rambling about aquascaping

[BarbMazz]

Does "everyone" use some sort of stand for their LR, and fasten the rock together?

Or do some folks just stack the rock on the bottom of the tank and just use the rock itself for creating the 'scape? I remember seeing a post by Frankie that the rock will eventually seal itself together, so that if you stack carefully you don't really need to fasten it together.

From what I've seen it's done both ways, and the reasons for getting the rock up off the bottom is to eliminate dead spots and create better water movement, correct? Is this done to also expose more of the substrate for bacteria growth?

I'm thinking ahead and wondering which way I'll decide to do it. I'm still heavily considering getting live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater, and I know with that I would have to work with it underwater. My tank is tall; 36"w and 24" tall, so I know my rock will be stacked taller because of that, which lends me to think I'll need to build a rack of some sort.

This is really a ramble! I guess I'd like to hear how *you decided to secure your aquascape, and your reasons for doing so.

[Frankie]

I just stack my rock. Never did like the idea of putting caustic chemicals in my system.
Barb, what i said about the rock melting into itself takes a long time to happen.

[sasquatch]

Morning Barb! yesterday I cleaned out the old display, 8 yrs of reefing on a 5'' sand bed, rock was set on the sand and stacked. upon removal the sand under the rock was black (and stinky) never showed nitrates never had algae issues (until ro membrane wore out) never smelled sulphur, so anything seems to work. The major concern in my mind is a rock fall that punks your tank in the middle of the night

[wonderloss]

My method for my current set up was to put egg crate on the bottom of the tank, and to stack the rock on top of that. Sand covers everything else.

I did not want to set the rock directly on the sand because of concerns with settling. I do not use any sort of glue between rocks, they are just stacked.

I did not want the rock directly on glass because of the risk of breaking it. I also think the egg crate would protect the bottom if the rock did fall. The sides are still unprotected, however.

[lcstorc]

Mine is stacked. Originally we didn't know what we were doing and put the rock on top of crushed coral. This has made several burrowing fish happy and graduall the rock has worked it's way down in the substrate. I am always careful to balance the rocks in a pretty steady configuration. I have a peninsula tank so it is all arches in the middle of the tank so you can see from both sides. It's fine as long as you don't touch a major support rock. If I did it would all tumble down pretty quickly.

[panmanmatt]

Mine is just stacked. Dry base rock directly on the glass, sand and then the LR carefully stacked on top of the base rock. The base is right on the glass so nothing can undermine it.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by panmanmatt

Mine is just stacked. Dry base rock directly on the glass, sand and then the LR carefully stacked on top of the base rock. The base is right on the glass so nothing can undermine it.

From my experience that is the best way to do it. Build the rock scape and then add sand last. That is how i did it also.

[BarbMazz]

Originally Posted by Frankie

I just stack my rock. Never did like the idea of putting caustic chemicals in my system.
Barb, what i said about the rock melting into itself takes a long time to happen.

Thanks, Frankie.. I think I'm anti-chemical, too... and part of the reason I asked.

When you say a "long time" I'm assuming here you mean years for it to meld?

I haven't had a chance to answer before now.... I was at WORK and actually had to WORK.... sheesh... who woulda thought!?!

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by BarbMazz

actually had to WORK.... sheesh... who woulda thought!?![/color]

[BigAl07]

How's the back feeling Barb? Hopefully MUCH better!!!

[BarbMazz]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

Morning Barb! yesterday I cleaned out the old display, 8 yrs of reefing on a 5'' sand bed, rock was set on the sand and stacked. upon removal the sand under the rock was black (and stinky) never showed nitrates never had algae issues (until ro membrane wore out) never smelled sulphur, so anything seems to work. The major concern in my mind is a rock fall that punks your tank in the middle of the night

Afternoon, Sas! Thanks for the input. How did you set up the new tank? Same way since you didn't have any trouble in the old display?

It would be awful to wake up to a rock fall! I shudder to think about it. So I need to make sure that nothing is precariously set.

I did buy some dry figi shelf rock from MarcoRocks. I guess i'm hoping that will help me build a stable pile. I'm also planning on getting some dry base rock, too.

[BarbMazz]

Originally Posted by wonderloss

My method for my current set up was to put egg crate on the bottom of the tank, and to stack the rock on top of that. Sand covers everything else.

I did not want to set the rock directly on the sand because of concerns with settling. I do not use any sort of glue between rocks, they are just stacked.

I did not want the rock directly on glass because of the risk of breaking it. I also think the egg crate would protect the bottom if the rock did fall. The sides are still unprotected, however.

So you feel the egg crate diffuses some the rock weight? I imagine if the rock fell on the egg crate it would also diffuse some of the shock from falling.

Thanks for your input, Rick! Eggsactly what I was looking for!

[BigAl07]

That's how I have Mine Barb! I have the entire tank bottom lined with precision fit egg-crate. It takes some time to get it cut just right but it's worth it. Plus it gives the rock some "bite points" to hopefully help it "lock into place".

I also have my rock "pegged" and epoxied in certain places.

[BarbMazz]

Originally Posted by lcstorc

Mine is stacked. Originally we didn't know what we were doing and put the rock on top of crushed coral. This has made several burrowing fish happy and graduall the rock has worked it's way down in the substrate. I am always careful to balance the rocks in a pretty steady configuration. I have a peninsula tank so it is all arches in the middle of the tank so you can see from both sides. It's fine as long as you don't touch a major support rock. If I did it would all tumble down pretty quickly.

I haven't decided on an actual "style" yet. I was thinking of waiting until I see what sort of rocks I get and kind of winging it. I've looked at the different styles, and I do like archways and hidey-holes for critters.

So far the stacking crowd outweighs the glue and anchor crowd!

[BarbMazz]

Originally Posted by panmanmatt

Mine is just stacked. Dry base rock directly on the glass, sand and then the LR carefully stacked on top of the base rock. The base is right on the glass so nothing can undermine it.

Stacking first and adding sand last makes sense for sure. Thanks!