inexpensive support for LR reef safe?

[TekCat]

I do not want sea creatures to rearrange things inside the tank, so I plan
to use something inexpensive (relative to live rock) as a support plate
buried in the sand. Are granite/marble flat rocks reef safe?

[Charles Spitzer]

"TekCat" > wrote in message
...
>I do not want sea creatures to rearrange things inside the tank, so I plan
> to use something inexpensive (relative to live rock) as a support plate
> buried in the sand. Are granite/marble flat rocks reef safe?

yes, although the marble may affect your ph. it's limestone.

[Wayne Sallee]

It's calcium carbonate. Might be beneficial to the ph, but
I don't see any reason it would rase it too high.

Wayne Sallee


Charles Spitzer wrote:
> "TekCat" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>I do not want sea creatures to rearrange things inside the tank, so I plan
>>to use something inexpensive (relative to live rock) as a support plate
>>buried in the sand. Are granite/marble flat rocks reef safe?
>
>
> yes, although the marble may affect your ph. it's limestone.
>
>

[TekCat]

"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> It's calcium carbonate. Might be beneficial to the ph, but I don't see any
> reason it would rase it too high.

So, should I avoid limestone or not? Is there a proportion such as lbs of
limestone per gallons of water that is "recommended"?

[Wayne Sallee]

Personaly I would use dry base rock and put the sand
around it,and put the live rock on top of the base rock.

Are you trying to cover the whole bottom? Are you putting
sand in the bottom?

Also for little different style of rock bottom, look at
http://waynesallee.com/makereefcementtank.htm

Wayne Sallee


TekCat wrote:
> "Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
> nk.net...
>
>>It's calcium carbonate. Might be beneficial to the ph, but I don't see any
>>reason it would rase it too high.
>
>
> So, should I avoid limestone or not? Is there a proportion such as lbs of
> limestone per gallons of water that is "recommended"?
>
>

[George Patterson]

TekCat wrote:

> So, should I avoid limestone or not?

Limestone is fine -- it will boost the Ph of the water. Dolomite (a variety of
limestone) is sometimes recommended as a substrate in FO tanks.

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

[TekCat]

What I am trying to avoid is that the not-flat base rocks would create a
pressure point on glass tank bottom.
I have 3" sand bed, IMO if I put flat support structure and put another 1"
or so of sand on top then what I acomplish is that
- the weight of rock structure on top would distribute more evenly
- have more LR or base rock stability
- wont loose a few inches of LR under the sand
- force sand below flat rocks to receive less oxygen for denitrification




"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> Personaly I would use dry base rock and put the sand around it,and put the
> live rock on top of the base rock.
>
> Are you trying to cover the whole bottom? Are you putting sand in the
> bottom?
>

[TekCat]

Thanks George.

"George Patterson" > wrote in message
news:%NVYe.184$tX3.7@trndny06...
> TekCat wrote:
>
>> So, should I avoid limestone or not?
>
> Limestone is fine -- it will boost the Ph of the water. Dolomite (a
> variety of limestone) is sometimes recommended as a substrate in FO tanks.
>
> George Patterson
> Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
> use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

[Wayne Sallee]

I see, yea that will be fine.

Also that link that I gave you also creates that same effect.

But yes that will be fine. The marble won't be a problem.

Wayne Sallee


TekCat wrote:
> What I am trying to avoid is that the not-flat base rocks would create a
> pressure point on glass tank bottom.
> I have 3" sand bed, IMO if I put flat support structure and put another 1"
> or so of sand on top then what I acomplish is that
> - the weight of rock structure on top would distribute more evenly
> - have more LR or base rock stability
> - wont loose a few inches of LR under the sand
> - force sand below flat rocks to receive less oxygen for denitrification
>
>
>
>
> "Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
> ink.net...
>
>>Personaly I would use dry base rock and put the sand around it,and put the
>>live rock on top of the base rock.
>>
>>Are you trying to cover the whole bottom? Are you putting sand in the
>>bottom?
>>
>
>
>
>

[TekCat]

Yep, I looked at the link. Pretty creative stuff. Thanks alot :)


"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
ink.net...
>I see, yea that will be fine.
>
> Also that link that I gave you also creates that same effect.
>
> But yes that will be fine. The marble won't be a problem.
>
> Wayne Sallee
>
>
> TekCat wrote:
>> What I am trying to avoid is that the not-flat base rocks would create a
>> pressure point on glass tank bottom.
>> I have 3" sand bed, IMO if I put flat support structure and put another
>> 1" or so of sand on top then what I acomplish is that
>> - the weight of rock structure on top would distribute more evenly
>> - have more LR or base rock stability
>> - wont loose a few inches of LR under the sand
>> - force sand below flat rocks to receive less oxygen for denitrification
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
>> ink.net...
>>
>>>Personaly I would use dry base rock and put the sand around it,and put
>>>the live rock on top of the base rock.
>>>
>>>Are you trying to cover the whole bottom? Are you putting sand in the
>>>bottom?
>>>
>>
>>
>>

[Billy]

"TekCat" > wrote in message
...

You just used "inexpensive" and "reef" in the same sentence....funny!

[Chris Gentry]

"TekCat" > wrote in message
...
> What I am trying to avoid is that the not-flat base rocks would create a
> pressure point on glass tank bottom.

You can also avoid a pressure spot on the glass by putting in a thin piece
of acrylic on your tank bottom.

[Boomer]

As has been pointed out limestone is fine. Most limestone's are just Calcite rather than
Aragonite ( corals , shells etc...), although at one time it was Aragonite, that has just
been altered during fossilization and is devoid or Strontium. The only real issue with
limestone, in a reef tanks, is when it is used in a reactor, as some grades are high in
phosphate. There may be a slight initial rise in the pH. This won't last long as and sand
or base will get coated with bacteria/organics and will have no effect on pH, unless
_maybe_ the pH falls below its "pH floor", which is highly unlikely.

--
Boomer

Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php


Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up


"TekCat" > wrote in message
...
:
: "Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
: nk.net...
: > It's calcium carbonate. Might be beneficial to the ph, but I don't see any
: > reason it would rase it too high.
:
: So, should I avoid limestone or not? Is there a proportion such as lbs of
: limestone per gallons of water that is "recommended"?
:
:

[Marc Levenson]

Would you consider using 2" or 3" diameter PVC pieces as small pillars?
You cut them so they are just tall enough to stay hidden in your sand
bed, and place them strategically so that your LR is fully supported at
various points by these hidden pillars.

The weight is distributed over the PVC pillars.

If you fear the bottom of the tank isn't strong enough, put a plywood
sheet on the top of your stand, and add a sheet of 3/4" rigid foam.
Place the tank on that and the base will be fully supported.

Marc


TekCat wrote:
> I do not want sea creatures to rearrange things inside the tank, so I plan
> to use something inexpensive (relative to live rock) as a support plate
> buried in the sand. Are granite/marble flat rocks reef safe?
>
>

--
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