Adding live rock to tank without sand

[finnystar2992]

I've got my live rock for my 10 gallon, but I don't have sand yet, and won't have sand for a few weeks. Could I put the live rock into my tank without any sand or without any protection over the glass? Would the glass crack??


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[garrettp36]

No issues should come up other than starting another cycle or tank getting cloudy. Structurally it's not a problem. But would definitely hold off on livestock.


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[finnystar2992]

No issues should come up other than starting another cycle or tank getting cloudy. Structurally it's not a problem. But would definitely hold off on livestock.


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I wouldn't add water until after I add the sand. My bad, I wrote live rock, I meant to write "œdry rock". But you think that the glass wouldn't crack? Is there any proof behind that


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[garrettp36]

Why would you want dry rock in an empty tank? Just put it on the floor then?
No, I don't have proof that gently setting a rock on glass won't shatter it.


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[colodano]

Personally I always place rock first, so that down the road if you have critters that sift sand, the rock is already in place and won't fall. I have done this from 10 gallons all the way up to 180 gallon tanks.

 

[Jimbob]

I've got my live rock for my 10 gallon, but I don't have sand yet, and won't have sand for a few weeks. Could I put the live rock into my tank without any sand or without any protection over the glass? Would the glass crack??


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[MENTION=380478]finnystar2992[/MENTION]; If placed gently, plenty of people before you have placed rock directly on the glass bottom of a tank and succeeded well, some of them even going bare-bottom.

It is not with out risk, however, as the rock does not contact the glass in a dispersed way. There are pressure spots where pointier features on the rock concentrate all weight into a small area of contact. This can be a problem but is not guaranteed to do so.

One thing many have done in the past is to custom fit and place a thin sheet of "starboard" material on the bottom of the tank, then place the rock and sand.

[MENTION=351887]colodano[/MENTION] also makes a great point with regard to ensuring the rock is contacting the bottom surface (whether acrylic, glass, or starboard) as opposed to just setting on the sand. This helps mitigate the risk of the rockscape shifting or tumbling down down the road when sand-sifting creatures cause the sand bed to move.

 

[finnystar2992]

[MENTION=380478]finnystar2992[/MENTION]; If placed gently, plenty of people before you have placed rock directly on the glass bottom of a tank and succeeded well, some of them even going bare-bottom.

It is not with out risk, however, as the rock does not contact the glass in a dispersed way. There are pressure spots where pointier features on the rock concentrate all weight into a small area of contact. This can be a problem but is not guaranteed to do so.

One thing many have done in the past is to custom fit and place a thin sheet of "starboard" material on the bottom of the tank, then place the rock and sand.

[MENTION=357162]Cordan[/MENTION]o also makes a great point with regard to ensuring the rock is contacting the bottom surface (whether acrylic, glass, or starboard) as opposed to just setting on the sand. This helps mitigate the risk of the rockscape shifting or tumbling down down the road when sand-sifting creatures cause the sand bed to move.

It's fine I've already added the rocks into the tank. I put a thin layer of sand in, then put the rocks in, and then added the rest of the sand into the tank.

Sorry haven't gotten a light yet

 

[Jimbob]

It looks great [MENTION=380478]finnystar2992[/MENTION] !

It also looks like you placed in a way that will allow maintenance and glass cleaning quite nicely.

Please continue to share updates. Maybe make a new tank build thread even. It's always fun to watch how everyone's tanks progress, see what changes they make, learn about what works for them and what doesn't, etc.

A new setup is always exciting.

 

[finnystar2992]

It looks great [MENTION=380478]finnystar2992[/MENTION] !

It also looks like you placed in a way that will allow maintenance and glass cleaning quite nicely.

Please continue to share updates. Maybe make a new tank build thread even. It's always fun to watch how everyone's tanks progress, see what changes they make, learn about what works for them and what doesn't, etc.

A new setup is always exciting.

Will do. thank you!