Rock Arrangement - Newbie Question

[smash102]

I have seen suggestion all over the place on how I should arrange my rock. I have not seen the benefits/pro’s and cons. So when I started my tank I just stacked the rock they way I like it. Now I find it difficult to find homes for corals. This is probably just something that comes with age and experience within the hobby.

I started this thread with the expectation that I could gather some suggestions on how/why/and what benefits that design posses. So with that said what rock arrangement would you suggest and why?

 

[dwdenny]

it is all personal preference and what you like. Here is quick pic of how I have mine for now I will be adding at least another 8lbs of liverock. hope it helps.

 

[Rosseau]

Things to address...

Will you have corals that need space in the sand? i.e. Plate Coral, these should have some space left over for.

Certain corals will "grow up", meaning work their way towards the top of the tank with time, this should be accounted for...

Space between rock and glass for algae cleaning..

Amount of rock that is exposed to light. This is an important one, and one I have struggled with. By having a sort of terraced system with the largest area of rock on the bottom, and then smaller and smaller pieces stacked on top (think of rice fields in China).


It's tough in these nano's, but really having large surface area exposed to light is the big issue.

HTH, not sure if it does, but those are some random ideas.

good luck. Have any pics of your tank? sometimes people can help from that.

 

[The Kapenta Kid]

Here's a tip I picked up which I found helpful. Place the rocks opposite to their natural point of balance, i.e. put them in upside down.
To do this you cement the tips to small squares of acrylic or whatever with reef putty or similar. When you add sand this makes them completely stable and proof against undermining. This gives you a roughly flat surface on top. You can then lay other rocks on top of this and shift them around or remove them as you add corals. It also looks more natural with rock swelling out from below.