Live rock shouldn't touch sand?

Got detritus? Get a starfish! (not calling them sea stars, not now, not ever)

And Pluto is still a planet in my world, so back off!

 

ahhh man... too funny... and so true!

 

I really don't see how it's possible to have LR and have it NOT touch the sand. Your rock has to touch the sand, unless you go bare bottom or something. In fact, it's even better to put your rock in the tank, THEN add the sand so that the aquascape is structured and not in danger of collapse from any burrowing critters you might have or might buy along the way. We have a shrimp and goby combo that always keeps the sand turning over, and if we didn't have our rock directly on the glass bottom using the sand to hold it in place, our tank would be quite screwed.

Yes, your sand can touch your rock, and the other way around. It's wise to get some sort of cleaning dude to keep your sand sifted and clean.

 

i have seen where they have build stands off the bottom for the rock to create area under them by using the ever popular egg crate at different depths (prob more for the guys who like more or less light)

 

K+ ... this is the reason they say you should have minimal rock touching sand. That zone where your rock is touching crates a dead zone where your bed can't breathe. I am with SoStoudt in saying I would be more worried about detritus build-up. The ocean does have rock on sand but it also has ALOT more open sand areas... if you've ever gone out on the boat and seen bars and bars of sand and seaweed.

To Jwin, you can suspend your rock work with a pvc platform or plexi-glass rods if you HAD TO but IMO, I perfer the "chunk of the reef" look. I would rather not see unattractive plastic in my tank that you other wise wouldn't see in a reef holding that rock up. Here's a link showing a guy who did that same idea:
Tank of the Month - August 2008 - Reefkeeping.com

I have played with the suspension idea and built shelves but when it came down to it I was always removing my frag shelf because "it just didn't fit".