Can I build a beautiful tank without egg crates?

[Zappy Kiwi]

Hi everyone,

Just like to know is it recommended to have eggcrates and PVC materials to build a higher "stage" to layout the LRs? or is it better to stack LRs?? (I believe the latter is more natural looking) I did a search on eggcrates and have read up on a lot of the old threads in the forums. I gathered that using eggcrates save the amt of LRs used. There also the adv that more sand surface is exposed. But, would the empty gaps behind the LRs(cause by the eggcrate stacking) cause more places for the fishes to hide from view??

Also, is it possible to build beautiful reef tanks without eggcrates? Any experienced reefers here who never used eggcrates, PVC in the aquascaping care to chare some experience? thanks in advance!

I m currently in 2 weeks of my cycling stage. Have approx 13kg LR in my 3ft tank. I have managed to create a stable arch and a cave without use of any epoxy or eggcrate. But I think my current LRs still not enough fot corals. So I intend to put more. I am thinking that if I need do some aquascaping, better to do it now than later.....

[blueheaven]

well, you can look in my tank's thread if you want some ideas

still quite bare though as I want to wait till I'm ready to stock up

[ryz]

I built my rocks structure in my reef tank totally out of rocks... no eggcrates or PVC used at all... However if u are running a DSB you might not wanna do this as it will create many dead spots on the sandbed rendering the DSB inefficient in breaking down the nitrates.

But if you're like me and don't intend to run a DSB in your main tank, then by all means use all liverocks for scaping. Contrary to what u believe, it is easier to scape with all Liverocks than using PVC as base support.

Get some large LRs to be used as base support and build ur rockwork from there...

[patrick123]

I was lucky to get some big LR to stack up for landscape. But I assume you can use eproxy to glue the smaller pieces together to form a large LR base right? So you don't have to use crate or PVC pipe.

[Zappy Kiwi]

Hey guys, thanks for the reply. Yo Blueheaven, you have a really nice setup man. Cool! Hope to see more of ur pics!!

Btw, why can I find big LRs that can fit a 3ft tank? I went to sea life abt a week ago but they dun have big coralline aglae encrusted LRs..

Other than coral farm, are there other places that sells good, nice big, LR?? Coral farm too far from my house....

[Zappy Kiwi]

Also, is it advisable to place LRs resting on the sides of the glass tank when stacking them up?? Sometimes I would purposely place a few LR to rest on the side of the wall to increase the stability... but i wonder is it safe to do so??

[rockfish]

hi kiwi,

by anychance are u a newzealander friend that i noe .. we went to someone else house to buy LR??

okay back to the topic.. if ur tank is strong enuff.. it should be okay .. how thick are the glass...?? 8mm- 10 mm ?? if u have 10 mm glass should be okay ..

[Zappy Kiwi]

hi kiwi,

by anychance are u a newzealander friend that i noe .. we went to someone else house to buy LR??

okay back to the topic.. if ur tank is strong enuff.. it should be okay .. how thick are the glass...?? 8mm- 10 mm ?? if u have 10 mm glass should be okay ..

yo rockfish,

haha.. nope. i am a singaporean. my glass i think ard 6-7mm only... van support the weight?

[AlfaRomeo]

IMHO, glass of about 6-7mm thick should not be used as a marine tank at all. Minimum is 8mm and I will still nlot rest any LR on the glass.

[Marinedisc]

Hey guys, thanks for the reply. Yo Blueheaven, you have a really nice setup man. Cool! Hope to see more of ur pics!!

Btw, why can I find big LRs that can fit a 3ft tank? I went to sea life abt a week ago but they dun have big coralline aglae encrusted LRs..

Other than coral farm, are there other places that sells good, nice big, LR?? Coral farm too far from my house....

Hi u can try Bio Ocean Aquarix. Saw some very nice rocks there.