Elevating Live rock?

[MCWRT]

Working on a 60g cube build. I was attempting to kept the rock elevated off the Live sand.

Here is what I did.... Feel free to fire off issues and recommendations....

I used 1/4 piece of plexiglass as the base directly on the glass bottom. Too 1 inch slip unions and capped each end. Drilled a hole on one side and filled with dry sand. Sealed the holes and capped glued a rock based on top of each pilar. I also rolled each "pillars" with glue and sand.

I know it looks a little unnatural but I can deal with it.

 

[MCWRT]

Updated Pics with Sand

Updated Pics with Sand





The Maxspect Gyre XF130 running at 30% put just enough flow under the rock platform.

 

[coral102]

so interesting, I would love to follow along and see updates! :artist:

 

[rwb500]

usually the people who do this type of thing go barebottom, because they are obsessed with cleanliness. this looks good though.

 

[Neebles]

I like this a lot..what made you decide to go this route? Is it going to be flush with the sand so it doesn't become a detritus trap on the underside? Pretty cool though

 

[MCWRT]

usually the people who do this type of thing go barebottom, because they are obsessed with cleanliness. this looks good though.

Agreed... Kids love the sand shifters so i caved...lol

 

[MCWRT]

I like this a lot..what made you decide to go this route? Is it going to be flush with the sand so it doesn't become a detritus trap on the underside? Pretty cool though

This is my primary concern but it seems to working well with the gyre.

In the first photo I have one side of the gyre pointed directly down towards the sand bed.

In this photo u can see where the live sand has been blown away from flow under the rock platform.

Fingers crossed this will work.

 

[breadfan]

Good job, that looks very nice! It should work great as long as there is room for creatures to go under the rocks and eat. My tank has the rock suspended just above the sand and it is spotless underneath between the watchman goby, pistol shrimp and brittle star who are underneath most of the time.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=8536&pictureid=68487
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=8536&pictureid=68496

 

[MCWRT]

Good job, that looks very nice! It should work great as long as there is room for creatures to go under the rocks and eat. My tank has the rock suspended just above the sand and it is spotless underneath between the watchman goby, pistol shrimp and brittle star who are underneath most of the time.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=8536&pictureid=68487
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=8536&pictureid=68496

Breadfan... that is awesome! Nice work!

 

[beachfubar]

I have a 60 gal cube keep posting

 

[French]

Wow! I would have never thought of this. I will be now for sure! Great thread, keep us updated for sure.

 

[MCWRT]

Ok the maxspect gyre has finally settled the sand around and seems to be generating plenty of flow under the rock platform.

 

[wilsonreefs]

What sand are you running? I am in the process of taking about half of my sand out of my 240. It currently uses the finer sand. I like yours it seems to be a lot coarser.
Thanks

 

[MCWRT]

What sand are you running? I am in the process of taking about half of my sand out of my 240. It currently uses the finer sand. I like yours it seems to be a lot coarser.
Thanks

Carbisea arag-live natural reef sand.... seems to be working pretty well at higher flows.

 

[hllywd]

I did basically the same thing on my last tank, a 120. It had a layer of acrylic across the whole bottom of the tank, for the risers I just cut lengths of 1" PVC and sank them into the sand I did not see a reason to cap them off and they never caused any problems.

Subsequently I moved up the a 210 and left out the risers, no reason in particular, it just worked out that way using a more shallow sand bed. I wouldn't hesitate to use the risers again if I thought I needed them.

You can see some of them in post #90 http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1163749&highlight=the+120&page=4 then in some of the other pics if you look. with time they blended in, and some of the loose ones moved around since my rock wasn't cut nice and flat... the remaining pieces did exactly what I wanted them to right till the upgrade.

 

[MCWRT]

Wow! That was a great build... Impressive!