eggcrate tile
 

is eggcrate tile under the sand bed a must to help distribute the weight of the live rock?
i mean its not a problem if i have to buy it, im just curious what everyone else uses..

eggcrate or no eggcrate, that is the question.

I have it under my sand. The main reason is to make sure that rock that would be placed on the bottom glass wont crack the tank. It also helps just in case a rock falls, since the eggcrate supports it, and it wouldnt hit the glass.

I use the egg crate too. It allows the rock to be up off the bottom glass, yet still supported underneath so that burrowing fish and inverts dont undermine the rockwork. It also serves to distribute the weight of the rock.

I'd say if you can get it, there's no reason not to use it.

Is there any maintenance involved with having it as opposed to not having it?

(since there is no lateral movement of water along the lowest 1/2" of the sand)

you are actually going to want either less then 1 inch of sand OR 4 to 6 inches of sand ( or even bare bottom/no sand ) anything in between seems to cause problems due to trapping debris just like a canister filter does. a deep sand bed ( DSB ) will be un-disturbed at the depth of the egg crate.

i actually set up my new tank without this, but then again it has 1/2 inch glass all around.

mine too.. (and I'm planning on 3-4" of sand so I'll probably leave the eggcrate material at the home depot)






(actually it's diffuser material for lighting, used in Fluorescent fixtures, no eggs would fit in the holes)

Personally i don't use it, but a some points i wish i did. Another thing people use is PVC under the rock. They use it to get it off the glass as well. I don't have any issues with rocks falling and breaking the glass (though it as), but as Austin said, why not have it?