I've been buying live rock bit by bit for the last few months as budget allows for Dougs 90 gallon tank. All of the live rock I've bought has been fully cured and mostly from serious hobbyists. I've been monitoring the Ammo and Nitrite and no blips at all. I've probably got about 50-60lb now and I have a 50lb box of Nature's Ocean base rock on order for Tuesday. I'm going out to get some aquarium-safe epoxy today. In preparation, I have a few questions...
My plan is to build a "reef" along the back right 2/3 of the tank, coming up to the front of the tank at the far right hand side. That way he'll still have plenty of open space to swim, and to "wind up" and bury himself.
I was wondering about sand under the rock work. Should I move most of the sand out of the way, since I won't be able to reach it to stir it? If so, is there another substrate I should put there (for asthetics and to "block" the sand from creeping back too quickly)?
I picked up a few inexpensive "beginner" soft corals as well. The tank has been up since March but has only recently been full marine, so I don't know if there's much in the water for them to eat, except what might have come in on the rock...what would the gurus recommend adding ?
Everyone says the epoxy is safe for fish and inverts. With puffers being more sensitive, is this still the case? Somewhere recommended turning the skimmer off, I guess to eliminate the possibility of back-flow since the rate if skim might change...good idea?
I plan of moving Doug to a 20g (The one he came in!) for the few hours that I'm working, cuz he stresses when I fuss with the tank even during regular maintenance, but I'd like to move him right back in if possible...
I'm still soooo intimidated by all of this
I will definitely place the rock in contact with the glass, I just meant to ask what I should do as far as substrate *around* the base of the rockwork, not directly under it...