[benesh10]

I have a 180 gal reef it has been set up since november 2004. I have my rock set so that it is up against the back of the tank. Now dont get me wrong my reef is doing well. I have leathers, mushrooms, zoos, ricordia, star polyps, tubineria, caulustra, grogonians, pulsing xenia, ( that I have to mow out of my tank like grass if anybody wants some let me know) and a mother colony green bubble tip anemone that has split four times the fourth just last week. Now last night while cruising the sites and looking at multiple tanks I noticed quite a few had there rock just in a pile open on all four sides. Id like to know if this is the proper way or if there is a proper way. I have 2 tunze's 2 mag flows and 2 power return pumps blowing current very nicely through my tank. I just wonder what everyone else is doing as far as there rock set up goes. Oh by the way my tank is 6 ft. long and I have rock from one end to the other if i had to guess 200lbs. thanks in advance for your input.

[teajay33]

i heard that too.. you shouldnt have the rocks touching any of the glass because its hard to clean.. i had mine like that, but i talked to my friend and he has his back on the glass too.. he said who cares man, its not like i'm gonna look at it from back there.. so my newest pieces of live rock went right up against the glass. now the only thing i can think of as far as being bad about against the glass is maybe it will put unwanted pressure on the tank, causing it to give way? if its even possible.. who knows. all the tanks at the LFS i've seen all have live rock against the back.

[jvharding]

It is a Art Form! Express yourself there is no right or wrong way. The problem with rock placement is the dead spots I placed a spraybar behind my rock to eliminate the dead spots that create diatom and nitrates in those areas! Water movement is key to healthy reef!

[RyanG]

This has been moved to the current forum.

[glampka]

I used to have mine against the back glass. Problem with that was fish tended to hide back there. Another problem was if a fish died back there, you had a tough time getting it out. After losing everything when a freak snow storm knocked out power for over a week I went with the center placement. Get better circulation & don't have to worry about cleaning back there.