Why do people use this?
- Thread starter crt81
- Start date
oceanlover
Member
According to "Reef Aquariums" book by John Tullock, in a Monaco-style system, the false bottom of egg crate is suspended about 1 inch off the bottom of the tank. According to the author, "the Monaco-style aquarium is analogous to the Berlin-style tank in that it relies on natural, bacteriological processes occuring within the aquarium." Dr Jaubert of Monaco uses this approach using the natural properties of the sand to create inexpensive, effective filtration for reef aquariums.
There is supposed to be one or more layers of screening to keep sand from falling through through to the plenum (the area underneath the grid where water, but no sand, is present). Then there is supposed to be 1-2 inches of sand (but not Aragonite). Then another layer of screening is added on the first sand bed and then another few inches of substrate is added.
I am new to salt water aquariums so if this answer doesn't sit well with readers of this website, please don't flame me. I am just reporting what I read in a book so that the person who asked the question can do more research if he/she so pleases. I have no experience whatsoever with this eggcrate stuff and I am neither recommending or criticizing it.
There is supposed to be one or more layers of screening to keep sand from falling through through to the plenum (the area underneath the grid where water, but no sand, is present). Then there is supposed to be 1-2 inches of sand (but not Aragonite). Then another layer of screening is added on the first sand bed and then another few inches of substrate is added.
I am new to salt water aquariums so if this answer doesn't sit well with readers of this website, please don't flame me. I am just reporting what I read in a book so that the person who asked the question can do more research if he/she so pleases. I have no experience whatsoever with this eggcrate stuff and I am neither recommending or criticizing it.
patandlace
Active Member
A lot of people use PVC pipes in Quarantine tanks. It's a good place for the fish to hide. If you need to hypo the tank you don't have to worry about killing live rock.
reefkprz
Active Member
Egg crate and PVC pipes can be used for many things some people use short lengths of PVC to hold their LR off the glass same for egg crate, others as a previous poster mentioned use egg crate for plenums. and many many more uses. depends on what you intend for your tank as to whether using either is a good Idea for you.
gregghia
Member
Originally Posted by crt81
Is this a must?
Will the tank be okay without these?
I don't have alot of experience overall but after reading I think the majoirty that use this is more for the physical security of the rock itself. I was reading that some have dropped pieces of their live rock and with the crate there is a buffer so it does not hit the glass and crack the bottom. Others have stated with the crate if you have things like Engineer Goby's which I had for a short while you will realize that they shift huge volumes of sand in hours. Without the egg crate the peices of live rock crash with the same glass breakage result!
Is this a must?
Will the tank be okay without these?
I don't have alot of experience overall but after reading I think the majoirty that use this is more for the physical security of the rock itself. I was reading that some have dropped pieces of their live rock and with the crate there is a buffer so it does not hit the glass and crack the bottom. Others have stated with the crate if you have things like Engineer Goby's which I had for a short while you will realize that they shift huge volumes of sand in hours. Without the egg crate the peices of live rock crash with the same glass breakage result!
patandlace
Active Member
No it's not a must. I would say more people don't use them than do. I would add live rock to the tank first then live sand after. It will help keep the rocks more stable. If a fish starts to dig in the sand it won't cause an avalanche.
saltfan
Active Member
Originally Posted by gregghia
I don't have alot of experience overall but after reading I think the majoirty that use this is more for the physical security of the rock itself. I was reading that some have dropped pieces of their live rock and with the crate there is a buffer so it does not hit the glass and crack the bottom. Others have stated with the crate if you have things like Engineer Goby's which I had for a short while you will realize that they shift huge volumes of sand in hours. Without the egg crate the peices of live rock crash with the same glass breakage result!
Your tank will be fine without any of these in use. Don't worry, set it up as best you can, reading what you can, then apply it....Its not necessary to utilize the pvc or the eggcrate, they are not have to haves.... Good Luck.
I don't have alot of experience overall but after reading I think the majoirty that use this is more for the physical security of the rock itself. I was reading that some have dropped pieces of their live rock and with the crate there is a buffer so it does not hit the glass and crack the bottom. Others have stated with the crate if you have things like Engineer Goby's which I had for a short while you will realize that they shift huge volumes of sand in hours. Without the egg crate the peices of live rock crash with the same glass breakage result!
Your tank will be fine without any of these in use. Don't worry, set it up as best you can, reading what you can, then apply it....Its not necessary to utilize the pvc or the eggcrate, they are not have to haves.... Good Luck.