Morning
I am checking to see the opinion of tank bottom protection. I currently have a 75 gallon tank with 100 lbs of pebble, graded from 3 inches at back to 1.5 inch @ front, the idea was that the "feces" would gather at the front. Then I had a PH level problem and solved it by adding 100 lbs of coral rocks. The tank has about 40 Malawi Cichlids of various types. I do approx. 20% water change every 10 days. The tank is great, the fish are great, but I have had concerns from people here about rock and weight.

So I have purchased a used 90 Gal tank, with a dozen Cichlids in it. I plan on moving it here this week. So I figure it would be the right time to change the tank up, put in any kind of support inside the on bottom of the tank to protect the glass.
I have read that styrofoam in the bottom first, then rocks, then substrate that you plan on using.

Also read that plastic grate from Home Depot on bottom then rock, then substrate.

Being that Cichlids are real diggers I hear, I would like to get it right the first time.

Has anyone used either, and regretted it?
Does anyone know of a better solution, other than not using rock.

Thanks
JD

Hey JD, I recently set up my 125 gallon tank and I used eggcrate or "light
diffuser" panels and cut them to fit the bottom of the tank. Then I placed my
pool filter sand over the eggcrate and then added my rocks.

So far, nearly 2 months now, I have no regrets.

When fitting the eggcrate, don't try to make it so tight that it lays on the silicone
sealing.

I'm sure there will be other opinions, but this is what most people use if they are
concerned about the weight and sharpness of the rockwork.

I've never used anything and I've had 100's of pounds of rocks in my tank, that being said, I've read about people using the eggcrate and not being happy with when their fish dug up whatever substrate they were using exposing the eggcrate.

JD, I have light diffuser on the bottom of some of my tanks and nothing in the others.

I like the diffuser because it "holds" the rocks in place -- they just seem to be more stable. I also like it in the tank that I have lace rock in because the sharp, uneven points are not resting directly on the glass.

Like preacherboy, I don't have it too fitted.

I've never had any problems using it.

My fish do dig and expose it sometimes, but I just cover it right back up and make them start all over again. Tres Bien!

In the tank that I have black sand as the substrate, I just painted the diffuser black to match so it won't be as noticeable.

Hi

So this egg shell diffuser, is it the plastic solid clear cover that is over florescent lights. Or is it the kind that is boxes and you can stick your finger throgh it?
LOL sounds crazy reading this but not sure which you are referring to.

As for painting, I thought it was taboo to paint anything and put it in the tank?
Is there a special paint?

I appreciate all your suggestions.

JD

What are you trying to prevent? I dont use anything to protect the bottom of the tanks I have, the glass on the bottom of tanks is very strong.

It's the boxes that you can stick your finger through.

I don't think it's a necessity and I don't have it in all of my tanks, but it doesn't hurt anything being there. I know others have used styrofoam and sheets of acrylic as well. That bottom glass is really strong and it would take a pretty catastrophic event or really bad luck to break it.

For paint, I use Krylon® Fusion paint for plastic. I've painted all of my filter intake tubes, and a fake rock decoration that the paint was fading off of and that one piece of eggcrate. I let it cure for a day or two before adding the item to the tank.

Well,,,, Hmmmm ,,,

I 've never used anything on the bottoms of my tanks either. The biggest tank I had ever used was a 55 gal. worry wart!

JD,,,hope whatever you choose to do,,you get some pic of this set up. Tres Bien!


AP.

Though I have never used anythin in or under my tank other than rocks and substrate I have read of people using a styrofoam sheet under the tank to try to keep the stresses even on the tank bottom. If you think about it the eggcrate provides no structiral integrity to the glass bottom. IMO Maybe I'm missing something? Hmmmm

I don't think the styrofoam under the tank is a very good idea especially if it's a thick piece. I don't think there's any real reason for styro under the tank at all, as long as your stand is level your good!

I have used both the egg crate under rocks in my tanks and styrofoam under large tanks. The eggcrate is so that the rocks weight is more evenly distributed over a larger area. The eggcrate will also keep "diggers" from exposing the bottom glass. If you are using white sand, it wont even be that noticable. The eggcrate can also help with those "accidents" that happen when you have wet hands, wet rocks and human fingers. We have all dropped a rock or two over the years when removing them from the tank...eggcrate will negate some of the force from the dropping rock. The styrofoam under big tanks is because no matter how well constructed your house is, it is unlevel in some places. Also the house can settle over time causing the floor to become uneven. The styrofoam allows the tank to settle evenly on the stand without putting undo stress on the joins. I know, I know, the silicone used to construct the tank gives just a little in the instances...but for minimal money you can make sure the stresses are evenly spread out. Neither of these items cost very much, and for the benifits they represent; its a cheap form of insurance from mishaps weither you really believe they work or you dont.

Thanks All

The egg crate I will go ahead with, if I can find some
here in North Bay, Hopefully it will be at home depot.
Styrofoam, I thought was inside the tank, under the rocks?
I think I will check to see if I can get some as well.
Can hurt, and might help.

