Water, Live Sand or Live Rock First?

[Tobman]

I am setting up a new 65 gallon. The tank is set up now, but empty. What order do you all recommend I add water, sand and rock. I was thinking I wanted the live rock setting on the glass, so my thought was:

1. Salt water first
2. Live rock (uncured), let it set until cured.
3. Live sand last

Doing it this way will make it easier to clean the tank as the live rock cures. The LFS recommended I cure the live rock in the tank to enable the N cycle.

Thanks.

[sharky_steve]

sounds like a good plan, although curing the rock in a seperate vessel is always a good move

[Raibaru]

I'm in the same boat and intend to do it this way. I am just now getting my water levels set (pH is still low...) and hope to buy some live rock this weekend.

But I intend to put the rock in first so it is easy to clean up any debri that falls off and such. I will then add sand so the rock is more stable just incase I get a sand sifter of some sortI don't need to worry about a collapse.

Another thing that I've been told to do is build a stand out of pvc to help keep the live rock slightly elevated above the sand bed so that my cleaner crew can keep the sand clean and build up doesn't occur under the rock.

[Amphiprion]

My preferred way is to add the rock first, then backfill the sand to aid in stability. This also affords you the time to see your rock while you aquascape it , assuming you do it on the same day. Then you add the water once everything is secured.

[Tobman]

Amphiprion,

You're saying add the water last? My intention was to ad the water first, then add the LR and let it cure, which will take a number of days. Then add the live sand last.

I will aquascape the LR right off the bat, but envision adjusting it during the curing time, unless I happen to get it just right the first time around.

So one would need to add the water and LR at about the same time so as to keep the LR wet and allow the curing to occur.

sharky_steve - curing the LR in another vessel is a good idea, certainly cleaner, but would not allow the bacteria to form in the tank.

[Nano Chris]

No he is saying ad the water first, and the lr, and then add the sand, it makes it easyer to clean the lr, and more stable when you put the sand last around, in case a someone wants to make their home under the rock, they wont topple it over, and you have a wet floor on your hands.

[fishy-freand]

go to.............
http://www.equarium.com.au/store/det...?id=409&cat=23
and
http://www.equarium.com.au/store/det...?id=413&cat=23

[chopsuey]

Originally posted by Amphiprion
My preferred way is to add the rock first, then backfill the sand to aid in stability. This also affords you the time to see your rock while you aquascape it , assuming you do it on the same day. Then you add the water once everything is secured.

Assuming you do everything the same day I follow AMPHIPRION's method to the 'T' except I use a small dish at the sand bed to pour my water into until the sand is complete covered. This keeps the sand from mixing and clouding the water.

[IMM3DOORSDOWN]

look what i did and it was pretty good and not so much money go out and get a rubbermaid bin and put all your live rock in it with saltwater while your rock is curing your going to go threw alot of waterchanges and it would be cheap doing a water change to a rubbermaid bin then your 65 gal.