what order to add Sand; Live Rock; Water

reg255 · 06/03/2007, 10:20 AM

I think I read a post here it was best to do your live rock scaping then add the water and sand last. Does this sound right ?
If it matters I am starting a 34G Red Sea Max

Thanks,
Reg

SaltyBoG Water · 06/03/2007, 10:25 AM

i did sand , water , then live rock. but i did them all simultanosly

coast2coast7390 · 06/03/2007, 10:39 AM

i would do sand, some water, Live Rock, and then the rest of the water just because the LR and sand displace so much water...

faulkincanyon · 06/03/2007, 10:44 AM

I did sand and then put the plastic bag that the sand came in on top of the sand...poured water and then rock...the bag just helped keep the sand from moving too much.

kookerson · 06/03/2007, 11:12 AM

I have all the water in my tank right now.........as soon as my Live rock gets in, Ill be putting that in first. After I get whatever little cycle that comes from the LR being shipped.....Ill do a water change to get all the detritus out and then Ill put my sand in. They say that its better to put your LR on the bottom of the tank so that any sand sifters dont burrow under the LR, causing a landslide.

Shagsbeard · 06/03/2007, 11:42 AM

I'm a fan of water, rocks, sand. Though there really is no noticeable difference in other orders. Water before rocks is pretty much the only agreed upon ordering, and even that isn't all that important. If you're buiding with base rock, you might even go rock, water, sand.

What ever you decide to go with... it's not going to make a big difference. If you set the rocks on a sand bed though, they will settle, so make sure your rock is stable.

Eklikewhoa · 06/03/2007, 11:46 AM

Little bit of water, rocks and then sand.

I put a bit of light diffuser at first though to help displace the weight then the rocks and sand to have the rocks planted on something stable.

alkataz · 06/03/2007, 12:34 PM

I added rock sand and then water. I added the rock first because I wanted to make sure that the rock work had as stabe a foundation as possible.

tangyreefer05 · 06/03/2007, 01:01 PM

why would you want to add sand last?

ludnix · 06/03/2007, 01:38 PM

If you've yet to fill the tank with sand/live rock I recommend getting some egg crate to line the bottom with for additional stability.

DouglasTiede · 06/03/2007, 01:42 PM

The best way to do it and to keep your Live rock alive is to add
your water ( mixed w/ salt ) then sand.
Let it circulate and airinate and then after the sandstorm has settled, which is days later, then finally add you LR.

tangyreefer05 · 06/03/2007, 03:24 PM

I wouldn't worry about the eggcrate.. Just if you have some very heavy pieces of live rock and are worried about it creating a pressure point, then maybe put some under that rock. However, its generally not necessary and causes problems by trapping debris and making it harder for critters to clean it out.

06/03/2007, 10:20 AM	#1
reg255 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 17	what order to add Sand; Live Rock; Water I think I read a post here it was best to do your live rock scaping then add the water and sand last. Does this sound right ? If it matters I am starting a 34G Red Sea Max Thanks, Reg __________________ Best regards, Reg Current Tank Info: Red Sea Max

06/03/2007, 10:25 AM	#2
SaltyBoG Water Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 190	i did sand , water , then live rock. but i did them all simultanosly __________________ If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing. - African Proverb. Current Tank Info: 29 bio cube 25 lbs LR 40 lbs LS

06/03/2007, 12:34 PM	#8
alkataz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: New York Posts: 859	I added rock sand and then water. I added the rock first because I wanted to make sure that the rock work had as stabe a foundation as possible. __________________ Hungry for knowledge, please feed!! 180 + 65 sump 2x25" CPR HOB fuge Euro CS12-1 Ozonizer Korallin C 1502 Delta Star 1/3 hp 2x250W 65K Iwaski, 400W 10K Ushio, 2x160W URI Super Actinic Current Tank Info: 2 Black & White Percs, Fire Goby, 2 Golden Neon Goby, 2 Red Head Goby, Clown Goby, Royal Gramma, 2 Blue Favivertex Pseudochromis, 3 Filamented Flasher Wrasse, 2 Green Mandarin, 2 Banded Possom Wrasse, 3 Blue Green Reef Chromis, Group of Mollies

06/03/2007, 01:38 PM	#10
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	If you've yet to fill the tank with sand/live rock I recommend getting some egg crate to line the bottom with for additional stability. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

06/03/2007, 10:39 AM	#3
coast2coast7390 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 3,627	i would do sand, some water, Live Rock, and then the rest of the water just because the LR and sand displace so much water...

06/03/2007, 10:44 AM	#4
faulkincanyon Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Lubbock,TX Posts: 523	I did sand and then put the plastic bag that the sand came in on top of the sand...poured water and then rock...the bag just helped keep the sand from moving too much.

06/03/2007, 11:12 AM	#5
kookerson Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,017	I have all the water in my tank right now.........as soon as my Live rock gets in, Ill be putting that in first. After I get whatever little cycle that comes from the LR being shipped.....Ill do a water change to get all the detritus out and then Ill put my sand in. They say that its better to put your LR on the bottom of the tank so that any sand sifters dont burrow under the LR, causing a landslide.

06/03/2007, 11:42 AM	#6
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	I'm a fan of water, rocks, sand. Though there really is no noticeable difference in other orders. Water before rocks is pretty much the only agreed upon ordering, and even that isn't all that important. If you're buiding with base rock, you might even go rock, water, sand. What ever you decide to go with... it's not going to make a big difference. If you set the rocks on a sand bed though, they will settle, so make sure your rock is stable.

06/03/2007, 11:46 AM	#7
Eklikewhoa Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Above water Posts: 1,442	Little bit of water, rocks and then sand. I put a bit of light diffuser at first though to help displace the weight then the rocks and sand to have the rocks planted on something stable.

06/03/2007, 01:01 PM	#9
tangyreefer05 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 474	why would you want to add sand last?

06/03/2007, 01:42 PM	#11
DouglasTiede Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kaukauna,WI Posts: 1,018	The best way to do it and to keep your Live rock alive is to add your water ( mixed w/ salt ) then sand. Let it circulate and airinate and then after the sandstorm has settled, which is days later, then finally add you LR.

06/03/2007, 03:24 PM	#12
tangyreefer05 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 474	I wouldn't worry about the eggcrate.. Just if you have some very heavy pieces of live rock and are worried about it creating a pressure point, then maybe put some under that rock. However, its generally not necessary and causes problems by trapping debris and making it harder for critters to clean it out.