aquascaping

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by tkhawaja

this is what i will be doing for a new tank setup.

1-check for leaks
2-place tank in its desired location, level tank
3-assemble equipment
4-add water
5-add salt mix, wait 24 hours
6-add live rock
7-add sand or whatever substrate

This way your rock will always have a stable base. With any sort of a sand bed the rock placed on top of the sand can shift due to burrowing critters, causing a rock slide. Not a good thing, even in the smallest aquariums.

If going Tahir's route, add powerheads and heaters after adding the salt to the water. Before adding rock, make sure SG is what you think it is, as it can sometimes shift a bit from the time you add the salt to the time it is all fully dissolved. Turn off powerheads while adding the sandbed to minimize the sand storm.

Also want to amend something from my previous post about snails: Good snails to add are astreas that will clean algae from rock and glass, and nassarius that will eat leftover food and slightly stir the sandbed.