Appreciate all the input, and will take some pics and
post them later this week.

Good Health

JD

Well, I have lost two tanks by NOT adding something under the heavy rocks. All it takes is one small piece of gravel under the bottom rock and the whole weight will concentrate at than point. This will cause the bottom glass to crack from one end to the next. Not much fun.................

Here is what I do: http://www.buntbarsch.ca/index_files/Page704.htm

Well said, Mongo, my man!

And I have seen Klaus' example from his website, and you can't
go wrong with his excellent imput into this subject!

Good luck and Home Depot should have these items in the lighting section.

ive never used anything but sand and shells for the bottom of my tanks.
no egg crates, no foamy things, nothing.

but i got small tanks so that mmight be why. i probably be on the safe side if the tank is going to be big.

better safe then sorry!

Like Aura and PB, I followed Klaus' guidance and have placed eggcrate (plastic flourescent light cover sheet, with little open boxes you can stick your finger through). I trim it to fit without presssuring the silicone.

My local Home Depot and OSH did not have the kind you could stick your finger through, but a big lumber yard and hardwarte place did have it. It costs about $16 US for a 24"x36" sheet here.

When they're nest building my fish sometimes expose the eggcrate, but I recover it while siphoning at the next water change and it's not a big deal.

Wear goggles when you cut it to shape -- I use scissors and the sheets I get often have sharp plastic fly at supersonic speeds from the point of the cut.

Hope this helps!

the egg crate is more of a precaution, i have never used it, but i recoment using it in any tanks with thin glass. I have 150 lbs of sand in my 220g, with about 300+ LBS of rock, never had any problems and i have had this going for over a year with no styro or eggcrate. If you have any doubts though, you may want to use it if not for the tank, but to settle your own nerves.
Brad

Morning...
I have the 90 Gal tank, transported it with 1/2 inch water and substrate, took out everything else. took about 20-30 gal of the water from the tank where it was set up and put it in a Rubber Maid tub, and put the cichlids in the tub. Left the water in the xp3 filtering system. What a pain the the butt to get that running again. Wow!! Brought the tank home, cleaned up some of the algae on the glass.
I first attempted to shift the substrate to the front of the tank and put in the grate.


Could not get it to work through the substrate at the front of the tank.


Scooped it all out and then put in the grate.

Added the lava rock and slate

added water and fish



The water has cleared and no fish lost. One of the cichlids must have had a mouth full of fry because I now have 10 fry in the tank as well.

I will alway add the grate from now on as it was much easier to get the rocks to sit stable.

I have added a bubble curtain to the back and will post a current pic when I have the time.

Thanks for your input.

Good Health

JD

No fish lost in the set up..... Bonus

the Clap

Great job, JD! the Clap

I'm glad you went with the eggcrate and now you won't have to worry about
a shift in rock from cracking the bottom of the tank! Cloud 9

Now for the sides of the tank, you're on your own! Giggly

Glad you lost no fish as well! the Clap

Looking forward to seeing some pics when it clears up a bit, too! Now this should be good!

Great job,,,,glad it worked out for you.

What kind of fry????

If I can be honest,,,and this is only what I would do.
Take that big red plant and switch it with a smaller green one. May open up the middle more. JUST MY OPINION.


Looks good otherwise!!!!!!! Tres Bien!


AP.

looks real good!

Guess you dont necessarily need to cycle a cichlid tank for weeks Tres Bien!

glad that it worked out. In larger than 55 I add eggcrete. I know most think that it is worthless, but I have seen plenty of large tanks bottoms break. When setting up a tank with hundreds of pounds of rock stacked on top of each other why not be safe? I would rather be safe. I know most have not had a problem, but big tank equals lots of water on floor.

Afternoon...

Preacherboy, still no new pics, I added 20 Lbs of Crushed Coral, as it needed more substrate on the bottom. Rised it well, but it still made the water murky, so waiting till that clears, and then will post more pics.

Albino, not sure what kind they are, they have vertical strips, and are long and slender. I'm not sure what I have for fish in the tank. I am a novice at this, and have dove head first LOL. There are some very dark almost black ones, I again will post some pics of who I think was the mother of the fry.

Les, I hope not, I have been adding Bio Support (Big Als) as directed. and I had the XP3 full of water from the original tank. I also put about 20 Gals from the Original tank back into the tank with the fish. Hope that works.

Mike, My first tank (75 gal) put 100 lbs of pea stone, and then 100 lbs of coral, no grate, but there is a good buffer of stone. I hope that suffices, cause I don't plan on changing that, unless I have to move the tank.

Question - does anyone know anything about Sponge Rock. I bought a nice big stone from the LFS, and now I'm wondering if it is okay to put into this tank.
I can't seem to find much reference to putting this type of stone in cichlid tanks.
Any suggestions or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for you input.

Is it tuffa? other than being sharp I have used it.