Add sand before or after the LR?

[eisaiasjr]

Hello:

I am in the final stages of setting up my 24 nanocube for my peacock mantis and I was wondering if I should add the sand BEFORE or AFTER the live rock.

i ask this because I know I should always add LR first in normal tanks and then dump the sand to make sure there is no sand under the rock, however since mantis shrimp create their own burrows I was wondering if I should add it before the LR in order to allow for the MS to dig under the rock...

Current setups:

24 gal jbj
40 pounds of sand (about 3 inches) of Coral-life Fiji Pink
about 25 pounds of LR

Regards,

Estefano

 

[ace1204]

doesnt matter, your peacock will re arrange it the way he wants reguardless

 

[Altpers0na]

it wont rearrange all of it, just the parts you like best...

 

[helipilot]

I think I would add the LR first and the LS second. Then when your peacock digs it's burrows, there won't be any avalanches because the LR will already be on the bottom of the tank.

 

[Altpers0na]

im increasingly fond of egg crate on the bottom, then some sand, then rock , then more sand if need be...

if you do rock first, you will have places, in between the rocks, under the rocks with no sand.. and id rather have a buffer in place...

 

[helipilot]

I've never used egg crate but it sounds like a plan.

 

[Altpers0na]

hows that?

you cut and laydown the egg crate

add sand add rock add sand..

what kind of shrimp are you putting in the tank?

the crate should help protect the corners if its a bigger species..