Should live rock be slightly buried in sand bed or right on top?

roper512 · 01/28/2006, 08:54 PM

Just a quick question regarding the addition of live rock to a tank.. (I will be cycling the rock in a brute container, not the tank) Should the live rock be slightly buried in the sand?

For example I pour maybe an inch of sand down on the bottom of the tank, place the rock down, then add the remaining 1-2 inches of sand so that it keeps the rock in place better?

I am going to be keeping a yellow watchman goby which I know makes burrows and a tiger tail cucumber as part of my cleanup crew.

What are your experiences and what do you recommend?

CaneinBatonRouge · 01/28/2006, 08:59 PM

I would place it on the tank bottom, then fill in around it with sand.

ken123 · 01/28/2006, 09:06 PM

I figure why bury something that you pay so much for. I added the sand, then scaped the rock and just shimmied them into the sand to make them stable.

NCreefwannabe · 01/28/2006, 09:32 PM

Or go the route im going. But enough base rock since its cheap, to cover what you need as a base. Buy some eggcrate from lowes or w/e, cut it to fit the tank, without touching the silicon edges. Fill it with sand on top and around until its level.
Set your base on that, then fill sand around the base rock, and add you live on top of the base rock thats should now be even or barely coming out of the sand bed.

Steelslinger75 · 01/29/2006, 01:23 PM

The main concern with placing rock directly on the sand is that if you get some burrowing critters in the tank. They have the possibility to undermine the rockwork and cause a collapse.

mikenpam · 01/29/2006, 01:45 PM

I have a twinspot goby that has burrowed under the rocks so I am glad that mine is on the glass.

01/28/2006, 08:54 PM	#1
roper512 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Detroit suburbs Posts: 393	Should live rock be slightly buried in sand bed or right on top? Just a quick question regarding the addition of live rock to a tank.. (I will be cycling the rock in a brute container, not the tank) Should the live rock be slightly buried in the sand? For example I pour maybe an inch of sand down on the bottom of the tank, place the rock down, then add the remaining 1-2 inches of sand so that it keeps the rock in place better? I am going to be keeping a yellow watchman goby which I know makes burrows and a tiger tail cucumber as part of my cleanup crew. What are your experiences and what do you recommend?

01/28/2006, 09:06 PM	#3
ken123 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lakewood, New Jersey Posts: 874	I figure why bury something that you pay so much for. I added the sand, then scaped the rock and just shimmied them into the sand to make them stable. __________________ Ken Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA, RemoraPro w/Mag3, Outer Orbit 2x150w HQI & 2x130w PC, sump (no fuge)

01/28/2006, 08:59 PM	#2
CaneinBatonRouge Moved On Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denham Springs, LA Posts: 127	I would place it on the tank bottom, then fill in around it with sand.

01/28/2006, 09:32 PM	#4
NCreefwannabe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 953	Or go the route im going. But enough base rock since its cheap, to cover what you need as a base. Buy some eggcrate from lowes or w/e, cut it to fit the tank, without touching the silicon edges. Fill it with sand on top and around until its level. Set your base on that, then fill sand around the base rock, and add you live on top of the base rock thats should now be even or barely coming out of the sand bed.

01/29/2006, 01:23 PM	#5
Steelslinger75 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Amherst, OH Posts: 371	The main concern with placing rock directly on the sand is that if you get some burrowing critters in the tank. They have the possibility to undermine the rockwork and cause a collapse.

01/29/2006, 01:45 PM	#6
mikenpam Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Fairbanks, AK Posts: 326	I have a twinspot goby that has burrowed under the rocks so I am glad that mine is on the glass.