How heavy is too heavy for live rock ?

[MetaKnight101]

Let’s use a 50 gallon for an example if a 40 pound of solid rock was thrown in there, would that be fine or would it be to heavy and the weight isn’t evenly distributed. On many videos and fourums I always see people loading there tanks tilll the whole place has rocks everywhere and there was this guy who’s tank had eventually collapsed at the bottom. So how heavy can liverock be before reaching the danger zone? I become skeptical of my aquascape ( hoping that I don’t have too many rocks)

 

[Tangina20]

Let’s use a 50 gallon for an example if a 40 pound of solid rock was thrown in there, would that be fine or would it be to heavy and the weight isn’t evenly distributed. On many videos and fourums I always see people loading there tanks tilll the whole place has rocks everywhere and there was this guy who’s tank had eventually collapsed at the bottom. So how heavy can liverock be before reaching the danger zone? I become skeptical of my aquascape ( hoping that I don’t have too many rocks)

I have a 40 gallon with probably 50 pound in it. If you think about it the rock doesn’t weigh as much as it does out of water like a person doesn’t weight as much in water. 50 pounds of rock only weighs about 33 in water.

 

[Hemmdog]

I have a 40 gallon with probably 50 pound in it. If you think about it the rock doesn’t weigh as much as it does out of water like a person doesn’t weight as much in water. 50 pounds of rock only weighs about 33 in water.

But that entire force is still being applied to the bottom glass pane because the tank itself isn’t in water.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

The better question is why isn't the bottom of your tank supported? If the bottom is properly supported, the weight of the rock won't break the glass.

The old one pound per gallon rule is just that. Old. Scape the tank how you want, more rock where you want and less where you don't. If you're worried about bio filter, throw a brightwell block in the sump.

 

[Tangina20]

Only 6.6 pounds per every 10lb will be on the glass. Most bottom glass on aquarium is tempered to make it even more durable.

 

[mtraylor]

Interesting question. I would only think this would apply in a dry aquarium where you could theoretically stack all your rock where it was only supported say in one concentrated area. It would be hard to do, but achievable. I think you could reach catastrophic area that way. Some people have.

On the other hand an aquirium with water in it would have a pretty good even distribution of weight on bottom pane and rock would not throw it off much.

So as long as rock was not stacked like a diamond in dry tank. I think u would be ok. Allot of people stack there dry work work in aquarium and have no issues because weight is distributed across the bottom pane. If you stood on one of those rocks in a empty aquarium. You may have issue.

As others have stated. In a proper built aquarium thats supported correctly
There is really nothing to even think about. A 50 gallon aquirium filled to the rim would be supportting 400lbs of water per say.

 

[andrewkw]

I think it would be very very very hard to do. Maybe if you used one piece of tonga branch and then stacked everything on top of that. I've filled tanks as densely packed as possible to store live rock for weeks / months and never even considered the possibility that I could put so much rock in the tank that would cause the bottom to break. I just arranged everything so the most possible rock and a single powerhead could fit to store the live rock until I planned on using it. I'm sure lots of people use smaller aquariums to cycle / cure live rock as well.

 

[PaulPerger]

I have 120 pounds in a 55 Gallon right now curing. Due to a medical emergency a year ago, the whole project was put on hold for a year. That 120 pounds has been sitting in that 55 Gallon tank for 16 months now.

 

[MetaKnight101]

Alright, I seem pretty confident about my current rockscape though I might move some around just in case Thank you all for the clarification.