[Grouper]

In the never-ending quest to convert my tank from a FOWLR to a Reef, I have a question with regards to live rock placement. My current live rock is placed in the middle of the tank and all four glass walls are accessible for cleaning with a magnet /algea scraper. In order to place more live rock in the tank (which I want to do), I will probably have to place some of the rock against the back glass. Of course, this means I will not be able to clean my back glass any longer.

Does eveyone generally do this? Any problems with algea growing on the back glass that is no longer accessible?

[scubadude]

I think this is a very good ques....cuz you need a good amount of LR to stabilize your tank but as your tank matures you will consider replaceing some of your LR with outgrowing corals and go for a more roomy design...or just get a bigger tank! I think with the combination of a DSB you are generally safe to get only 1/2lb per gallon but most ppl start out w/a little bit more....especially if you dont have a DSB. anything over 1lb per gallon im convinced is basically for aesthitics only. I do have rock on my back and side glass...but I only clean the front ....if the tank was made for viewing on the other sides though then I would clean the other pertaining areas as well.
HTH Also the lb per gallon theory varies...as gulf aquacultured rock is more dense then rock from fiji

[organicreefer]

i think its best not to have youre rock touching the glass,but i would bet about 75 percent of us have it touching the glass.keep it to a minimum ,with small contact points and good circulation behind the rocks(spraybar or whatever) and youll be probly be ok ime.

[mastaJ]

Does eveyone generally do this? Any problems with algea growing on the back glass that is no longer accessible?

I just let my corraline algea grow on my back glass, as a matter of fact i've never cleaned my back glass...

[FishKid]

At first, I relied on my glass for support, but then, after I re-aquascaped the tank, Some how I fit the pieces together perfectly, and only 2 rocks touch the glass at all. there is a space in back of the rock that for some reason, every living animal in my tank likes to hide in, so some times I have to sneak behind the tank to see my lawnmower blenny (i never imagined how comical he could be!) he eats algae like its going out of style!

Before you buy too much rock and building a simple wall, add less first, like .5# per gal at most and rearrange constantly, until you find something you like.

oh hell, My tank is one big puff of algae but the back is the cleanest ?!?!

mark

[saltjunkie]

I have mine placed against the back, at the top. I created caves just for the reason above, so the fish can hide.
just the way i do it.
Rick

[buck]

i have my rockwork against the back wall.i also have too pwerheads aimed behind the rockwork for circulation.haven,t had any major problems with algae that isn't accessible because the places that i can't get to not much light gets to either.jme.

[Firefish]

I have rock touching all side except the front in my 72 bow. When my 155 bow is done, I think I'll only have a small amount of LR like... 75lbs. to one side of the tank and go with the open look. FWIW I have never cleaned the sides or back of my tanks. Coraline has covered most of the back and besides, I paint the sides and back black.

[chromis]

if you dont look through the back of your tank then why scrape the algae? Algaes are using up nutrients in your tank, if your talking about corraline then you definatly dont want to scrape. Corraline makes it a lot harder for other algaes to grow in your tank. Also, when you scrape the glass you are probably killing pods, this is bad. Putting live rock on the back wall is common and I see no reason not to, it porvides a shelter for pods.


HTH
Andrew

[schrocat]

My rockwork is placed in the center of the tank.
I was keen on circulation when setting it up, and its depth allows for some decent side viewing.

I also never clean the back glass.

[Shadetree]

Exactly what schrocat said.



Scott

[cwa46]

If you add a DSB you don't need live rock for any reason other than habitat. If you put 4" of sand under what you have you can leave everything as it is.

[mrok12]

Sounds like a plan !!!
The DSB according to everything I have read wil perform the majority of the denitrification. Although I prefer live rock and lots of it

MROK12

[Biomanjcs72]

I only clean the viewing sides of my tank, it's in the corner, so I have rock touching the back glass and right side glass. Do clean them from time to time for nutrient export, but I never scrape the coralline off the back...

[chinitoe]

im afraid to put rocks against the glass coz it might put too much pressure on it. i just pile it about 4 inches away from the back of the tank. i think it would look better it were touching the glass to make it really look like a wall.

doesnt it put pressure on the glass?

[FishKid]

leaning it on the glass would not put any more pressure than the bottom panel of glass is feeling! as long as you can assure yourself that the rock is stable and will not fall, it is perfectly fine to lean the rocks, in fact that will give you more viewing room!

mark

[chinitoe]

yes but the bottom is supported by teh stand and styrofoam while nothing is supporting the back unless your leaning the tank againts your wall. it already has pressure from the water volume. ( im refering to big tanks of 100g and up...i have a 150 and i dont think i can sleep with all those rocks piled up againts the tank) i wish i could make it look like a wall but im afraid to gamble on it.

[MontanaRocknReefer]

I placed by LR about 4" from the back glass and although it takes away from the beach look in the front, I can sit in my recliner and look through the side glass and see down both sides of the reef. Really cool!!!!!! Here is a bad pic of my reef:

[organicreefer]

chinitoe,you are being overly cautious.i had lace rock(much denser heavier than live rock)piled against the back glass 0f my 110 g african cichlid tank for like three years...even rode an earthquake! .99% of us as you can read above do ,have done it forever ,and will always do it im not telling you to pile youre rocks against the glass,its best for circulation not to .

[organicreefer]

[IMG]p6180005.JPG[/IMG]