Place rocks against back wall? Yea or nay?

[the_chef_pierre]

Hey everyone. I'm setting up my nuvo 30l and cant decide on an aquascape. Originally I had my rocks placed touching the back wall of my tank, since theres only about a 10" width on it. Then I read that having them touch the back wall is not good so I moved them forward but now find that this gives me hardly any space in the front of my tank. Any opinions on this? I've seen some people having them placed touching the back wall and I'm debating on putting them back like that but want to know what everyone else thinks of this. Any opinions?

 

[fishguy242]

no pressure on any panel

 

[35ppt]

I mean, ya it's best practice to not have them on the back walls. It helps to get flow behind there and not have a detritus trap but whenever I've setup smaller tanks I usually end up having a couple rocks touching the back due to space constraints. It's not the end of the world.

 

[the_chef_pierre]

The inner rear panel isn't really the back of the tank for my tank. Its basically a plastic layer from the looks of it that is placed in there to seperate between the display tank and the AIO sump area in the back. Does this mean I might be ok?

 

[the_chef_pierre]

True. I don't plan on having them all touching back there to make a wall. Just in a few areas it seems it would be easier to have them touching the back

 

[fcmatt]

Put a carpet anemone in the tank and watch as they shift around the rock on a monthly basis and the rock touches the back due to the anemone being like a fork life when it wants to.

I see no harm with some rock touching the back in smaller tanks. As always dont allow a sharp point to apply any real amount of pressure. Also avoid toppling situations.

 

[35ppt]

no pressure on any panel

What about the bottom one?

If I'm not mistaken it looks like in that specific tank the back wall has a sheet of ABS for the weir. Should offer some more protection. But in my experience it's not an issue, safety wise.

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Any ideas what glue or putty is best for attaching rocks together? I have the fluval one but its green coloured and not sure if i like it

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Not sure what you mean by abs for the weir. But it does seem like the divide inside is a thick plastic type of material

 

[35ppt]

Not sure what you mean by abs for the weir. But it does seem like the divide inside is a thick plastic type of material

Oh I was looking at the ETX not the Fusion, Yea I wouldn't worry about placing rocks against the ABS at all.

 

[the_chef_pierre]

If i place them along the back will I get too much unwanted growth back there or things trapped in any spaces?

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hello

the old rock wall. Had it up for 10 years in my 180. We use to do it all the time. putting rock on the back wall isn’t a problem in itself. It does create flow problems, detris traps, limited access to areas to clean. Really depends on what you are keeping and what you like. It is your tank. Usually island type set ups are better. The rock wall does push everything forward.

 

[zalick]

In small tanks I've always placed them against the back wall. Never had an issue.

 

[35ppt]

Any ideas what glue or putty is best for attaching rocks together? I have the fluval one but its green coloured and not sure if i like it

In my experience the epoxy is good for making a shape that joins two rocks but will not actually glue them together. So I will make the ball of epoxy and put super glue on either side before I press the rocks together into it. A better solution is to drill holes in the rock and use acrylic or fiberglass rods.

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Hmmm, its sounding more and more like I might put them near the back wall. Obviously not in a rock wall shape, lol, but just touching so I can have more room in the front as I probably wont clean the back wall and let it build up some coralline

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

yea