Protection under substrate.

PM'd on this one

 

I used PVC rings like this Alex, but only on the right hand side of the tank. By the time I was done with that side, I was so sick of fighting the rings while playing with the rock puzzle, the left side rock work went directly on the glass. No care!

 

I've used 1/4" acrylic under my sand bed. Always worked well for me, and little chance of a fish harpooning themselves on an edge...much more with eggcrate.

 

ok thanks for all he input guys! I found a sheet of 1/8" HDPE (starboard) for 6 bucks locally so I'm just going to use that to make me feel better lol. These pieces are HEAVY I have a couple positioned on eggcrate in the tank... and it was TERRIFYING putting them in thinking about dropping or them disintegrating. Turns out $6 and 45 minutes of work is worth it to make my crazy thoughts go away.

As for trapping stuff under it... I read alot of BB threads and even people who dont silicone it down say there is nothing that really gets under it, and it will have sand on top too.

 

these are my smaller islands

 

looks really nice ingtar! I'm glad you went with what will make you feel the most calm - whether there's reason to angst or not, if you are - it's not worth it to not do what you want to do -----hope that made sense

 

not at all... but this is coming from the guy with night terrors about flooding overflows wi take THAT with a grain of salt. Thanks for the compliment. SHin just helped me assemble my last island, know as "GIGANTOR!" so in 22 hours everything will be placed, plumbing will be set, and god willing we'll be wet!

 

Awesome Alex. Looks fantastic.8)