Rock on glass

[jabberwock]

Any concerns of placing rock directly on bottom glass. No sand. Any concerns/mitigation strategies for scratching/cracking?

 

[gibbers]

Been wondering the same thing. Thought about eggcrate as a medium between but not sure

 

[Goby Bryant]

I’d personally put sand under.

 

[jabberwock]

Been wondering the same thing. Thought about eggcrate as a medium between but not sure

I’d personally put sand under.

I would normally, but this initial set up will be a start up ocean live rock observation tank. I don't want to give potential undesirable hitchhikers another place to hide.

 

[Goby Bryant]

Oh in that case, you don’t need sand as long as you don’t add coral.

 

[Goby Bryant]

Or some fish. I wouldn’t add coral because invasive corals could spread all over the tank and take over.

 

[jabberwock]

Helpful guy at the LFS suggested lighting diffuser sheet from big box improvement store. I am going to check prices tomorrow.

 

[G Santana]

Any concerns of placing rock directly on bottom glass. No sand. Any concerns/mitigation strategies for scratching/cracking?

My 130 gallon has all the rock directly on the glass bottom, no problems.
The only thing I would caution against is stacking rock that might slide off and onto the glass bottom.

 

[Jekyl]

I’d personally put sand under.

Never want sand under your rock. If it erodes your structure will fall and break the glass. Always want the rock directly on the bottom.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Any concerns of placing rock directly on bottom glass. No sand. Any concerns/mitigation strategies for scratching/cracking?

I've done it, but recently I've made 2 tanks with exact fit abs sealed to the bottom with silicone, I feel it eliminates that worry for breaking or scratching the bottom, and also I noticed the coraline algae grows on the black abs 100x faster than plain glass, starting the biological process and moving it along quicker.

I vote bare bottom for sure, but I think from here on out I will have abs bottoms or something covering it, so I suggest that for you

 

[ying yang]

When I first set up my tank and had big concerns off putting rocks on glass then adding sand around rocks as preferred safest method as if put sand in first then Rocks ,then sand sifters,snails,shrimps or whatever lives under or around the sand or just in time the rocks start to shift could have problems,but still wasn't convinced then watched this video off a small 10 gallon tank and the amount off rocks and even the man himself standing on the rocks with only wooden beams as support on the sides,this convinced me not to worry about putting rocks on bottom pane ha ha and smaller the tank usually thinner glass and quite often bottom is tempered glass which is stronger but cannot be drilled as will shatter ( can google ways to see how can find out if glass tempered or not)

 

[a.t.t.r]

PVC board “starboard”. Homedepot pretty low cost. Light diffuser cracks to easily and I only use it if I’m also using sand(eggcrate rock then sand and sand fills in all the little gaps)

 

[Nate Chalk]

Google bare bottom tank

 

[jabberwock]

I've done it, but recently I've made 2 tanks with exact fit abs sealed to the bottom with silicone, I feel it eliminates that worry for breaking or scratching the bottom, and also I noticed the coraline algae grows on the black abs 100x faster than plain glass, starting the biological process and moving it along quicker.

I vote bare bottom for sure, but I think from here on out I will have abs bottoms or something covering it, so I suggest that for you

I appreciate your input. It sounds solid, however this is an interim live rock observation tank for me, so don't really need a permanent solution. I will be running sand in the final display (mostly because I love a sand tiger conch). Many thanks for your response!

 

[jabberwock]

When I first set up my tank and had big concerns off putting rocks on glass then adding sand around rocks as preferred safest method as if put sand in first then Rocks ,then sand sifters,snails,shrimps or whatever lives under or around the sand or just in time the rocks start to shift could have problems,but still wasn't convinced then watched this video off a small 10 gallon tank and the amount off rocks and even the man himself standing on the rocks with only wooden beams as support on the sides,this convinced me not to worry about putting rocks on bottom pane ha ha and smaller the tank usually thinner glass and quite often bottom is tempered glass which is stronger but cannot be drilled as will shatter ( can google ways to see how can find out if glass tempered or not)

WOW, I am not going to be that brave... This starter tank is a Fluval Flex, I am sure I can look up the glass type on their website. Thanks!

 

[jabberwock]

PVC board “starboard”. Homedepot pretty low cost. Light diffuser cracks to easily and I only use it if I’m also using sand(eggcrate rock then sand and sand fills in all the little gaps)

Yes, thanks! I will check it out.

 

[jabberwock]

Google bare bottom tank

I don't really want to google "bare bottom"... But yours looks great! See, there you go...

 

[ying yang]

WOW, I am not going to be that brave... This starter tank is a Fluval Flex, I am sure I can look up the glass type on their website. Thanks!

Very much welcome and good luck and hope you and your family get great enjoyment from your tank

 

[Rmckoy]

Once upon a time . It was always recommended to place rocks directly on the glass and if adding sand the rocks still went in first so burrowing fish and other livestock didn’t disturb or cause everything to fall.