- It allows for better water flow and circulation around the the rocks or rock formations you decide to construct.
- When tank janitors and sand sifters are added to the aquarium, they are more easily able to access not only the area around the base of the rocks, but undereneath as well where excess detritus or organic matter can build-up in the subtrate and lead to high nitrate problems.
It is also a good idea to raise the rocks up if you are going use the aquarium to cure live rock in before actually starting the tank cycling process. Why? Because by having the rocks suspended above the bottom of the tank while the rocks are curing:
- It provides good water flow and circulation around the rocks during the curing procedure.
- It makes it much easier and faster to siphon out the dead or dying organisms that will settle on the bottom of the tank around and underneath the rocks.
- It will prevent any unnecessary excess organic matter from being allowed to accumulate in the substrate, which can lead to brown diatom and other algae bloom problems during and after the tank is cycled.
Ways To Elevate the Rocks
- Use cut pieces of 1/2 to 3/4 inch Schedule 80 (gray) PVC to place the rocks on. The height of the PVC supports should be based on how deep you are planning the substrate bed to be. If targeting one inch, then cut the PVC to about one inch, and so on.
- Build square or rectangular shaped PVC racks or frames to stack and aquascape the rocks on. These can be built to meet the sizes and quantity of rocks you are putting into the aquarium.
