Do I put a thin layer of sand under my rocks?

[Humuhumununu]

I want to know if I should put a thin layer of sand under my Pukani aquascape so that it won't scrape up the bottom of the tank. I know that if I add too much sand under the rocks it may have a tendency to be unstable, so I was thinking of only putting a centimeter. Is it a good idea or will it really matter at all? The rock is actually fairly stable on its own, but the last thing I need to happen is to have the formation to fall over and crush corals that are on the top. My aquascape is 2 feet tall, and is in a wall formation with at least 120 pounds ( if not more) of rock.

 

[Bifferwine]

I wouldn't put any sand underneath it. Who cares if the bottom glass gets scratched, you can't see it. :)

 

[RockStacker]

I would not put rocks on top of a sand bed.
If you want to have sand, put the rocks directly on the glass floor first, then pour the sand around the rocks.

You are right in thinking that the rocks will shift if the sand bed moves (and sand WILL move).
The last thing you want is the sand shifting under the rocks and compromise the structure.

One or two pieces of small rocks on top of the sand it ok. But don't do it if the rock is part of a larger rockscape.

 

[austingunkel]

No sand and unless it's a bare bottom tank who cares about bottom glass