What comes first, rock or the sand?

[musho3210]

What comes first, live rock or sand? (in case its needed, not a dsb, no plenum, for a tank of 20 gallons, reef, 2-3 inches)

[USCavalry19d]

Usually i put the sand in first then as i put the rock in i move it around until i feel it hit the bottom of the tank. This is done so little critters like gobies or jawfish etc wont topple the rock over and potentially break the glass in the tank.

[Germanman]

sometimes the rock first on a sheet of soft material if the tank is glass, this is done to prevent digging fish from toppling rock structure then the sand is pored between the base structure and the other rock is then added. but sand first works to depends on fish u keep.

[5xevy]

Back in the day my LFS taught me to put the sand in second to make sure the LR is secure. The only thing I didn't like about this is that lots of sand would land, and stay, on my rock. I'm sure if you do what USCavalry mentioned, it should be fine. :)

[musho3210]

sometimes the rock first on a sheet of soft material if the tank is glass, this is done to prevent digging fish from toppling rock structure then the sand is pored between the base structure and the other rock is then added. but sand first works to depends on fish u keep.

what material should i use? And the tank will have clownfish and thats it. (along with a clean up crew that i am yet to decide)

[Germanman]

usually its just a sheet of plastic or sometime latex mesh or just a mesh to kinda keep the rock from making pressure points on the glass.

[musho3210]

egg crate?

[Germanman]

egg crate?
would become more of a plenum then...but not quite...its like a fine plastic layer...all u need.