Reefs.org Forums

[Sea Witch]

I'm new here and planning a first reef tank. I have a few questions about how you arrange your rock:

1. Is it necessary to leave a big space between the back of the rock and the aquarium glass for water circulation (assuming the tank will only be viewed from the front) or does anyone fix the rock to the glass?

2. How do people create the structure? Do you just stack it? silicone it together? put pipe through it to tie it together? My concern is that I'd like to be able to break it down without a lot of difficulty in case of a major problem.

Thanks very much. This is my first post, so please be gentle.

[Louey]

I like to leave space behind the rock for water circulation. I think it helps to keep the tank clean.

As for stacking the rock, I'd start with the largest rocks on the bottom. Put the bottom rocks on the glass, not on the sand. You can use water proof epoxy to help glue rocks together. I have also used acrylic rods/epoxy to glue rocks together. I drilled holes in the rocks and coupled them together with acrylic rods and epoxy.

Oh, BTW

[shavo]

ok it's been a while for me but will be soon setting up a new tank. I have an old build thread here and halfway through you can see in pictures before and after my old tank with stacked rock-then drilled rock with an acrylic tube through to stack in columns. It makes a world of difference and it is how I will do it again once i set up a new tank. I bought a big drill bit at home depot for 10 bucks and started drilling. some advice don't have wet hands while actually drilling! you've been warned lol but it is a neat way to make it really cool looking. acrylic tube is really cheap if you look for it online. check it out it could be a cool option for you.

one more thing i initially put in a piece of wood for a few bucks first and after a few months decided to get acrylic tubes. that wood expanded inside the rock and some of the pieces I was unable to get the wood out. when i broke down my tank after a few years with the acrylic rods they just slid right off. no mess no fuss.

good luck