Live rock and base rock

[ckg4445]

I am interested in using some base rock with the live rock to cut down on the cost. I will also have live sand in the tank.

-My question is how would i mix the two together. Do i put the base rock dirrectly on the live sand and build up from there with live rock. Or do i put some live rock down first, then some base rock, and finish off with more live rock. (making a base rock sandwhich).

-also would i be better off placing rock dirrectly on the sand or should i use PVC pipe to elevate the rock off the sand. I am seeing articles that support both sides of this.

PLEASE RESPOND i NEED AS MUCH HELP AS POSSIBLE
THANK YOU

[Ninong]

All of the base rock should go at the bottom to form a foundaton for the live rock. That's why they call it base rock.

You have several options as to how to support the rock structure:

• Put the base rock directly on the glass bottom of the tank before adding the sand. This method is usually used by people with relatively shallow sand beds (2" deep or less) but would work with any sand bed depth.
  
  
• Place cut sections of PVC that have been drilled with several large holes on the glass bottom of the tank and then fill in with sand before placing the base rock on top of the PVC sections.
  
  
• Use cast acrylic rods and/or PVC pipe to construct a support for the rock structure and then fill in with sand before placing the rocks on top of this support structure.
  
  
• Place the sand in the tank and then place the rocks on top of the sand. This can be risky depending the rock structure itself and the inhabitants of the tank. I don't care for this option.

Good luck,

[Poseidon]

I used some "eggcrate" at the rear of my tank to elevate the rock in the back, makes it look like I have more rock then I do.



And of course you want to put the base rock on the bottom, but when you are arrainging the rock, you will find it is kinda like a jigsaw puzzle with hundreds of solutions. So you may end up with live rock here base rock there.... in the end the base will get covered with coralline algae and other critters so it really doesn't matter!

[Tattooedlife]

I used base rock to build a foundation on the bottom of my tank and just stacked the live rock as wanted. After a while your base rock will become part of your live rock. Mine is incrusted with small dusters and polyps.