It's a rocky road ...

[Anonymous]

Hiya, just a couple of questions related to the rock or "actual reef" in my reef aquarium.

1. I hear some people say they use base rock and live rock. Is the purpose of that just to defray the cost of live rock? Is there any harm in using 100% live rock? Base rock "turns into" live rock over time, correct? Once it's had time to soak in with the live rock?

2. According to many, it's a good idea to avoid setting the reef on top of the sand bed, rather to have it rest on the bottom some how and then add sand. Setting a billion pounds of pointy hard rock on the bottom glass surface of my aquarium sounds kinda sketchy, so I'd like to prop it up somehow (thread about acrylic rods comes to mind). However, I live in an apartment, and am a city boy without tools and workbenches to drill and stuff. What are some alternate methods? Has anyone ever just used some kind of aquarium safe pad in between the rock and bottom glass?

Thanks for your replies! I'm almost there! woo wooo!

 

[Tremelle]

You can buy pvc cuplings to support your rock. You will find them in most hardware stores. The reason some people don't put the live rock directly on the surface of the sand is to keep a larger surface area of sand. Placing your rock on the sand is ok. Keep in mind some animals like to burrow and could cause the rock structure fall if the burrowing causes it to become unstable.

 

[Anonymous]

Hiya, just a couple of questions related to the rock or "actual reef" in my reef aquarium.

1. I hear some people say they use base rock and live rock. Is the purpose of that just to defray the cost of live rock?

Yep.

Is there any harm in using 100% live rock?!

No harm

Base rock "turns into" live rock over time, correct? Once it's had time to soak in with the live rock?

Pretty much, in fact I used chunks of cinder block for base rock along time ago and now the only way you can tell it was not genuine live rock is the occasional right angle, after a few years it is completely coraline encrusted and has feather dusters and sponges embedded in it.

2. According to many, it's a good idea to avoid setting the reef on top of the sand bed, rather to have it rest on the bottom some how and then add sand. Setting a billion pounds of pointy hard rock on the bottom glass surface of my aquarium sounds kinda sketchy, so I'd like to prop it up somehow (thread about acrylic rods comes to mind). However, I live in an apartment, and am a city boy without tools and workbenches to drill and stuff. What are some alternate methods? Has anyone ever just used some kind of aquarium safe pad in between the rock and bottom glass?

How about pvc and a hacksaw? Cheap and you can make a frame with that in an apartment. Although I don't raise up my rock, it's on the glass.

 

[Anonymous]

Hmm thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

Some people go nutty with trying to keep the rock off, or out of, the sand. I don't think it is really worth the hassle, and you should have plenty of surface area for the sand anyway.

I don't think you want to put all your sand in the tank and then put your rock on top if it because as the sand shifts, your rock will. Eech. I usually do one of two things: put a thin layer of sand down, put rock on that, then add more sand, or you could put eggcrate down (to protect the bottom of the tank), then rock and sand. Either way, you want the rock buried in the sand so it is stable.

 

[Anonymous]

eggcrate, you mean that carboard stuff eggs come in from the grocery store? doesn't that have dyes in it or something?

edit: n/m, i found the eggcrate thread...

 

[Anonymous]

I have heard if you use egg crate it is like using a under gravel filter.It collects alot of stuff. I just put down about 1/2" and then my rock. I used all live rock.Its worth the money.

 

[Lostmind]

NIce bathroom - wuts it doing in the post?

 

[esmithiii]

Nice toilet! Yummy ring!

Ernie

 

[Anonymous]

Is that carpet on the side of the tub? wow. how 1972! I hope that's the 'Before' Pic


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