Elevating LR off the bottom of the tank?

[Reefdude5]

Has anybody done it. From what i understand the best way is to build a platform out of pvc and eggcrate to elevate the rock several inches. Anyone have any methods, pics? Is it worthwhile.

[gregt]

For what purpose? Sand or BB?

[Reefdude5]

Well, im getting ready to take out all the rock in order to remove my sand bed, which is contribuiting to my hair problems. Right now the sand is 2 1/2"l I was gonna take it out, eventually will add like 1/2"-1" for asethitics. I figured if i got all the rock out to take the sand out, why not build a device that will elevate the rock to keep detritus from settling under/around the rock. Is there a flaw in the thinking?

[gregt]

No flaw, I'm just trying to understand what you want to accomplish before provide my advice.

So you'll have some sand, but you want the rock to sit above the sand and you won't mind if the PVC and eggcrate is visible?

[Reefdude5]

well, i thought about that, but maybe i could just elevate the farthest back rocks and put shrooms or clams in front of the open spaces?

[Reefdude5]

This is a not to recent pick, but the aquascaping is right. So, the rocks in the middle don't have any in front of them, so i guess there it would be somewhat visible

[georgiajams]

Reefdude,

I did the pvc/eggcrate thing with my 120g tank. Here's some pics so you can visualize what your's might look like. It's definitely a different look.
https://member.newsguy.com/~groovy/120gallon/120g.htm

I loosely followed the methods used by simplifiedreefkeeping.com

For what it is worth, my new tank has the rocks right on the bare bottom. With the eggcrate you need to have enough rock to cover all the eggcrate. I did, but it gave too much of a "brick wall" effect for me. But, it had it's benefits too....

So, I tried to combine what I learned with the eggcrate with not actually using the eggcrate in the new tank. This time, I just tried to place the rock with as few contact points as possible. That way it is still easy to clean. I still have lots of tunnels and caves for the fish. I kept lots of open space around the rocks to easily blast them of detritus. So far I really, really like the new setup.
See pics here tank pics. (ALthough it looks like you found it already )

If you aren't going BB.... well, not sure what I'd do. Maybe cut some PVC "stilts" and elevate the rocks above the sand just slightly.

Oh, I'm still a big fan of the behind-the-rockwork-spray-bar. I may still put one of those in the new tank in some form or fashion. They are helpful in pushing the detritus to the front of the tank.

[Reefdude5]

So, the spray bar, its just a pvc pipe with holes drilled in it placed along the back with a pump pushing water through it right?

[georgiajams]

Exactly. Benefits are:
1. Pushes detritus to the front of the tank for easy removal.
2. Creates flow from the back to the front and then up the glass and so forth. In contrast, powerheads normally give you left->right or right->left flow.
3. Lots of flow without really strong streams of water.

Drawbacks...
-potentially they may be an eyesore if you don't have something to hide them behind (rocks), which is my problem now. I wish black PVC were more available...

MtDewMan's 75 Closed loop apparently uses a spray bar and a seaswirl. He had the TotM last week.

[Reefdude5]

Cool, thanks for that, so many things can be done!!! It's hard to absorb it!

[steveweast]

What I did on my tank, when I upgraded, was to combine the "rock elevated platform" with the closed loop. The closed loop piping was formed in the shape of a platform with several jets coming off the piping...including many jets that blow under the rocks. The jets that come off the closed loop piping are easily hidden in the rock work using loc-line. The edge of the platform is hidden from view by rocks... but, there are still many gaps in the rocks to allow the water from under the rocks to blow out. I have no sand under the rocks. Here's a pic of the platforms right before water filling began. There are four distinct platforms....one for each closed loop pipe.

[Reefdude5]

That's amazing Steve! But see, yours isn't a tank, its an ocean! That's a BRILLIANT idea, although looks like it would have taken some planning long before the tank was setup and filled. I'm beggining to think that in my situation, with only 18" of width, it would be smarter to just not put any sand inbetween the rock contact points and the back, have heavy flow along the bottom back, pushing water parralel across the back, and to only add a VERY small amount of sand, with only a tiny bit where the rocks are touching. It's not the best idea, and i wish that i had planned something like that ahead of time(its all about experience! ) but i think its the only feasible solution. What do you all think?