Egg crate under rock

fishkeeprian · 02/06/2018, 01:50 AM

Do I really need egg create under my rock structures if it is stable on the glass bottom?

I will be getting a Coris Wrasse in the near future and was worried about sharp edges and corners on the egg crate when the wrasse decides to take a nose dive into the sand.

Any advice?

Thank you.

mcgyvr · 02/06/2018, 05:42 AM

No you absolutely do not need it..
It serves no real purpose at all..

RobZilla04 · 02/06/2018, 05:49 AM

^ Yup - I don't have any under mine. No issues at all.

ReefkeeperZ · 02/06/2018, 06:40 AM

Ive never used it.

billdogg · 02/06/2018, 07:19 AM

I used it on my Eel's tank just to protect the bottom from rockfalls, but at nearly 4', he could easily move even the larger rocks in the system. I ended up having rock only on the bottom - nothing stacked at all.

For all my other tanks over the years I've never bothered with it. Many swear by it, but at least IMO, if you build your structures soundly there really is not reason for it.

RockOn681 · 02/06/2018, 09:11 AM

I use PVC rings I cut to fit under points of the rock. It takes up less space then the eggcrate and if you really want the rock to sit a certain way you can cut it thinner or thicker.

Deep Reef · 02/06/2018, 04:35 PM

Don’t use it. I did on my last tank and had issues with detritus build up and high nitrate. My new tank I went with abs plastic. Some folks use star board available in some Home Depot. Abs is used by quit a few builders in their composite tank bottoms

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oldhead · 02/07/2018, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockOn681

I use PVC rings I cut to fit under points of the rock. It takes up less space then the eggcrate and if you really want the rock to sit a certain way you can cut it thinner or thicker.

I did this on my first tank, My current tank has the rock on the glass.

Drblakjak55 · 02/07/2018, 10:34 AM

Never used egg crate. I built the base with those two foot long, two inch diameter coral branch pieces from Florida. The rocks sit nicely on this frame. Love my Coris

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rfgonzo · 02/07/2018, 10:17 PM

I've used eggcrate and also not used it. No difference IMO as far as health of reef tank but it did save my a$$ one time when I was aquascaping and dropped a 40 lb rock.

avery155 · 02/07/2018, 10:34 PM

I like to use it just because it seems to give the rock points something to bite into, may not be a problem after you add sand but helps rock from sliding around when starting to aquascpe.

rocsec1 · 02/08/2018, 08:22 PM

I didn’t on the first. On my current tank I used it. I have two columns of rock from the bottom to the top of the tank,a 4 foot 120. I just wanted some extra anchoring for the columns.

foreverreef · 02/09/2018, 09:24 PM

I use it in my big tank. More for my own good. Trying to re-aquascape a 42" deep tank is tough at times. With the egg crate it seems to hold the rock structure better for me. In my smaller tank where I can reach the bottom.of the tank I do not have egg crate however. Either way seems to work just as well. I do find myself working with the rocks iny small tank more than the big tank...not sure if it's the egg crate or it just being easier in the smaller tank.

Bent · 02/10/2018, 09:18 AM

I didn’t put it on the bottom of my old 55g.

The bottom broke after 8 months. Water everywhere.

sirclintler · 02/12/2018, 08:36 AM

I used egg crate 2 yrs ago, now wanting to go bb, wish I would have never put it in

hearttx · 02/12/2018, 11:10 AM

I had it in my 1st tank and not in my 2nd. I notice no difference and I am not worried about falling rock.

thegrun · 02/12/2018, 09:00 PM

I use it on all my tanks (with sand) to help anchor the rocks in place. I suppose it helps protect the bottom of the tank but the main reason I use it is to keep rocks from moving around due to the pressure exerted from shifting sand and the rocks piled on top of the base rocks. I've taken down two tanks that were over 5 years old and the sand was just as clean between the egg crate as above it. I don't buy into the "it traps detritus" myth at all.

mav3rick478 · 02/12/2018, 11:42 PM

I use a piece of acrylic and it doesn't bother my wrasse at all.

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Mknuwet · 02/16/2018, 07:16 AM

I’ve used both eggcrate and pvc. Neither is needed

FoxFace Fish · 02/16/2018, 11:20 AM

Careful if you do they sharp!!

02/06/2018, 01:50 AM	#1
fishkeeprian Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: England, Earl Shilton Posts: 1,452	Egg crate under rock Do I really need egg create under my rock structures if it is stable on the glass bottom? I will be getting a Coris Wrasse in the near future and was worried about sharp edges and corners on the egg crate when the wrasse decides to take a nose dive into the sand. Any advice? Thank you.

02/06/2018, 05:42 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	No you absolutely do not need it.. It serves no real purpose at all.. __________________ Who me?

