Sand question

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Moloch

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 8, 2010
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Raleigh, NC
I was reading the compilation-substrate sticky and raised a question for myself...

When I set up my 65 gallon I decided it would be a good idea to line the entire bottom of the tank with eggcrate. This way the weight of whatever rocks and driftwood I add is distributed more evenly and there's less danger to the glass in case of a rock-structure collapse.

So here's my question. With all this buzz of gasses & whatnot building up in the substrate-- I'm not really worried about the majority of the sand, with a regular maintenance cycle and cichlids I'm sure the sand will be stirred around plenty enough to not worry about it. But what about the sand thats going to be trapped in every little square of the eggcrate? I'd imagine that all of this won't be getting near as much movement as the rest of the substrate. Should I worry about this? Was an egg-crate liner a bad idea? Or is this a non-issue and I should just continue along with my happy little day?
 
I dont really think eggcrate is all that necessary. Its just going to collect some nasty stuff that will probably just rot down there.
Sand is virtually maintenance free. Except introducing it, It needs to be washed throughly. Other than that a good stir with your hand every 3 months will make all the gas bubbles come up. Much easier to vac than gravel too.
You dont need to worry about rocks falling and breaking the tank. A thin layer of sand is enough to cusion a falling rock. But you really shouldnt build a rock sculptor capable of falling front or back to hit weak spots in the glass. especially if you have fish capable of knocking it down like most us MFKERS do. :D good luck
 
I think it's a non-issue personally, especially if your sand layer isn't too deep. However, if you're concerned about it, and your tank stock allow it, get some Malaysian Trumpet Snails. They burrow down into the sand and stir it pretty well.
 
Interesting, so I really don't need to worry about having an extra weight distribution/cushion layer beneath the rocks? Truth be told my rocks really aren't all that heavy anyways.

I am a little bit worried about my jack dempsey getting in there and knocking them down. Its three relatively flat & light rocks that are set up in a pyramid type formation to make a nice large cave. It feels pretty stable (I can tap at it and it doesn't fall) but if it does happen to get knocked backwards, It has potential to hit 2 maybe 3 walls of my aquarium at once:\ My piece of driftwood is actually heavier than my rocks:p

I suppose I'll just end up taking the eggcrate out so I don't have to worry about it. I am going to try and keep snails in the tank. I have two mystery snails in the 20 right now, I've seen the jack peck at one of them but they're hangin on. The 2 bichirs just aren't big enough yet for me to tell if they're going to eat them or not. But I do dig snails:)


edit: just for clarification: The tank is still cycling and probably will be for a while longer, which is why I haven't worried about the rocks being close to the walls. Once I add fish I'm going to set them up closer to center where even if they do get knocked over, I won't be risking my glass for it. Then if I decide that its a stable enough structure set up to not worry about it, I'll put it back where I like it in the corner.
 
Its about 1 inch average on top of the eggcrate, so about an inch and a half total.
 
You don't have to mess with the egg crate. If you are worried about your rocks, you could always use some aquarium safe glue/silicone and bind them together.
 
I don't have to mess with it in the sense that I should leave it there, or I don't have to mess with it in the sense that I should take it out and shouldn't have messed with it in the first place?

Silicone: great idea.
 
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