Putting Rock Into the Tank...

[Squibege]

Obv a very new newbie here. Going to get my tank started soon once the plumbing is complete and I have ensured I don't have/ have taken care of phosphate in my dry rock.

I was playing around with my aquascaping options while looking through some threads on here and was wondering how people put the rock into their tank...
-Do you put the rock on the glass then add the sand (if using)?
-Use acrylic/ some other solid medium between the glass and rock?
-Use something open, like egg crate or other?
-Elevate egg crate so its not sitting on the bottom trapping gunk?

Putting the rock on sand seems like its just a matter of time before currents/ critters de-stabilize the 'foundation' so I know I don't want to do that... just not sure what the best method to use is?'

TIA!

[aznflyfisherman]

I place sand there first, then aquascape it. Then i add my water slowly n carefully to not blow sand everywhere.

[pyithar]

i put the rocks first, then sand.

[sfdan]

I don't know if there is a best method, they all have advantages and disadvantages. Though putting rock on the sand is fairly risky since the chance of a rockslide will go way up with this method.

Putting rocks directly on the glass and putting the sand in afterwards is almost certainly the most common method, because it is easy and creates a solid structure.

If you want a stable rock structure that critters can burrow under, PVC footings are good, but they are going to be more work.

If you use acrylic under your rock and above your glass bottom, it will distribute the weight of the rock along your tank bottom and if you drill the acrylic you can insert acrylic rods as anchors to really stabilize your rock. Good way to make really crazy structures. But this is more work.

Eggcrate is good at easily creating a more solid foundation for rock than the bare glass tank, but it will create lot of detritus traps that critters will have a tough time accessing.

I'm actually going through this process right now and I'm planning on either putting the rock straight on the bottom of the tank or using PVC footers to support the rock over the sandbed.

[ReefFresh]

my tank is running for four months now, can i change my rocks shape while the aquarium is running with fishes?
i dont like the way my rockery looks...

thanks

[Member No. 1]

Yes, people do it all the time. Since your tank is still pretty young, monitor your water for ammonia since you are moving things around, you might get a mini cycle.

[perforator]

Originally Posted by sfdan

putting rock on the sand is fairly risky since the chance of a rockslide will go way up with this method.

I do this all the time. Just make sure you place alot of these



at the base to warn the fish and other critters and they will be fine.

[gone fishin]

OP I would say people do all the ways you have listed.

FWIW I cut pieces of eggcrate and placed my rock on that, I do not have issues with trapped detritus. After the rock has been placed the way I like I partially filled the tank and added the sand. Note I used dead rock. The tank has been running about 4 years this way since we moved here. Good luck on your build.

[sde1500]

Rock set on the glass, then add sand was how I did it.

[heathlindner25]

Originally Posted by pyithar

i put the rocks first, then sand.

The only way..

[Sk8r]

Rock first, then sand: use rock to make 'pillars' or a support structure that will stick up above the sand, before the sand goes down so it will support the superstructure of arches and caves as the rest of the rock goes on. Your best rock should be the top rock, and you can superglue a couple of rocks to make them a better rock, but don't superglue everything: you'll probably have to move things now and again.