Need help with rock and sand bed...

[chkra_hp]

I have a 45 gal tank. The bottom is 12" x36". I bought 50lbs of sand and give my tanka 2inches sand bed. I also bought ton of rock (60lbs) Now my whole bottom is filled with rocks, only a bit of sand is in the open the rest is under the rock.

My question is: is it necessary to have open sand area for the fish? or can the whole bottom cover with rock even though under the rock is 2" sand bed?

Should I cover the 3/4 of the bottom with large rock and make it look like a mountain and the other 1/4 with open sand bed?

Please advise. Thanx

 

[chkra_hp]

my tank is a reef tank and i will house small size clown, damsel,gobies and such in here. No big fish such as angel or tang...

 

[drummereef]

You don't need a lot of sand area for the fish. If you plan on keeping a sand sifiting goby or something then you might have an issue. Did you stack the rock or just lay it all on the substrate? Aquascaping is up to you there are different way of doing it. All is really just personal preference. I like keeping the rock away from the glass because it makes for easy cleaning. Post some pics of the aquascape and we'll help critique for you.

 

[chkra_hp]

This is the tank full front view. AS you can see the rock are all cover the bottom

This is the bird eye view the left side of the tank.

This is the bird eye view the right size of the tank

Please advise, i do plan to have shrimp& goby pair

 

[chkra_hp]

as you can see my all the rocks are touching or leaning onto the glass. Also the water surface seem very dirty have ton of tiny bubbles seem like they are very dirty (look like when u pour oil into water) how do i fix this problem?

 

[taillonjohn]

I've got my LR all at the bottom like you do, and I don't like, especially compared to the really nice aquascaping you see here on the site. So.... after work today I will go to the LFS to buy super glue gel, and see if I can make my own masterpiece

 

[taillonjohn]

"oily" surface indicates your water surface doesn't have enough turbulence. get a powerhead closer to the top of the tank

 

[chkra_hp]

Water surface as u can see under the light, tons of small bubbles. Is this dangerous to the fish? should i change the water at the surface? should i point my powerhead to the surface?

 

[alexb518]

it is all up to you and what you think looks good. You're the one that has to look at it and clean it so do what you think is the most pleasing to you. i wouldn't worry too much about the goby either. they'll find ways to swim through the rocks and make more room for themselves.

 

[chkra_hp]

i tried to point the powerhead up to the water surface but it doesnt help much. It basicly pushing the patches of bubble around and that's all.

 

[taillonjohn]

yes, point, or angle, the powerhead to the surface, to create agitation. this is needed for oxegen exchange, and also gets the oil into the water so the skimmer can skim it out. you might need another powerhead....I have 3 in my tank

where do the bubbles come from? the skimmer?

 

[chkra_hp]

i have 2 rio900 that's all. i have 45gal tank. is it enough?

 

[In Deep Water]

I only have a 30gallon and I have 60lbs LR in it. I made a very nice sloping reef from front to back. This type of setup allows for plenty of open sand area in front of the rocks. I would reconfigur the structure. Youll prob end up seeing that I few more pounds might be good as well.

 

[jus10kase]

If you`re planning on shrimp/goby combo, you need the rock on the bottom of the tank or on cut PVC to hold it. Not sitting on the sand cause the shrimp will dig it all around and your rocks will slide.
I would have some open sand areas. Just make sure any stacking is very sturdy, and looks good to you. You will change it quite a few times anyways for awhile.