Rock scaping question

Kostrab

Kostrab

New member
A question about rock scaping.. I've seen some set ups where the rock is against the glass and some where it's not. Is it absolutely necessary to clean behind the rocks or is it a question of flow behind the rocks? Sorry for the newbie questions, but I'm setting up a new tank and I want the rock in the back (current tank is a peninsula set up) but I'm not sure if I should leave a couple of inches or put it right up against the glass? Any and all help is appreciated.

Steve
 
Flow is actually more important that actually cleaning of the glass. By putting rocks right up against the glass you may create dead spots that will accumulate detritus which cannot be cleaned out due to limited access. Personally, I like to build mine away from the glass to give fish more hiding spots and to allow flow to hit all areas of the tank.
 
i dont clean the back either , and i have about 3-5 inches clearance back there for water flow and some hiding spots for everyone to chill in , and i if wanted to my magnet would fit all the way across the back with plenty of clearance
 
Hi Steve, use very little rock. The less the better. I know you will get tempted to just fill your tank with rock to give it that filled look but trust me in the end all of your corals will be healthier with more area for flow. Just look at pictures of some of the European tanks. They have like almost no live rock. Dan.
 
I have about 36 pounds of rock to put in. Here's a picture of what I have so far. Let me know what you think..


tank1.jpg
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IMO... Lots of rock v. less depends on what you like and what livestock you want. I like the mobile inverts and fish. My rocks are stacked to have lots of small spaces, nooks & crannies for my smaller fish.
HOWEVER, my advice is to be certain you can get between rocks & glass because stuff does die and it always seems to find that space with low flow that you CAN NOT GET TO and then it fouls the tank.
Hope this makes some sense.

StanD
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14734590#post14734590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrunstuckyJoe
Live rock is a biological filter.
At least 1# or more per gallon.
Click to expand...

You can't really go by weight rule though. Most rules that were set up years ago no longer apply as the hobby has come a long way and has changed so much.
Some rocks are super dense and some massive rocks can be really porous and light.

Decorate your tank as you like, if your using sand as substrate most of your biological filtration will happen in there.

IMO I would get rid of that dead blue ridge coral piece, reminds me of those old sterile bleached coral tanks

Hope that helps
 
The aquascaping you have looks very good. Plenty of area to get flow around and not too much. As Dan (Purplereef) pointed out, you have to visualize the finished product with grown out corals. Even if you look at the TOTM pics, its often hard to actually see any rock as the corals will eventually take up a lot of the space.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14734677#post14734677 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Esquare
You can always put more rock in your Christmas Tree stand to get more filtration.
Click to expand...


Where the heck did christmas tree stand come from? I ment sump.
 
If you feel you need more LR for filtration, you can add it to your sump and that would make for a great breading ground for pods.
 
So, all the old formulas are old school now?
I do like a lot of live rock and just a little sand for the ocean reef effect...
 
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