To Rock Lift or Not to Rock Lift...

Harry_Y · 03-09-2008, 01:52 PM

I'm setting up a new 72 gal tank. Yesterday I picked up about
30 lbs of live rock and another 60 lbs of once live rock (base rock).

The base rock came from a system that was taken down about a year ago.

I had used Rock lifts in my last tank but never really cared for them looks and stability wise.

I understand the logic but the question is: “Is there any real proof to the need of them?”

I’d rather Not use them, but if they are truly are needed then I will use them.

Thank you

Jflip2002 · 03-09-2008, 01:57 PM

I dont think you NEED them. I hate the way they look, but if they keep the phosphates and what not from leeching up to your rock, it cant be a bad thing. Ever think about maybe spraying em with some sort of glue or epoxy and putting sand on em? That was my thought. Im on the border too, weather to stack or not. If you look at a lof of successful reefs, they dont stack.

tellycoleman · 03-09-2008, 01:59 PM

if you set them up right and not make them to hi then you wont see them. I will take a picture of my tank and tell me if you see my rock lifts. As far as stability how did you make yours. Because I used Fly Guys instructions to the letter and it is solid. Well first I tried to use a variation and it didnt turn out right. But now my lift is very very sturdy and I only have a 1 1/2 to 2 inch sand bed.
If you are going bear botton it will be more obvious.
But I believe it really helps. I have 1 rock that sits on the sand bed. Everytime I move that rock and see the junk thats under it, I am glad I have rock lifts.

Loverotties · 03-09-2008, 01:59 PM

No it's not required!I know lots of tanks do well without them!

chrischris · 03-09-2008, 02:05 PM

its not required but its helpful
i have a pvc one right now but am going to do an invisible one sometime soon

Harry_Y · 03-09-2008, 02:34 PM

Looks like I may skip the rock lifts this time around

Wiskey · 03-09-2008, 02:39 PM

I would not say that you need them at all,.. however I will say that there a good idea

Whiskey

Ratpack · 03-09-2008, 02:47 PM

No they are not needed, but they are another tool to help maintain a better environment for the corals. My tank will be bare bottom and I plan to just put a small lift 1/4"-1/2" under my rock so that the flow cn get under there as well.

Jflip2002 · 03-09-2008, 03:20 PM

If youre going barebottom, I feel you absolutely dont need them. Just make sure that you have your bottom rocks set up where minimal rock surface is touching the bottom. Like everyone said... not needed, but useful. I wont be using lifts on mine I dont believe.

YLChik · 03-09-2008, 03:48 PM

NEED is a strong word in my world... I need air... I want a saltwater fish tank

so I didn't vote.

However, I do think that they are a VERY good idea. For husbandry purposses, you can make them so they don't show - many folks have from pvc to acrylic to coat hangers there are several ways to lift rocks and I would try a few before settling on placing them on the sand bed.

Fly Guy · 03-09-2008, 05:00 PM

of course they arent mandatory. they are just a optional tool like anything else

neither is using ro/di water, a quality skimmer and positive flow suspending organics to your overflow so the skimmer can permanently remove it, changing your water regularly or siphoning out any detritus that collects on the floor of your bb or dsb tank or sumps, stocking and feeding appropriately........i could continue this run on sentence for a while.....but you get the idea

Every little thing we do that helps us keep the water quality up as well as enables us to feed the tanks as necessary without creaitng nutrient issues all fits into the big picture that is what makes your particular reef tank. Every little bit of effort we do to improve this helps and we all have sacrifices we choose to make to allow for other things that we deem as more important.

To be sure......I DONT think that rocklifts are on a importance level of a good skimmer, positive flow, an using ro/di water, and diligent husbandry can make up for part of their benefit. But they surely make achieving positive flow and skimming efficiency easier, bullteproof rock structure stability, as well as can greatly contribute to not having to do very much to your tank in the way of general maintenance to have it as clean as can be while feeding as much as you want ot. Again...just another tool you can use

Koddie Doo · 03-09-2008, 05:10 PM

You should have Fly Guy build you some of his, They look amazing. Clear acrylic. I like them and us one in one of my tanks. Less rock, more water has to be good for $$ as well as fluxuation

david426 · 03-09-2008, 05:23 PM

Having a sand bed I found that rock on the sand was just too unstabe; my stack kept shifting around. I like the lifted rock as it remains stable and doesn't shift. I just used 2" pieces of pvc under the contact points and hid them with sand; can't see them at all; looks like rock is sitting on the sand bed.

Fly Guy · 03-09-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koddie Doo

You should have Fly Guy build you some of his, They look amazing. Clear acrylic. I like them and us one in one of my tanks. Less rock, more water has to be good for $$ as well as fluxuation

Im really not making these custom lifts for sale anymore.

Thanks for the pitch though.

Here is my new rock lift sales pitch: I will gladdly answer any questions and walk anybody through it if they need help making it themselves.........but if you talk me into making it for you it most likely will take forever before you actually get it after payment.........like a month....or two.....or four.........

Harry_Y · 03-10-2008, 07:42 AM

Thank you for all the replies.

I think I'm going to skip them this time around.

I've machined them out of PVC pipe before so it's
not a problem making them I just don't care for them.

As for skimming, I have a Deltec MCE600 so I have more than enough skimming for this tank (72 Gal)

I picked up about 90 lbs of rock over the weekend (60 lbs Base, 30 lbs Live).