Do you stack rocks against the glass?

[Be102]

Was just curios how many people stacked rocks or frags or anything to the back glass or the sides or even the front? I personally try to keep space so I can use my magnet but thought today that if I dedicate the space to be specifically against the glass I won’t have to worry about cleaning the area.

 

[GQuinn]

I do not stack rocks on the back glass, as I try to have flow completely around the rocks in the tank. There is nothing wrong with stacking rocks against the glass if you like that look. Ten years ago that is how all the tanks were.

 

[Mark Derail]

All in the middle. Wavemaker on one side, so that the current flows in a circle around the tank.
The only dead spot is right below the wavemaker, makes for easy cleaning.

Since my tank is a 48l x 12w x 20h, I have a "wall" of live rocks stacked 2 or 3 high, single file.

 

[Newb73]

I honestly think the rock wall looks better than the danty pillars once the corals grow in. More caves for fish to.

 

[Doclight]

I don't put rock on the glass just because it makes it harder to clean out behind it.. Fortunatly for me, new tank has PLENTY of room for a Rock wall and a pillar.. and a rock cave..

 

[Tanghoarder]

The rock walls look awesome but I always keep mine in the middle, you’ll collect so much stuff stacking them in the wall and will be a nitrate factory.

 

[jd371]

All in the middle. Wavemaker on one side, so that the current flows in a circle around the tank.
The only dead spot is right below the wavemaker, makes for easy cleaning.Since my tank is a 48l x 12w x 20h, I have a "wall" of live rocks stacked 2 or 3 high, single file.

That's the same thinking when I designed my rock-scape. I wanted the current to flow around the rocks and also give the fish a nice channel to swim in behind the rocks. My CBB gets excited at feeding time and will do laps around the rocks.

 

[Ocean Lotion]

I have the rock wall down th3 middle of the tank but my next setup will have them just far enough away from the back glass that my fish can make it through. I want to be able to aqua scape from front to back as well as side to side.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I don't for cleaning, water flow and scratching reasons.

 

[Mick1of10]

I have bommies that are not near any glass. IMHO, there is better flow, and very little space for trash. Easy (?) cleanup.

 

[FlyinBryan]

I have a 150 tall so i really don’t have a choice. It was a total rookie mistake buying this tank.

 

[AlexG]

Depends on the tank for me. I have had a bunch of tanks where I have stacked against the glass. As long as I can get access behind the rocks without a lot of effort and there is good water flow behind the rocks seems to work well. It all depends on the width of the tank and the aquascape that is being planned for the display. In my new displays nothing is touching the sides or the front glass but that's mainly due to the width of the tank.

 

[ReefJake123]

Both of my tanks have rocks on the glass for my 13.5 I have rocks on my side glass and for my 55 I have all on the back of my glass

 

[ReefJake123]

It’s fine to do but just be careful when placing the rocks on it

 

[pscheel2]

The rock walls look awesome but I always keep mine in the middle, you’ll collect so much stuff stacking them in the wall and will be a nitrate factory.

Tank is going on 16+ years with rock stacked against the back wall and never had an issue with Nitrates. I have to dose spectracide to get measurable Nitrates

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Oh and let me come back and say that if you need more space then stacking the rocks against the wall is fine. I have had very successful tanks that has rocks stacked against the glass.

 

[jasonrusso]

Against the back (I paint them black anyway and don't clean the back glass) YES, on the sides no. I also space the rock 2X the width of my glass cleaner (flipper).

 

[rayn]

Just did a mixture of both. Rock structure in the middle and a small wall area on each side.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Down the middle and minimalistic to allow for flow, reducing detritus traps.

 

[Danny Venditti]

Was just curios how many people stacked rocks or frags or anything to the back glass or the sides or even the front? I personally try to keep space so I can use my magnet but thought today that if I dedicate the space to be specifically against the glass I won’t have to worry about cleaning the area.

some rocks touch the back but also leave spaces for flow. With a bare bottom it is easy to leave spaces under as well.