doogy_7

Im getting ready to purchase my live rock piece by piece to slowly start adding it to my fish only tank. I have purchased a protien skimmer to go along with the live rock. Eventually I plan on having enough live rock to eliminate the biomass in the "main" canister filter. Anyways, I have a gravel bed in this tank since it was set up for fish only.

Question is should I buy sand, and add it before adding the live rock? Or just add the live rock in on top of the gravel? Any suggestions?

The goal here is to have the entire backwall of this tank built with live rock. Coral, plantlife, etc. Not worried to much about the prices, I'll space the $$ out over a few months.

Tumbleweed

I would remove the gravel first. If you are planing on having sand in your tank I would add that before the live rock just because that would make it easier.

Redtail_Shark14

you want to remove the gravel, then add the sand so its not a huge deal when your adding live rock. + it makes your job alot easy. lol

fishrule101

I would buy live sand. It help your tank with the pH and helps cure it faster. And it doesn't matter what you add first. I added the live sand first and then the live rock.

NanoAddict

i got sand first, but im not sure in your situation, i would take the gravel out

au01st

If you want to stack high, make sure to clear the sand and put the rock on the glass, then put the sand back around the rock. This keeps burrowing critters from making the base unstable if the rock was supported by the sand and they burrowed under it. You can add sand first, don't get me wrong, but make sure the rock is supported by the glass and not the sand.

Oh, and ditch the gravel, go with sand.

lilFishyfish

Hi, I think you should go with the sand and put it in first. When I used to have my salt tank I did the same sorta thing as far as building up. I got sand and then got bits of live rock every couple days or weeks. (I worked a Fresh and Salt Fish store so I was there about everyday anyway lol). I think a wall of live rock will be awesome!!!!!

nemo addict

live sand ,, you will also get a small cycle everytime you add rock so just keep a eye on ya parameters