150 Peninsula Tank - How Much TBS Sand and Rock?

[Fish Fan]

Hi guys!

I'm looking for opinions from you guys here, though @LiverockRocks I'd certainly appreciate your help too.

I've order a small quantity of TBS rock and sand previously, so I have some experience, but I am now looking to order enough for a new 150 gallon that should be delivered in a few days.

My specific question is that I want to set this tank up peninsula style and I want to have two or ideally three distinct rock "islands". I wish I had a good picture, but I hope you guys know what I'm talking about for the aquascape. I don't think I'll need as much rock as "typically" recommended for a 150 for this aquascape.

The tank here is an SC Aquariums 150 gallon, it's 60"x24"x24":

150G-GO-P Starfire Aquarium 60x24x24"H 12m Shadow Overflow Peninsula

Features: Size: 60x24x24" L X W X H Starfire Glass 12mm with Eurobraced Peninsula Style Drilled for Synergy 16″ Shadow® Overflow V3 2500 GPH Two return holes drilled (2 x 1" Bulkheads included)

www.empirebilliards.com

For the sand, I don't think I want to skimp. I like the TBS sand, and want a good 2" sand bed. I had been thinking between 100-150 pounds, when I saw on their website it's a 120 pound max/customer, so I'm thinking 120 pounds of sand.

The rock I'm not sure, largely because of the aquascape I want, but I was thinking maybe 50 pounds base rock and 50 pounds premium rock. I can always add som dry rock I have on hand, but I'd prefer to go all TBS if I can. I'm also going to ship the base rock and sand first, and the premium rock some time after, so I could order more base rock with the premium rock if needed.

Does 50 pounds each of base rock and premium rock seem like a good way to go for my tank, or would you maybe do more premium rock and less base rock? Or something else?

Opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks guys!

 

[fishywishy]

If you’re want an “island” rockscape, I think 50 lbs of LR and base rock combined would be more than enough. I have an “island-like” rockscape and used about 1/3 of the rock per gallon of water. Of course, your specific design might vary.

Personally, I’d use 30–40 lbs of live rock and about 60–70 lbs of base rock. If you’re worried about unwanted hitchhikers, you won’t have as many, and you save a lot of money on LR since all the beneficial stuff from the LR will naturally transfer to the base rock over time anyway.

 

[Fish Fan]

If you’re want an “island” rockscape, I think 50 lbs of LR and base rock combined would be more than enough. I have an “island-like” rockscape and used about 1/3 of the rock per gallon of water. Of course, your specific design might vary.

Personally, I’d use 30–40 lbs of live rock and about 60–70 lbs of base rock. If you’re worried about unwanted hitchhikers, you won’t have as many, and you save a lot of money on LR since all the beneficial stuff from the LR will naturally transfer to the base rock over time anyway.

Thanks for your reply!

I'm not worried about hitchhikers at all, I've used the TBS products before. And I'm looking really to use all TBS rock here, not any base rock, though I have some on hand if I need it.

Good to hear that as I expected I won't need anywhere near the "typical" amount of rock usually advised. With that in mind, I'm still leaning towards the 50/50 since I want quite a bit of rock in my sump and I have other places I can use it if it's too much for my new tank. I don't want to over buy, but some extra certainly won't go to waste.

 

[X-37B]

This is my 59×30×22.
It has 150lbs GLR for reference.
This amount would make 3 nice islands.

 

[Fish Fan]

This is my 59×30×22.
It has 150lbs GLR for reference.
This amount would make 3 nice islands.

Thank you! That's 150 pounds of rock total? From Gulf Live Rocks (very similar to the TBS rock I want to use)?

So maybe I need more than 100 pounds of total rock?

 

[X-37B]

Thank you! That's 150 pounds of rock total? From Gulf Live Rocks (very similar to the TBS rock I want to use)?

So maybe I need more than 100 pounds of total rock?

Yea 150lbs of the premium. No need for base, imo.

 

[Fish Fan]

Yea 150lbs of the premium. No need for base, imo.

Really?

The one time I've used their stuff it was about 7 pounds each of base rock and premium rock, and about 12 pounds of sand. I ordered and shipped both at the same time, and had a lot of issues early with ammonia spikes.

This time, I was going to order everything now, but ship the sand and base rock first, then the premium rock a month or so later, which is how they recommend that you do it.

You would just start the tank with all premium rock and sand?

Thanks!

 

[X-37B]

Really?

The one time I've used their stuff it was about 7 pounds each of base rock and premium rock, and about 12 pounds of sand. I ordered and shipped both at the same time, and had a lot of issues early with ammonia spikes.

This time, I was going to order everything now, but ship the sand and base rock first, then the premium rock a month or so later, which is how they recommend that you do it.

You would just start the tank with all premium rock and sand?

Thanks!

I have only ordered premium whenever I have used live.
I did my ext 50 with 35lbs of rock with live sand from the lfs with zero issues.
Their method works well also but I have never used their live rock.

 

[Fish Fan]

I have only ordered premium whenever I have used live.
I did my ext 50 with 35lbs of rock with live sand from the lfs with zero issues.
Their method works well also but I have never used their live rock.

OK, but to be clear, when you said GLR previously, you mean these guys:

Gulf Live Rock.com

Gulf Live Rock Specializing in wholesale and retail sales of Aquacultured Live Rock and live sand at direct from the diver prices. Free Shipping! coral reeftank

gulfliverock.com

And you've used the premium rock from GLR (not rock your LFS) to start a brand new tank?

TBS specifically advises not to start a brand new tank with premium rock, that's why I'm asking.

 

[X-37B]

OK, but to be clear, when you said GLR previously, you mean these guys:

Gulf Live Rock.com

Gulf Live Rock Specializing in wholesale and retail sales of Aquacultured Live Rock and live sand at direct from the diver prices. Free Shipping! coral reeftank

gulfliverock.com

And you've used the premium rock from GLR (not rock your LFS) to start a brand new tank?

TBS specifically advises not to start a brand new tank with premium rock, that's why I'm asking.

Yep heres the current thread.
Thread 'EXT 170 Build' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ext-170-build.1028084/

 

[Fish Fan]

Cool, I'll check that out, and I just wanted to be sure ;-)

Thanks again for your help!