Rock Placement

[NL146]

I'm setting up a new 120g 48x24x24 and trying to decide whether to have the rocks against the back wall, or do a kind of island setup. I think that one of the advantages of having it against the back wall is that it makes it easier to do stuff like overhangs and caves (I love the prattreef tank with the huge anemone and a couple of mr member's tanks I've seen). I like how the fish move easily in and out of the rock structures. This setup prevents you from cleaning the back wall though. Is there a greater risk of dead spots though?

I also like being able to see right around the tank which the "island" design would allow, but I want to be able to provide sufficient hiding spaces for my fish.

What do you think?

 

[DREUTZ]

If you lean it against the back wall you should try to leave a good 2-3 inches (probably more for your tank) at the sandbed between the wall and your rocks and angle the rocks up against the wall from that point.

In my tank, although a lot smaller than yours, the rocks are set up like this and don't actually come into contact with the wall until about 8-10" above the sandbed. This allows for a lot of flow to get back there (limiting potential dead spots) and for your fish to easily move in and out when they want.

 

[tosiek]

There is the possibility of your back wall cracking, especially if its been drilled and not tempered if you lean your rocks on the back wall. Vibrations suck.

 

[NL146]

If you lean it against the back wall you should try to leave a good 2-3 inches (probably more for your tank) at the sandbed between the wall and your rocks and angle the rocks up against the wall from that point.

In my tank, although a lot smaller than yours, the rocks are set up like this and don't actually come into contact with the wall until about 8-10" above the sandbed. This allows for a lot of flow to get back there (limiting potential dead spots) and for your fish to easily move in and out when they want.

Cool idea. Do you have pics? What's the url to your tank thread?

 

[NL146]

There is the possibility of your back wall cracking, especially if its been drilled and not tempered if you lean your rocks on the back wall. Vibrations suck.

I hear you on that one. So if I don't lean against the back wall how do I achieve the roomy caves and overhangs? Is that a simply a matter of rock shape and size? Does anybody have pics of an island configuration (rocks not leaning on wall) with nice caves and overhangs?

 

[dubs]

nl in my op no matter what op u get on here u will never be happy untill u place the rocks how u like them

 

[DREUTZ]

Cool idea. Do you have pics? What's the url to your tank thread?

No tank thread yet, gonna wait until its been going for about a year and then make one so I have about 6 more months. I will try to post some pics for you tonight about what I was talking about before I go away, but keep in mind, my tank is way smaller than yours (29 gal Biocube) and I didn't think about what tosiek said about it possibly cracking the back wall because of the difference in height of your walls and the increase in force that will be pushing against it because you will have more rock. I would try to get the opinion of someone with a larger tank on this issue before going with my suggestion. But I'll show you what i did with some pics!

 

[NL146]

nl in my op no matter what op u get on here u will never be happy untill u place the rocks how u like them

I know. The thing is that I am design challenged so I'm tryin to pick MR members' brains in order to find inspiration lol.

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

you can take a look at my album I have lot's of caves etc. I stacked them accordingly without touching the back wall. In my opinion the cave look is the coolest it looks naural and unique.