Aqua scraping with larger rocks

[ClamKnuckle]

I am planning on using soil with a sand cap and my substrate. I have over 80 pounds of stone I plan on using to scape the tank (75 gallon) and a few are pretty heavy. Sound I place the substrate in first then the stone or the stone then try to layer the substrate around it?

On one hand I think the heavier rocks on the glass could be an issue and it also will be harder to put in the soil with the cap and may become a muddy mess

On the other hand the rocks on the substrate could lead to settling over time and movement and that could cause some mud and maybe a collapse.

Any other suggestions? A layer of pea gravel crossed my mind to distribute the weight, not sure how that would work with the soil. Some sort of pad under the rocks? What would I use for that?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Aiken Drum]

Eggcrate ceiling tile louvres laid on base of your tank. Get them from a building suppliers rather than someone selling them for aquariums and you will pay a lot less.

https://www.buildingmaterials.co.uk...vj8u4OfQXOLoIdhz4Vt191Uo8Yx5qgqRoCWh0QAvD_BwE

 

[SwampeastMike]

The large stones will wind up on top of other substrate no matter what you do.

 

[V227]

I have over 200 lbs. Of limestone hardscape in my 120 gal. There is a 4" deep substrate bed of small grain rounded river gravel. The rocks were positioned on top of the substrate. No egg crate. The tank has been up & running for many years. Occasionally I have to back fill around a rock if a fish digs a nest, but to disasters.