Live Rock Then Sand Or Sand Then Live Rock

[FiSh123FiSh]

Hi,

I'm setting my reef up soon and I've seen people's journals of them putting there rock in the tank first and then putting the sand in after.

Common sense is telling me that this is the more stable way of doing things as marine fish especially bottom dwellers are enthusiastic diggers somethimes causing the rocks to fall.

Now the questions

Does the sand reach everywhere in the aquarium floor?

Is it wise not to put the sand in first?

I was planning to have the sand already in the tank before the rock. I would make sure the rock is firmly bedded in would this be okay?

Thanks,

Tom.

 

[seffieuk]

You are right Tom, commonm sense is telling you that rock goes in first and then sand, your common sense is correct

Seffie x

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

So does the sand reach in all areas in between the rock? I can just imagine it filling in the front and nothing else.

 

[seffieuk]

no, you push the round around the rock, but be careful of bristleworms

Seffie x

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

Ah I see. I think I will be using my algae scrape pole for that bit. I've heard about the stings those things give off

EDIT: If I was to wear gloves while scaping are there any you would avoid? I use some for work which have a rubbery palm but cotton top. They seem ideal if there safe

 

[seffieuk]

Must admit I have never worn gloves myself - assume that anything you can use for food handling is safe. However, does bring us on to a good point, make sure you have antihistamin in your medicine cupboard and also tell your family that if you have a major allergic reaction to give you the antihistamin but also call the emergency service asap and tell them you have a marine tank! This all sounds awful but as long as you are careful, wash your hands when they have been in the tank, don't rub your eyes etc, dont put your hands in the tank if you have a cut then you will be fine. I have been stung before, but just took some antihistamin and was fine. i have seen people with blisters from rubbing against anemones or bristleworms Just be careful and you will be fine - I have my hands in the tank at least once a week and i'm still alive.................


Seffie x

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

Thanks Seffie,

I have some antihistamin cream and pills in the cupboard so and I will alert my family members when I under go the deathly aquascaping These gloves are food safe as I work on the fish counter at waitrose so I guess they should be pretty safe

 

[xxBarneyxx]

As Seffie said put the rocks in first, then the sand. Then just push the sand around the rocks.

For the gloves I would use something waterproof as this offers more protection if you have small cuts or nicks on your hands. I would recommend getting some shoulder length gloves and using them whenever you have your hands in the tank. This also protects the tank from anything you might have on your hands.

I got some shoulder length ones from "bettaware" which do the job and wheren't very expensive. Latex or rubber should be fine but you dont want ones with the talc on.

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

Ah okay brilliant

I will have to be careful but I think I will have to risk it and not go with the gloves. It can't be that bad if your stung. I occassionally work for my Dad who's a pest controller and I have been stung many times from treating wasp nests

I have about 18kg (30lbs) worth of substrate. I plan to keep a jaw fish and goby, pistol shrimp pair. These like to burrown and need deep substrate. I am planning 3" of substrate would this be too much or too little? I know the risks of DSB but I love these fish! I have a special facination for them.

 

[Rayne457]

This was a good question to ask. I would have put the sand first lol. Learn something new everyday. I guess another good idea is to zip tie the rocks together so they do not move or fall on my fish.