Pros/Cons to eggcrate under rock

[ggenz]

0k, I'm in the process of setting a tank up, and I have heard of some people putting eggcrate under the rock. Is this only for big tanks, to keep the bottom protected?

What are the pros/cons for having this in a 38gal (3 foot) tank with sand?

Just one of those last minute ideas, that has to be done right the first time.

-thanks for your comments

[K9]

FWIW, I'm going to have a layer of eggcrate under the liverock in my 40g tank I'm setting up just as an extra security blanket for the glass. I don't plan to have any sand-sifting or sand-dwelling fish species, so I will just have the eggcrate and a 1" deep sand bed for aesthetic purposes.

[RocketEngineer]

Pros: Protects the bottom glass from point loads which run the risk of cracking the glass. Also, it will spread out the weight of the rocks more evenly. If you put the rocks in first, then you also get a very stable foundation

Cons: You need to buy a full size (2' X 4 piece and cut it down for a 37g. Doable but tedius to some extent. Also, if you get a fish that likes to dig, you will end up with areas of the egg crate showing.

Personally, I like the idea and intend to use it my future tanks.

[nyvp]

I belive that it is a bad thing to put eggcrate under there. It will trap detitus and add to your nirates. Anything under the sand bed will also slow or stop(critters) and things from moving around.

[K9]

Well, as a compromise, you could put eggcrate just underneath the rocks themselves to distribute weight and not have any under the open sandy areas of the tank. Just a thought.

[Frick-n-Frags]

Originally posted by nyvp
I belive that it is a bad thing to put eggcrate under there. It will trap detitus and add to your nirates. Anything under the sand bed will also slow or stop(critters) and things from moving around.

that's my concern

if people would consider long-term maintenance factors more in their design decisions they might come to different solutions.


there are way too many people with rocks on glass out there to make breaking the bottom a legitimate concern.

[omni2226]

Use a pvc pipe framework. This will keep the eggcrate raised enough to allow water to flow under it.

Then arrange the sand where the front of the pipe/eggcrate is covered,leaving the rest of the bottom of the tank "bare".

Another thing you can do is cut some acrylic/plexiglass and silicone it in place length wise across the tank about 3 inches from the front, one or two inches high.

Place the pvc framework/eggcrate. Do your base rock aquascaping then add enough sand to the "trough" in front.

[omni2226]

Oh wanted to add this will allow you to make a sparay bar out of pvc. Run it along the back/bottom of the tank,pointing forward.

That will keep gunk washed out into the water column where it can be sucked out by filters.

[Rueg]

I just put cutting board on the bottom of my tank to protect it since I run bare-bottom. Love the look. Easy to clean. Corals like to grow on the rough surface. You can put sand on top of it you want to - still get the extra protection on the bottom. It will float until you get some rock on it or other weight.

[gabe3d]

It makes the aquaspacing much easier since it anchors the rocks at the base. That alone was well worth it.

[hansmatt]

I have black eggcrate that is a big scaffolding for live rock in my 90. There are caves etc, and it is elevated above pvc with water flowing through holes for bottom circulation. My biggest issue is detritus/flow. The inner areas do not get much circulation, so there is a buildup of nasty despite my best efforts. Nice for a place for fish to hide, but also, not nice because there is a place for fish to hide.

[ggenz]

would it even be something to worry about with a 38? obviously with the tank so small, that limits the rock size and therefore weight. I'm planning on a yellowhead jawfish, so he'll want to dig also

[Brenden]

I built and eggcrate platform and put 3" PVC piers every 2" apart. I have 2 of my closed loop outlets blowing under the rocks so no debris gets trapped there. I love it. My other tank has the rock directly on the bottom.

[lakwriter]

I have eggcrate just under my rocks, allowing a perimter of sand all the way to the bottom glass. I did this bc I wanted to distribute the weight (no pressure points) and also so it would be harder for burrowing creatures to utilize potentional uneve rock surfaces to overturn rocks.