Rock on bare bottom or sand, then rocks...

[Brooke]

OK, hubby and I are planning the tank move and I was thinking we'd aquascape first, then add sand. My reasoning is to make the rock structure more stable and prevent areas of compaction from the rocks sitting on top of the sand. We've always added sand first, but I'm thinking the other way around is a better idea.

How do you guys do it...

Brooke

[JohnH]

Wow, I wasn't smart enough to even think of that!! I just filled the tank & added the sand. Next was going to be the LR, but now you have me thinking.....

[Drew]

Hey Brooke,

I also had to decide between the two and I chose to just put the rocks on the sand. You spend all that money on rocks, only to have it buried. I was able to make a stable structure with having to bury pieces. Just my opinion.

Drew

[FishDaddy]

Brooke,
The last one I set up, I put an inch or so of sand in, then arranged the rocks, pushing them down into the sand to the bottom. This first layer of sand added stability to the structure as I was building it and helped minimize scratching. Then, I added the rest of the sand.
Dick

[Minnreefer]

Dick that is what I was thinking, I guess great minds think alike.
Jonathan

[FishDaddy]

Hey Jon,
Of course!
Dick

[vulkum]

what about putting down a layer of eggcrate first so it distributes the weight more evenly? i had a bunch of extra when i built me refugium and did just that for the hell of it. just a thought! might not be benifical for the dsb though. not really sure what do you guys think?

[Creek]

Harbor Aquatics site has useful info on this subject. I used pvc as they suggest and it worked well for me. Check it out.

[Drew]

Originally posted by Minnreefer:
Dick that is what I was thinking, I guess great minds think alike.
Jonathan

Hey Jonathan are you trying to imply something about me here?

But seriously, I believe Dr. Ron thinks that the use a PVC to stablize rock structure is harmful to a DSB. I imagine rocks buried in the sand could have the same effect. Once again, JMHO.

Drew

[Brooke]

Drew-
OTOH, rocks compacting the sand bed cant be good for the DSB concept either.

Hmmmm....back to square one. I think Dick has the right idea as well, but maybe take it one step farther. Make a 2 inch deep sandbed, then add rock, then add 2 more inches of sand. This way you aren't burying 4 inches of rock, but still providing stability. What do you guys think??

[Drew]

I think that will work out alright

[OodleyBoodely]

You can always use limestone or tuffa rock as base rock to bury in the sand and provide a base for your liverock. It is calcium based and reef safe.

[Spanky]

Using big rocks, being totally chicken, knowing what a klutz I am, and afraid of landslides. I put down egg crate first to give the rocks something to bite into and distribute the weight. Arranged the bottom rocks, and then added sand.
Built the rest at my leisure.
Jerel

[slash7]

Cut eggcrate into 3 inch square sections, stack them to a height of about 4 or more inches (depending on the depth of your sand bed) then glue them together to give you some nice little platforms to set the rock on. They will push down thru the sand easily so you can put the sand in first to get a nice even bed. This method is mentioned by Bob Goemans in his "Live Sand Secrets" booklet (I'm not using a plenum) and it's worked well for me, my rock is as stable as if it's setting on the tank bottom but it's not buried at all.

I would think larger pieces of PVC tubing would work well too, say 2-3 inches in diameter placed vertically on the bottom. I would drill several holes in the tubing though so critter could go thru and keep the sand stirred. Haven't tried this method but I really can't see any reason it wouldn't work.

[ 08-17-2001: Message edited by: slash7 ]

[Peter_]

Originally posted by Brooke:
I respect what Dr. Ron has done for the hobby, but I think the vast majority of people on the boards are taking everything he says as the gospel.

The gospel according to...Dr. Ron?