thanks very much for all the replies and advice. it is very much appreciated.
@ JavaJacketOC : thats staying on, the wife likes that piece, she calls it the crab lol. that large piece is that isnt cemented down, so i may opt to move it in the future, i appropriate the input, but happy wife equals happy life!
@ NVTE : i tried doing that, wife said no and i didnt like it either, my tank height is 30" and rocks are 20" tall, i didnt really want to keep going lower in height. as mentioned above, that piece is not secured and is movable. could probably toy with a large cap or somthing big in that corner without that piece
@ joseserrano : sand, Fiji pink to be precise. going for about 1-1.5" in height, i'll most more pics later, i dont actually have enough containers to make that much water in one go, do at the moment, its sitting at 2/3 full.