jacksonbm

So I'm getting ready to start my new 125 gallon cichlid tank, so a couple of last questions before I get this tank going, this holey rock can be pretty jagged, and from reading I've found that due to cichlids digging you should set your stones on the tank and then lay substrate. Does anyone know of anything to lay under the rock to prevent the tank from cracking or worse breaking all together.
Second, the stand I have for this tank doesn't have a full top. The tank simply rests on about a 3 inch ledge all the way around the outside. Is this common because I thought with any tank the weight should be evenly distributed across the entire bottom of the tank.

atmmachine816

You can set the rock on eggcrate or pvc piping. Other part I can not be for sure but I think it's ok, the tank itself has braces on it and I don't think the stand usually does.

Isabella

Large tanks have braces (as Atm said) under the bottom glass and over the top. I think they should prevent any disasters with your tank even if you use a lot of rockwork. If you use heavy rocks, just make sure that they won't trip and fall inside your tank and possibly crack the bottom or side glass. When you use heavy objects inside your tank, they should be glued (with aquarium silicone for example) to tank walls or tank's bottom. If your rocks will be jagged, maybe use something underneath them, for example a piece of flat slate? You could glue the jagged rock to a piece of flat slate, burying the slate under the gravel so that it looks like it's not there. Also, tank stands without full tops are just the way tanks stands are. I haven't seen a tank stand with a full top in any fish store so far. So I guess if they're designed this way, they're safe this way.

jacksonbm

Thanks for the replies. Can't wait to get this tank cycled and stocked. I'll post pictures as possible.