Liverock layout?

[Feclar]

Still cycling my new Aquapod 12g tank

There is about 2-4" empty space per side and same up front, the rock is touching the back wall, the top rock is 2" below the water
About 1" worth of live sand

What is a good way to layout liverock for a mantis tank?
I plan to have some soft coral to add color as well

Would drilling holes in the liverock to put like thin plastic pvc or some other plastic be a good idea to help stabilize the structure? similar to iron rods in concrete

I think I have too much liverock, will probably return the big chunk in the very middle see if I can get a bunch of cheap snails/crabs

[Pea-brain]

Is the structure stable? If it is there is no need to mess with it. Looks good (I personally prefer a more airy, spaced out tank, but it still looks good. Most mantis tanks seem to have the rock pile thing going anyways). The soft corals will make it look good until coralline covers the rock if it hasn't already. Got a blue enough light? lol

Dan

[DanInSD]

Looks fine to me. That cave in the middle is cool. If it was me, I'd take those two chunks of rock at the top and move them back into the back corners -- more surface area for corals. That "big rock" top will be prime real estate for something like a toadstool, if your lights are burly enough.

Dan

[ck1]

Can't really tell from the pic- is that a heater in the tank? if it is glass? plastic? Does the Aquapod have a back compartment to put the heater in?

[Smithii]

I would ditch the two top boulders and toss in more sand/crushed coral. another inch.

[Feclar]

Originally posted by ck1
Can't really tell from the pic- is that a heater in the tank? if it is glass? plastic? Does the Aquapod have a back compartment to put the heater in?

Yea that is a glass heater a friend had laying around walmart special, have no fish/mantis yet but figured I should try to keep it heated while cycling.

I bought one of those non-glass ones from petco to replace it, unfortunatley I dont think I can put it in the back, all the compartments that have water have other stuff, would it be safe if it was touching the filtration?