Raising LR off DSB

[VitoM]

Hi everyone.. I was wondering how important it is to have all the LR and Lace Rock elevated so it is flush with the DSB as opposed to sitting directly on it. I read somewhere that it should be to have all the sand stirrers get under and do their job.. but for a small amount of LR is it necessary? I have 12lbs live rock in a 45Gal and 12lbs lace rock..

Thanks..

[Doug1]

I have done it both ways and after a while I don't think it matters, the trick is getting enough divesrity to do the job

[hesaias]

There can be a risk of critters undermining your rock work if its not set in the sand good, kinda pushed down into the DSB some. You can get good flow under the rocks if you put them above the sand on a rack of some sort, but like most things reef, there are a heap of ways to kill a dog besides choking him with butter

Dougs right, more different critters more better

[MontanaRocknReefer]

I agree with above statements as far as LR being flat on the DSB as opposed to being off the DSB----don't see where it makes a difference!
Some people like it off the DSB for water circulation underneath and keep the DSB clean but with excellent fauna(critters) you should be fine either way you do it!
I have my LR right on the DSB and only problems I have with LR toppling is with "Spike"(my sea urchin) when he is moving around! Johnny

[VitoM]

I was hoping I didnt have to explore ways of raising it..

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by MontanaRocknReefer
I agree with above statements as far as LR being flat on the DSB as opposed to being off the DSB----don't see where it makes a difference!

With a mature sandbed, there will no be problems with sand stirrers doing their job. However, there is an advantage to raising the LR off the sand bed in that it creates a refuge for copepods, etc., that would otherwise be predated by fishes, including mandarins and wrasses that may depend on them for their survival in some instances. I personally use rings of 6 " diameter PVC cut to the height of the sandbed, then drill 1" holes in the sides (all the way around) so that substrate moving creatures will be able to move through these vertical barriers in the sand. I don't do this for any reason other than creating the refuge for these benthic bugs. Some spp. of fishes and shrimps can use these as burrows as well.

Just my two cents (US)...

[erasmu]

I put my live rock on pieces of PVC, much like tdwyatt. I used smaller diameter tubing though and cut slots in the sides instead of drilling holes. The reason I like raising the rock is both visual and economical. If you have a 5" sand bed, you can hide a lot of expensive rock unless you raise the rock above it. In my tank, 48 lbs of rock looks like 70, because the bottom 5" is not hidden. As mentioned earlier, this also provides a solid mount so that critters do not undermine and topple rock that was not all of the way down into the sand bed.