Rock Bottom?

[dimik]

Does anyone know of a reefer that covered their entire bottom with rock instead of keeping it bare or going with sand? I had the idea of getting a ton of small foundation reef saver rock and using that as my bottom for my 75G build. I won't ever be able to clean under the rock but, the same can be said with other rock structures.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[KorlL]

I’ve done that before. You would need to routinely point powerheads onto the floor bed. Lots of detritus gets trapped in between the rocks and below them

 

[dimik]

I’ve done that before. You would need to routinely point powerheads onto the floor bed. Lots of detritus gets trapped in between the rocks and below them

That's what I'm worried about. Thinking of laying down a good amount of silicon and placing the rock on that. This way there is no space for anything to build up except for in & between rocks.

 

[Backreefing]

That’s a lot on silicone. Maybe a large grain gravel? I got 3-5 mm it’s not to big but doesn’t blow around at all.

 

[dimik]

That’s a lot on silicone. Maybe a large grain gravel? I got 3-5 mm it’s not to big but doesn’t blow around at all.

The issue still arises of cleaning under the rocks. If I was to place rocks all across the bottom I think bare would be a better option then letting everything settle into sand/gravel

 

[Backreefing]

If you have gravel and place your rocks on it . So what you can’t vacuum the gravel underneath the rocks,unless you move the rocks . Vac what you can , leave it underneath so what . I’ve left rocks in place for a decade it’s nothing.

 

[Galvano]

I covered the bottom of my FW tank completely with irregularly shaped DIY GFRC tiles arranged upon a thick pool liner. They rest flat on the pad so that debris barely gets below.

 

[dimik]

I covered the bottom of my FW tank completely with irregularly shaped DIY GFRC tiles arranged upon a thick pool liner. They rest flat on the pad so that debris barely gets below.

Can you share a photo?

 

[Galvano]

I'm sorry, but I have only a single leftover here at home, which isn't completely flat, as it's one of the tiles that have to cover the longitudinal glass strut. And here you find pictures and a video of the cement-lined tank in my office. There are no natural rocks in it, just hollow fiberglass cement objects.

 

[ID-Reefer]

Searched this subject and not a lot came up. I am not wanting cover my bottom completely with rock but I have a couple bare spots from my MP40s moving my sand. I don't want to add more (or coarser) sand so Im thinking I'm going to just lay some flat pieces of rock in those spots. My thinking is the sand will fill in and around the rock. Would be a location for future Zoas etc. I don't want to cut back the flow from my 4 MP40s as I want to be SPS heavy (new tank) but also don't like the look of bare spots.