The Final Conclusion? "To Egg-Crate or Not?"

[JerryW]

Finally going to start new JBJ -45 FP this weekend. Everything purchased, ready to go. Going to use a combo of dry rock and some LFS "live" rock with 2-3" DSB. I have done a lot of research on various reef sites whether to use egg-crate or not under rock. It goes from "trapping detritus" to "never had any problem with egg-crate use. Dozens and dozens of comments, going back over a decade, of pro and con!
Has there been any definitive answer? A consensus of opinion? A Majority of some sort? Looking forward to your thoughts

 

[SPR1968]

Hi Jerry and firstly welcome to R2R!

I didn’t use egg crate personally, I just sat the rocks on the bottom glass and then added the sand afterwards so it basically can’t move, in particular downwards

There are many ways of doing things so I guess much is down to personal preference

I have had no issues with it anyway

 

[SDK]

Hi Jerry and firstly welcome to R2R!

I didn’t use egg crate personally, I just sat the rocks on the bottom glass and then added the sand afterwards so it basically can’t move, in particular downwards

There are many ways of doing things so I guess much is down to personal preference

I have had no issues with it anyway

I would agree with this, Have done it both ways over the years and I don't think it matters that much.

I will say that the egg crate will hold the rocks in place a bit better. If you are going to stack them without tying oy gluing them together, than the egg crate may be a good idea...

 

[starypotter]

I just redid my rock work yesterday, I just cut small squares of egg crate, (doubled them up with zip ties for added height, and stuck my rocks on them. It's not over the whole bottom of the tank, it helps raise my rocks out from the sand a little more, and gives me a bit more peace of mind with rocks on glass.
With that said, make sure you have more than enough sand to cover up the egg crate, the first style I did (egg crate on PVC feet over the whole bottom of the tank) did NOT work, sand was constantly blowing away to reveal patches of the egg crate, I couldn't vacuum any of it, but this way it's only in the places that I need and my sand has a much more natural look.

 

[Billdogg]

I've done it both ways as well. I didn't care for the thin spots where the eggcrate would show through. Otherwise it worked well at protecting the bottom from the tantrums of a 4' moray. He could easily move any rock in the tank.

If I were to do it again, especially for a reef tank, I would use smaller pieces under the rocks and leave the open areas without.

 

[lapin]

Howdy
I use it. Only for covering the top so fish dont jump out.

 

[cracker]

Im with Billdogg, I used smaller rock under to lift the larger rock up & out of the sand bed. I found it doesn't collect as much gunk.

 

[Waters]

Don't do it lol!! I am in the process of cutting out sections of mine now. It is fine as long as you have a deep sand bed.......as soon as the sand blows around the egg crate becomes visible. I decided to remove all of my sand and go bare bottom......wishing I never used egg crate. It isn't easy using a pair of clippers in an established reef tank, cutting out egg crate square by square

 

[Mjrenz]

Brs had a video where they used a sheet of black abs plastic to cover the entire bottom of the tank and siliconed it in. I've never tried it but may on a future build

 

[SanFernandoValleyAIOReef]

How are you guys cutting the egg crate? And how do you know which egg crate leaks phosphate