Reef tank setup

[adamfinke]

I have had a 55 and 72 gal saltwater tanks a few years back (many years) I purchased a 90gal complete setup w/corals. I nave read about people setting there live rock on egg creat material? Is this recommended or set it in the base sand? Any comments will be helpful.
Thanks,
Adam

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I think that most people just sit the rock directly on the sand.

Please share some pics once you get it going!

 

[Aquaph8]

I've always set my rocks up first and then added the sand. This way the sand has nothing to do with the structures integrity. If fish or inverts dig out the sand it won't have any effect on the rocks. Some people use eggcrate under the sand for added protection but it's not really needed IMO.

 

[dh350twin]

i sit mine on the sand first then put sand around the base as well.

 

[ultramafic]

i know people have put acrylic rods or stacked eggcrate underneath their rock so no detritus gets built up underneath the rock work and i guess it makes it easier to clean up any that does.

 

[dh350twin]

i never understood this,,,,because unless there is alot of flow and i mean alot it will still settle there.

 

[Conrad]

setting your rock up, putting sand around it so that it has the best strength. Otherwise bonding it together with acrylic rods or EPO Putty etc makes it the strongest

 

[skulls_and_sparrows]

I want my reef to look as natural as possible...rock sitting on egg crate and rods or whatever else, just looks terrible to me...but I am one for super clean looking things.

as someone else pointed out, you need massive flow to not have anything settle, stuff finds a way to settle almost regardless of what you do...so it would be the same for egg crate and rods.

 

[adamfinke]

Well Thanks to all the post. Everything is setup on top of the sand bed approx 2" or less I think it will be just fine.