Live Rock Wall Build

cbrack83 · Sep 21, 2016

So I have my first saltwater tank up and cycling... I decided to go with a wall look for the live rock but when I build it I butted it up to the back of the tank in some places right against the glass. My initial idea was to give the fish room up by the front of the tank. However I have noticed that most people try and have it off the glass some so the fish can get behind them and I also read you want to do it for water circulation reason....

I just wanted to get everyone take on it here...Thoughts??

Thanks in advance

cromag27 · Sep 21, 2016

I'm personally not a fan of the look. I think arguments for and against are pretty balanced.

cbrack83 · Sep 21, 2016

I personally like the look however and just trying to figure out if I should have it pulled off the glass some...

cromag27 · Sep 21, 2016

Would be difficult to blow detritus from the rock if it's touching the back.

cbrack83 · Sep 21, 2016

if the debris is on the sand it might be though in places...

ReeferMaddness843 · Sep 21, 2016

I have a wall style build. My tank is only 18" wide and 4' long. If I had a 2' wide tank, I would have gone island style, but being only 18" and apparently really impatient when I set it up (wish I'd have Scaped a little better honestly) I did a wall. The only rocks really touching are directly on the sides and the top portion to give it the sense of being stacked up against the wall, but if I pull the top few rocks off, it's pretty well open. Never had issues with waste, but I'm pretty low stock on fish and they're not heavy bio loads either though. I just didn't want to put dead center as I felt like I lost a lot of sand real estate. I tried, just didn't like it. Also, my overflow is crazy funky. It was a tank given to me so I didn't fuss one bit, just found a way to cover it.
Here's original plan when first set up:

Here's what I ended up with (can't believe I don't have a recent side shot! So this is an older pic and a newer from front)
Don't judge my sand in this side shot. Was going through the uglies and aaaall better now. Hehe