To eggcrate or not

[wmatt140]

Hoping to start aquascaping the new build soon. Should I line the bottom with eggcrate before placing the rock?

Either way I’ll finish with a sand bed. I do have a Pistol shrimp that will move into the new setup if that makes a difference.

Thanks

 

[exnisstech]

Sand or bare bottom I've always set rocks on the glass.
Some people put a piece of starboard down but I've never felt the need.

 

[Biokabe]

It doesn't hurt and sometimes helps. You definitely want your rocks resting on something other than sand, and the eggcrate gets them off of direct contact with the glass. It doesn't usually matter much, but it's an extra bit of peace-of-mind. Though if you're going bare-bottom I'd recommend starboard over eggcrate just for aesthetics.

 

[RedReefer]

I have star board under my sand and rock. It's up to you. I wouldn't put rocks touching glass unless it was 3/4" minimum thickness...

 

[wmatt140]

My tank is 3/4" glass.

I wasn't sure if it would have any issue with sand as a biological component of the tank. Those little squares seems like they may be trash collectors.

So I'm leaning towards rock first, directly on glass, then sand.