New SW Tank - TBS sand question

[w16227]

Hello All,

I am in the planning/procurement process of setting up a 125g tank with sump - and plan on using TBS.

A couple of Qs with respect to the sand -

I have read that you want to support the rock - not just place on the sand. So the bottom layer of rock sits on the glass - or eggcrate and the sand is used to fill around.

I would rather spread the load over an area with eggcrate. Will a layer of eggcrate be problematic for the sand stirrers?


Also- I will have a fuge in the sump. From what I gather, the typical TBS "package" gives you 1.5 to 2" of coverage in the display. Would the fuge be any different with respect to sand depth?

thanks

 

[HowardW]

I don't believe using eggcrate is necessary nor desirable, and the live rock does just fine sitting right on the sandbed just like in the ocean.

Depending on what you're putting into your fuge, you may not want a sandbed in there at all.

 

[w16227]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13507693#post13507693 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
I don't believe using eggcrate is necessary nor desirable, and the live rock does just fine sitting right on the sandbed just like in the ocean.

Depending on what you're putting into your fuge, you may not want a sandbed in there at all.

The problem that I have read about - is that sand stirrers and livestock that tends to dig a bit can shift the rock.

Not bad in the ocean - but a glass bottom tank might not tolerate a rockslide all that well. Eggcrate provides a solid surface that would not be disturbed by sand shifts. Same basic concept could be used if you make sure that the base rock is placed directly on the glass - but eggcrate would spread the load out if any rock did happen to shift for whatever reason.

The fuge would have live sand and macro alge along with banned critters. Might also have some LR rubble - who that will probably be in another section of the sump.

 

[HowardW]

Again, I don't believe that eggcrate in your substrate is necessary and the sand itself supports the TBS live rock very well. I've never had any type of rock shifting at all in many years of keeping it. I also don't think any of the sand stirrers (starfish, cukes, hermits, etc) are going to dig up or shift the sandbed enough to cause a rockslide at all. The only risk IMO would be if you stack the rocks way too high in unstable formations in which case the eggcrate wouldn't help anyways.

 

[IDreamOReefin]

i think the egg crate is a personal thing. while i understand that its not "needed" i use it in my 28g as my rock layout has a small footprint with all my TBS rock on top to decorate. this puts more weight in small points on the glass so i did it as a "safety" thing. from my understanding it has its pluses and minuses. but i have noticed that many of the small stars that came with the rock have moved to under my base rock and are easy to find as they dig out their little caves. if you have good flat base rock i wouldnt worry about it but i think it has its place in some instances. but if/when i upgrade to a system that has a fuge i dont plan on puting the egg crate in the fuge as it wont be needed for rock stability or to stop digging.
i once read that reefing is 1/3 science 1/3 art 1/3 voodoo to me the egg crate is a great example of the voodoo some swear by it some curse it i think it should be viewed as a tool that can be used if needed but is not always the answer either.

 

[w16227]

thanks guys - and just in case there was confusion - the eggcrate was for the display, not the fuge. Good responses all the same.

 

[g8gxp]

Just to add a little. Your sand bed won't be that deep, 1-1.5 inch at most. even with critters digging a bit, the settling really won't be an issue.

Also i have no idea what eggcrate would do to the flow of water through the sand, but seeing as how the flow is so minimal under-bed any obstruction may not be good.