Stacking live rock

autigers34 · 07/08/2013, 09:50 AM

I have a 28 gal JBJ Nanocube. When stacking my live rock, is it a better idea to have the stack in the middle of the tank, or better to have it against the back wall so my guys cant go hide behind it (?

Also, if was wanted to change my stack down the road, is that possible or would that be detrimental to my tank?

drdavethedude · 07/08/2013, 09:57 AM

A lot of people do stack against the back glass, but having done it both ways, I wouldn't do it if possible. It inhibits good flow, creates a place for all kinds of crap to accumulate and stagnate, and hinders access to cleaning. My 2 cents.

meisel1 · 07/08/2013, 10:06 AM

+1 drdave

crsswift70 · 07/08/2013, 10:16 AM

I've changed my rockscape several times. All it does is make my female clown bite me and stir up some stuff hidden in the rocks. I would suggest doing a water change right after though to get some of that detritus out of there and/or a filter sock.

kegogut · 07/08/2013, 10:48 AM

If you can keep it off the glass/back of the tank. Youll have much less detritus build up,and youll get flow around your whole tank.

You can also put corals on the back of your stack that will grow up and be able to be seen from the front like leathers or birdsnests etc. depending on what you plan on keeping.

cloak · 07/08/2013, 11:53 AM

I don't think it matters, as long as there's enough space in between the rocks for good circulation. You don't want to build a wall, one way or the other.

HUNTER1 · 07/08/2013, 12:58 PM

If you have enough room in the middle then clearing the back wall is what most do. I've always scape against the back wall and I've never notice any difference. I feel rocks are more stable against the back wall.

Dissy · 07/08/2013, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crsswift70

I've changed my rockscape several times. All it does is make my female clown bite me and stir up some stuff hidden in the rocks. I would suggest doing a water change right after though to get some of that detritus out of there and/or a filter sock.

Exactly. And if I didn't get bit by my clown, I check under some rock to make sure I didn't trap it - they get maaaaaaaad. I usually throw some new filter floss in, and it's crystal clear in an hour again. Definitely stack in the middle, though; you want to be able to clean all the way around.

Misled · 07/08/2013, 03:39 PM

You can see how I did mine in my blog.

Reefer54 · 07/11/2013, 10:02 PM

I had a 24 g cube for years. I always wished I had left at least 3 to 4 inches on all sides to clean the glass...the corners tend to get filled in if you run a lot of LR, and naturally the glass behind and below the outer most areas become unmanagable. If i ever went back to a small tank like my ol nanocube, I would try to go with the minimalist/bonsai look and only have 2 fish maximum.

cloak · 07/11/2013, 10:15 PM

Unmanageable areas can fixed pretty easy IMO. A small powerhead. Everytime you do a water change, just use it to stir up whatever might have settled in those hidden spots. Piece of cake. GL.

djhudson · 07/08/2017, 04:27 AM

First stacked against glass. I moved some, and had bad smelly black detritus under rocks. Now 3 inches all round. I also learned to have tank.4 inches from wall.

Sent from my E2105 using Tapatalk

Valentini89 · 07/08/2017, 08:20 AM

I was thinking about doing a wall against the back glass and then another grouping of rocks along the middle, but is that a bad idea? Maybe I should just stick to the back wall..

07/08/2013, 09:50 AM	#1
autigers34 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 22	Stacking live rock I have a 28 gal JBJ Nanocube. When stacking my live rock, is it a better idea to have the stack in the middle of the tank, or better to have it against the back wall so my guys cant go hide behind it (? Also, if was wanted to change my stack down the road, is that possible or would that be detrimental to my tank?

07/08/2013, 10:06 AM	#3
meisel1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: aurora ontario Posts: 529	+1 drdave __________________ current tanks..150 gal diy dt. 60 gal sump, 37 gal macro tank...2x maxspect razor 160, maxspect gyre. 2x mp 10. JNS co2 skimmer. Kamoer triple doser.

07/08/2013, 10:48 AM	#5
kegogut Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: St.Louis Posts: 5,052	If you can keep it off the glass/back of the tank. Youll have much less detritus build up,and youll get flow around your whole tank. You can also put corals on the back of your stack that will grow up and be able to be seen from the front like leathers or birdsnests etc. depending on what you plan on keeping. __________________ Dave. "I have learned all kinds of things from my many mistakes. The one thing I never learn is to stop making them." --Nicomo Cosca. Current Tank Info: 225 mixed w/ 225 sump 550 lbs live rock,3x MarinePure ceramic blocks,Skimz SM201,Geo 618 CR,Vectra L1,DOS automatic water changes,3x 250w MH w/ 4x actinic T5,All ran by Apex thru Fusion.--57 community tank w/ OR T-247,120 nem tank.

07/08/2013, 03:39 PM	#9
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	You can see how I did mine in my blog. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

07/11/2013, 10:02 PM	#10
Reefer54 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Avon Posts: 1,087	I had a 24 g cube for years. I always wished I had left at least 3 to 4 inches on all sides to clean the glass...the corners tend to get filled in if you run a lot of LR, and naturally the glass behind and below the outer most areas become unmanagable. If i ever went back to a small tank like my ol nanocube, I would try to go with the minimalist/bonsai look and only have 2 fish maximum. __________________ R54 Current Tank Info: 36 x 36 x 25 Cube, mixed reef, A360WE x 3, A350N x 1, 40GB sump, RDSB, Remote LR Cryptic, 2 WP-40's, ummm....

07/08/2013, 09:57 AM	#2
drdavethedude Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 119	A lot of people do stack against the back glass, but having done it both ways, I wouldn't do it if possible. It inhibits good flow, creates a place for all kinds of crap to accumulate and stagnate, and hinders access to cleaning. My 2 cents.

07/08/2013, 10:16 AM	#4
crsswift70 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Spanish Fort, AL Posts: 1,032	I've changed my rockscape several times. All it does is make my female clown bite me and stir up some stuff hidden in the rocks. I would suggest doing a water change right after though to get some of that detritus out of there and/or a filter sock.

07/08/2013, 11:53 AM	#6
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I don't think it matters, as long as there's enough space in between the rocks for good circulation. You don't want to build a wall, one way or the other.

07/08/2013, 12:58 PM	#7
HUNTER1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1,044	If you have enough room in the middle then clearing the back wall is what most do. I've always scape against the back wall and I've never notice any difference. I feel rocks are more stable against the back wall.

07/11/2013, 10:15 PM	#11
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Unmanageable areas can fixed pretty easy IMO. A small powerhead. Everytime you do a water change, just use it to stir up whatever might have settled in those hidden spots. Piece of cake. GL.

07/08/2017, 04:27 AM	#12
djhudson Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 1	First stacked against glass. I moved some, and had bad smelly black detritus under rocks. Now 3 inches all round. I also learned to have tank.4 inches from wall. Sent from my E2105 using Tapatalk

07/08/2017, 08:20 AM	#13
Valentini89 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Bay county, Fl Posts: 624	I was thinking about doing a wall against the back glass and then another grouping of rocks along the middle, but is that a bad idea? Maybe I should just stick to the back wall.. __________________ I have 1 1/2 years experience in this hobby. Take my advice with that in mind. Current Tank Info: 26g bowfront QT tank, -- 150g tall = http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2671045