Live rock on sand or below?

[Dasidius]

Hey guys I'm setting up a new tank and I want to fix a lot or errors I made on my current take. My question is should I place my LR on top of my sand or should I set my Scape on the glass then pour my sand bed? I have a quite of bit of gobys and they love to dig under my rocks. Im worried that eventfully they might dig out a rock and it will fall or smash the fish. What are your guys thoughts on this?

 

[stevo01]

I would go rock then sand.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Agreed with Steve, rock then sand, or an alternative is to build a platform of acrylic rods, or just drill holes in the rock, cement the rods in place that can hold your rocks a little above the bottom, and that'll work well also. Did that to one of my tanks currently up and it works really well, esp. with the gobies, since they can dig a hole under the rock and it won't move. Shrimp like to hide in that 1/2" or so space between sand and rock. I didn't fill the sand all the way up to the bottom of the rock and used clear acrylic rods and it looks like floating rocks.
Or just rock then sand.

 

[Dasidius]

I like the idea of a platform. Problem is half my rock is coming out of my old tank going into the new one. I will try and work something up though.

 

[Dasidius]

Any ideas on where to get the acrylic rods to secure rock work?

 

[mikee002]

I've also heard of people using "eggcrate" lighting diffusers from home depot underneath the rocks and sand to protect the bottom glass. Any experience or opinions on this?

 

[stevo01]

Any ideas on where to get the acrylic rods to secure rock work?

You can get fiberglass rod used to mark out driveway for plowing at HD (coworker used this in his reef), on BRS they have threaded nylon rod (i have this), but amazon has lots of acrylic rod Plastruct Acrylic Rod 1/4" (10) PLS90294 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GQ3MLQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_IEdtybZXY5P9J

Hope this helps.

 

[stevo01]

I've also heard of people using "eggcrate" lighting diffusers from home depot underneath the rocks and sand to protect the bottom glass. Any experience or opinions on this?

Eggcrate is really not required to protect the bottom glass due to it being tempered glass. However, eggcrate can be used to lift your rock off the bottom making the rock more useful in aquascaping.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Without question, rock in first and then sand.

Any ideas on where to get the acrylic rods to secure rock work?

From you closet....I use plastic clothes hangers and they work great.

 

[stevo01]

Without question, rock in first and then sand.



From you closet....I use plastic clothes hangers and they word great.

Wow, Awesome idea!

 

[sundog101]

I used eggcrate for my tank. Like others said its not really required, but it makes me feel better knowing the weight is better distributed.

 

[Dasidius]

I really appreciate all the ideas guys. I think I'm going to put egg crate down to secure the bottom. Then secure the rocks with acrylic rods and then add all my sand. Just last night my blue spot jawfish did a number to the sand bed. He's currently on a major construction project. I don't want him killing himself or literally wrecking my tank! LOL

 

[AdamNC]

I've also heard of people using "eggcrate" lighting diffusers from home depot underneath the rocks and sand to protect the bottom glass. Any experience or opinions on this?

I use this in mine. Unfortunately as I found out you can not have any burrowing wrasse unless the sand bed is deep. I had a 2 inch sand bed and bought a Yellow Coris Wrasse. Mins after letting him in the tank, under the sand he went. 3 days later he came out and I noticed his mouth was distorted, broke? From not being able to eat about a week later he died

 

[stevo01]

I use this in mine. Unfortunately as I found out you can not have any burrowing wrasse unless the sand bed is deep. I had a 2 inch sand bed and bought a Yellow Coris Wrasse. Mins after letting him in the tank, under the sand he went. 3 days later he came out and I noticed his mouth was distorted, broke? From not being able to eat about a week later he died

Sorry for your loss! I agree here. Dartfish, gobies, blennies, wrasse, and more could all potentialy get injured. I would make sure not to have any ribs hanging and also sand or deburr all edges. Even still, could cause injury. They wont see it as they are jetting into the sand or hole.

 

[sundog101]

I use this in mine. Unfortunately as I found out you can not have any burrowing wrasse unless the sand bed is deep. I had a 2 inch sand bed and bought a Yellow Coris Wrasse. Mins after letting him in the tank, under the sand he went. 3 days later he came out and I noticed his mouth was distorted, broke? From not being able to eat about a week later he died

I never though about that. I was planning on getting a yellow coris wrasse. Maybe not now.