Add rock before or after substrate?

[NanaReefer]

Which is best? Should anything be put under the rock so it doesn't come into direct contact with bottom?
My present tank I added sand first then rock but, noticed the rock shifts with Pistol shrimp action

 

[KoleTang]

Rock first or they will be tipsy. If you are worried, add starboard or acrylic to the bottom the protect the glass. Eggcrate can leach phosphates so unless you want your sand to turn into a giant chia pet, go with the other options.

 

[The Flying Turkey]

I am planning a deep sand bed on my new tank build. I am going to use 1" PVC pipe cut into 3" long sections. I will drill small holes all throughout the PVC. I will then stand the PVC on end. Then I am going to add small sections of eggcrate on top of the PVC and zip tie it together. This will keep the rock stable and keep it off the bottom of the tank.

Or skip the eggcrate and just go with the PVC.

Similar to this:

 

[The Flying Turkey]

Eggcrate can leach phosphates so unless you want your sand to turn into a giant chia pet, go with the other options.

I'm pretty sure this is just rumor.

 

[KoleTang]

I'm pretty sure this is just rumor.

Not in excessive amounts, but it does leach some for the first two months. Enough to provide a steady stream of nutrients for algae that is growing directly on it.

 

[DSP]

Just because algea starts growing on the egg crate doesn't mean it's leaching phosphates.. Pretty much any new thing you place in a saltwater tank will start to grow diotoms and algea on it, So I have to agree with flying turkey that it's just a rumor. And I like to add the sand first so it cushions the rock, Don't like the my rock sitting directly on glass personally,I don't use eggcrate on the bottom though.

 

[3dees]

I put sand first, but I only have a little more than an inch and my bottom rocks are big and heavy.

 

[Jimbo662]

I did sand first then dig it away where i'm going to put the base rocks. this way I can refill any bare spots and have the same depth throughout the tank.

 

[xthunderx]

Never had any problems with rock to glass.

 

[angelsbeamer]

Rock first then fill around it with sand. You can cut PVC pipe in small circles 1"-2" tall and place under rock. Then put your sand in

 

[D_Reep1106]

I put my rock in first. as long as you place you rock on the glass and its stable before you start stacking you should be fine. I also use some small sections of pvc to hold up a rock so my pistol shrimp and goby i have in the future will be able to easily find room under the rock. then I covered it all with about 2in of sand. hope this helps, its all personal preference. the bottom of the tank is tempered glass generally anyways so you shouldnt worry about rock to glass; more worry when it comes to pistol shrimp moving the sand under baserock and your rock pile comes crashing down on your side glass, that could be a big problem

 

[Octo]

Rock I put in first then sand. When I was a noob I did the reverse and caused a rock tumble.

 

[NanaReefer]

Thank you all for the replays