Live rock arrainging

[marcb]

Is thee a 'best way' to place and arrainge live rock?
Typically I see these walls of rock sloped towards the back of the tank. However, in doing my research for setting up my 240, I read that it may be better to leave room behind the rock for circulation and any clean-up that may be rquired from time-to-time.
Any thoughts?

 

[sepulatian]

It is completely up to you. Some people like it piled high, or spread out. I like my rock not so high with caves and crevices for the fish to go through. I leave room behind the rock for the reason that you stated above. The tank will get dead spots if the circulation does not include all areas. I wouldn't slope the rock to the back. That is a lot of pressure against the back wall, besides the fact that there will be no circulation back there.

 

[florida joe]

I have posted this before but I think its worth saying again a good way to set up your live rock is to make little tables out of PVC (straight pieces and elbows) taking into consideration the depth of your sand bed you want the tables to come up to just under your bed place the tables in your tank ball up news paper to simulate the rock and look at different configurations to get an idea of what the real deal will look like. When your ready place the tables in your tank add substrate and then the rock. You will have a stable platform for your rock with out the worry of it being undermined by fish or critters.
Of course as always this is just my method or as some would say my madness

 

[marcb]

Interesting, Joe. Wish I had seen that before I filled the tank

.
Right now I have 3 simulated coral heads, one on each end and one in the middle of the tank. All have been made with dry rock so far. I left room all around for circulation. I will finish off with some live rock, keeping with the open flow theory. Thanks for the input

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by MarcB
http:///forum/post/2888879
Interesting, Joe. Wish I had seen that before I filled the tank

.
Right now I have 3 simulated coral heads, one on each end and one in the middle of the tank. All have been made with dry rock so far. I left room all around for circulation. I will finish off with some live rock, keeping with the open flow theory. Thanks for the input

As long as you don’t have any fish in your tank right now I would definitely consider putting your initial rock on a PVC foundation your size tank would allow you the freedom of a large quantity of rock better to have that rock stable. Also I am willing to bet that along the way you are going to get rid of the artificial coral might want to consider doing away with it now

 

[usirchchris]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2888670
I have posted this before but I think its worth saying again a good way to set up your live rock is to make little tables out of PVC (straight pieces and elbows) taking into consideration the depth of your sand bed you want the tables to come up to just under your bed place the tables in your tank ball up news paper to simulate the rock and look at different configurations to get an idea of what the real deal will look like. When your ready place the tables in your tank add substrate and then the rock. You will have a stable platform for your rock with out the worry of it being undermined by fish or critters.
Of course as always this is just my method or as some would say my madness
Interesting method Joe, I like it, but...why not just put the base rock right on the glass and fill sand around and then add the rest?

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by usirchchris
http:///forum/post/2888905
Interesting method Joe, I like it, but...why not just put the base rock right on the glass and fill sand around and then add the rest?
With this method you can do away with the base rock just pvc for the base nice LR for Ascetics and filtration and reduce the over all weight load on your tank

 

[usirchchris]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2888911
With this method you can do away with the base rock just pvc for the base nice LR for Ascetics and filtration and reduce the over all load weight load on your tank
Oh I gotcha

.

 

[marcb]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2888897
Also I am willing to bet that along the way you are going to get rid of the artificial coral might want to consider doing away with it now

Oops, guess I was unclear. Nothing artificial, per se, I just was referring to the structure as artificial, since it is not an actual coral head. Its actually made up of genuine dry rock. Sorry for the confusion.