Rock Racks

[MightyMike]

I tried to post this last nite, and I guess my laptop froze, I'm trying again. I'm trying to learn about everyone's experience, if any, with rock-racks. Who is using them? How did you come by them, why do you choose to use 'em ? I was reading a thread on RC about someone building one, sinking it, filling it with water, plumbing and pumping one, all that jazz. Please let me know your thougts on pos/negs of these contraptions. Thanks in advance
MM

 

[nycmat]

jhale i believe has one. its easier to clean from my assestment,

 

[kimoyo]

For my 120G it wasn't worth it. I built two rock racks but since my tank is only 2' wide I eventually took them out and arranged my live rock with spaces underneath. If I had a wider larger tank then I would use them.

 

[MightyMike]

Thanks guys, I appreciate your concise feedback.

 

[GQ22]

be carefule. i did this and had a bad setup with low flow, created caves all over the place, but no flow go into them and it spiked up my nitrates bad and killed some live stock.

 

[aaron]

I have some racks i made myself for my 36 bowfront. I actually think it helps with my flow as it allows the bulk of the rocks to be placed up off the bottom allowing the water to circulate underneath.
I made the rack out of 3/4" pvc pipe.

 

[jejton]

What are rock racks?

 

[MightyMike]

From what I understand, and that's usually not much, a rock-rack is a plastic (possibly, for example, 3/4" pvc or smaller) skeletal structure on which your rocks (live and or base) are placed. It would provide support as well as shape and flow options perhaps otherwise difficult to attain with only rocks. They could be used to create caves under your rock, provide height with less actual rock work, etc. I'm not really sure how useful they are, or if they're worth the trouble of constructing and maintaining, hence why I posted this thread. This thread sparked my interest: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=588249&perpage=25&pagenumber=2

 

[aaron]

I wouldnt say you need them, Its really just a matter of assesing wether you can get the aquascaping look you want with the rocks you have. For example i have a lot of shelves of plate coral which i couldnt support without some bits of PVC pipe, I'm sure everyone on this forum has spent time trying to balance a rock in just the right position where it looks perfect only to find its just too unstable and the moment you turn your back there is a major landslide. sometimes you just need a small piece of pipe on end, some times you need a larger construction, all depends what looks good with the rocks you have.
My rack also allows me to limit the rock contact points on the bottom of the tank to stop detris accumulation.