Rock wall?

[JVH]

Hi guys,
So I have 29 gallon long and about 27 pounds of live rock which equals a ton of rock in my tank!
I understand it should be pound for pound approximately equal the amount of gallons you have..so I think it's the correct amount.. Tank is been established for about two months and it's pretty much stocked to capacity. at this point everything is doing really well.. I Do feel like I would like some more open spaces and wanted to remove some rocks.
Then I thought I have a really flat piece of rock that I'm using as a shelf on the right side of the tank I think I want to stand that up and put it on the back wall against the glass. Not necessarily gluing it or attaching it but just propping it up flat against the back glass ? Carefully so it might not fall ) it might look cool with some things growing on it that way. My concern would be things that go on behind it that I can't see or reach i've seen tanks in stores with huge rock walls but I don't know if they are glued on in the beginning with no air spaces? What are all your opinions please!

 

[3dees]

there is no right amount of rock. it's up to you, but it's important to have to have places where some fish can sleep/hide. rocks stacked against the back wall can cause all kinds of problems. how are you going to clean behind it. what about circulation? it's ok for a fresh water chiclid tanks but not for sw. imo, it doesn't look natural. if you want to remove some rock, I would remove one piece at a time.

 

[JVH]

there is no right amount of rock. it's up to you, but it's important to have to have places where some fish can sleep/hide. rocks stacked against the back wall can cause all kinds of problems. how are you going to clean behind it. what about circulation? it's ok for a fresh water chiclid tanks but not for sw. imo, it doesn't look natural. if you want to remove some rock, I would remove one piece at a time.

That's why I was asking because I wasn't sure what goes on behind the rock and the glass.. I have seen many tanks with all the videos that I've viewed online as well as in some of the stores that I've been to some of the big beautiful tanks that I've seen all rock wall in the back.. Well I do feel I have a little too much rock I may remove some but will probably rethink putting it against the back glass

 

[heyJ]

Do you have a sump? If so, consider moving some of the rock to the sump. In this way, you keep the filtration capacity without cluttering up you display tank.

 

[JVH]

Do you have a sump? If so, consider moving some of the rock to the sump. In this way, you keep the filtration capacity without cluttering up you display tank.

No sump. My tank parameters are good and I feel like I don't want to remove any if I an re arrange a bit.. What if I lean the flat slab against the wall? then I n remove r lean it forward to clean behind it.. Jus a thought..

 

[Rob Top1]

Rock walls are great in a garden.
The pound per gallon is an old idea that needs to go away. Its like an inch of fish per galln in FW...so I can put my 10" Oscar in a ten gallon, right?
The pound per was suggested long before the biological importance of a sand bed was understood, as well as fulling understanding that water actually flows through the rock and dep with in its pores there is denitrafication happening.
Its best to have a natural aquascape. Overhangs swim through caves are more important to fish health than an arbitrary amount of rock based on volume.
And if you think about it, in a 29 gallon tank the moment a pound of rock is adds the volume goes down due to water being displaced.

 

[fishroomlady]

I think you can do both or either (lean a piece against the back as long as it's secure or take out a couple pieces of rock to add more space). As mentioned, you'll want to remove the rock slowly if you go that route so you don't disturb the biological filter too much at one time. You want to have as much rock as you like and that provides for sleeping and hiding spots for the fish.

 

[JVH]

Thanks everyone! And wouldn't you know it the one thin shelf piece that I was going to move all of a sudden my fire shrimp is hanging upside down on it! The shrimp was hiding behind a rock for the last four weeks I saw him there this morning I thought he was out just feeding he still there, just chill on upside down all day! I guess I won't be moving that piece anytime soon!