02/06/2018, 05:49 AM	#3
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	^ Yup - I don't have any under mine. No issues at all. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

02/06/2018, 06:40 AM	#4
ReefkeeperZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 392	Ive never used it. __________________ insert witty catchphrase here

02/06/2018, 07:19 AM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I used it on my Eel's tank just to protect the bottom from rockfalls, but at nearly 4', he could easily move even the larger rocks in the system. I ended up having rock only on the bottom - nothing stacked at all. For all my other tanks over the years I've never bothered with it. Many swear by it, but at least IMO, if you build your structures soundly there really is not reason for it. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

02/06/2018, 09:11 AM	#6
RockOn681 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Bloomingdale, IL Posts: 326	I use PVC rings I cut to fit under points of the rock. It takes up less space then the eggcrate and if you really want the rock to sit a certain way you can cut it thinner or thicker.

02/06/2018, 04:35 PM	#7
Deep Reef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 1,192	Don’t use it. I did on my last tank and had issues with detritus build up and high nitrate. My new tank I went with abs plastic. Some folks use star board available in some Home Depot. Abs is used by quit a few builders in their composite tank bottoms Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Deep Reef ~Greg~ 150g DT, (2)AI Hydra 52 HD's, Vertex Omega 150 skimmer, jebao 1200DC main pump, Trigger Systems Sapphire 34 sump, (2) Ecotech WP40wQD, Tunze ATO, Apex Current Tank Info: 150g Reef

02/07/2018, 10:34 AM	#9
Drblakjak55 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 183	Never used egg crate. I built the base with those two foot long, two inch diameter coral branch pieces from Florida. The rocks sit nicely on this frame. Love my Coris Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

02/07/2018, 10:17 PM	#10
rfgonzo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,280	I've used eggcrate and also not used it. No difference IMO as far as health of reef tank but it did save my a$$ one time when I was aquascaping and dropped a 40 lb rock. __________________ 210 gal reef, 75 gal Refuge with 55 Gal sump mixed reef 100 gal Reef, 75 gal Refuge with 55 gal sump. SPS/LPS & 100 gal Japanese Dragon Moray eel tank with 40 gal sump 75 gal Brazilian Dragon Mor

02/07/2018, 10:34 PM	#11
avery155 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: South of Pittsburgh Posts: 79	I like to use it just because it seems to give the rock points something to bite into, may not be a problem after you add sand but helps rock from sliding around when starting to aquascpe.

02/08/2018, 08:22 PM	#12
rocsec1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Medina oh Posts: 1,782	I didn’t on the first. On my current tank I used it. I have two columns of rock from the bottom to the top of the tank,a 4 foot 120. I just wanted some extra anchoring for the columns.

02/09/2018, 09:24 PM	#13
foreverreef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Underwater Posts: 309	I use it in my big tank. More for my own good. Trying to re-aquascape a 42" deep tank is tough at times. With the egg crate it seems to hold the rock structure better for me. In my smaller tank where I can reach the bottom.of the tank I do not have egg crate however. Either way seems to work just as well. I do find myself working with the rocks iny small tank more than the big tank...not sure if it's the egg crate or it just being easier in the smaller tank. __________________ Hi my name is Ken, and i'm a reef addict... my wife told me size mattered...I'm not sure 1000+gallons of salt water is what she meant! Current Tank Info: 1000g display LEDs. Refugium and a few other goodeis

02/10/2018, 09:18 AM	#14
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	I didn’t put it on the bottom of my old 55g. The bottom broke after 8 months. Water everywhere. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

02/12/2018, 08:36 AM	#15
sirclintler Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Indiana Posts: 267	I used egg crate 2 yrs ago, now wanting to go bb, wish I would have never put it in

02/12/2018, 11:10 AM	#16
hearttx Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 75	I had it in my 1st tank and not in my 2nd. I notice no difference and I am not worried about falling rock.

02/12/2018, 09:00 PM	#17
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I use it on all my tanks (with sand) to help anchor the rocks in place. I suppose it helps protect the bottom of the tank but the main reason I use it is to keep rocks from moving around due to the pressure exerted from shifting sand and the rocks piled on top of the base rocks. I've taken down two tanks that were over 5 years old and the sand was just as clean between the egg crate as above it. I don't buy into the "it traps detritus" myth at all.

02/12/2018, 11:42 PM	#18
mav3rick478 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: California Posts: 888	I use a piece of acrylic and it doesn't bother my wrasse at all. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

02/16/2018, 07:16 AM	#19
Mknuwet Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 88	I’ve used both eggcrate and pvc. Neither is needed

02/16/2018, 11:20 AM	#20
FoxFace Fish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 435	Careful if you do they sharp!! __________________ FoxFace RabbitFish For Life Everyone in this hobby has made a mistake at least once. Be smart and learn from others mistakes Current Tank Info: Reason I am broke as a joke