JDtimk]

Why use anything at all?

The starboard keeps rocks from sliding around on the glass. It really helps, IME.

And it's a bit of extra insurance from impact damage or pressure points from rock pile.

 

[jent]

I personally use black, here is a photo of my old tank at startup (it quickly got covered in coraline anyways).



I think it works well visually to work with the shadows at where the rocks are connecting with the starboard. Personally that's the only visual aspect that bothers me, the sight of rocks coming out of sand looks better to me than the sight of rocks sitting on top of anything. I feel like a white board would brighten those areas and make those points more noticeable.

I do suspect that a white board would reflect more light to the underside of corals while new, which may be a large benefit to their health if using LED's exclusively. But this only works if you keep it clean. I know in my case it will just grow in coraline as I don't want to scrape it. So in my new tank I am going black again just for my visual preference.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I went with black because my silicone and tank back are black. If you were going to do a thin sand bed, I'd go white to blend with the sand. But BB doesn't really matter because of coraline. Mine is solid pink and has been for years. Either color will end up looking the same.

 

[Midrats]

I've been putting rock right onto the glass for thirty years and never had a problem, nor have I ever heard of one. I can see some value in the grip factor of cutting board.

 

[shred5]

I just went with white. I do not like the look of black.
I also do not care for the look of just glass.

 

[gypsyboy38]

I would go with white. However, if you do, it would look better if you kept up on scraping off the coralline!