Rock Work

orgtizz · 01/10/2010, 07:15 AM

I'm back from my tank break... I think we all take one from time to time... Now I want to add some SPS's but I would like to know if the majority of people secure thier rock work with some type of cement, or do they just stack them? Currently mine are just stacked, but I'm worried that they might toppel (sp) with the wheight of the SPS coral...

BTW

Tank params and lighting will support them...

(I tried this in the SPS forum, but didn't get good response)

gdsmith56 · 01/10/2010, 08:35 AM

I'm not doing SPS but we just stacked the rock in our nano tanks. Basically some large rocks on the bottom with some 'breathing space' between the rock and back wall, then some medium rocks on them and against the back wall. IMO, the key thing is to have the base rocks on something solid - the glass tank if you're going barebottom or, in my case, some eggcrate that is covered with a little substrate. The base rock is placed on top of this and then more substrate added around the base rock and throughout the rest of the floor.

210reefer · 01/10/2010, 09:20 AM

Mine, all 300 or so lbs, is stacked and I have a fair amount of coral. The original placement is IMO the key. DON'T start by stacking rock n 4" of sand, you WILL hav a colapse sooner or later. If you can place the base rocks directly on the glass, that is best but not always possible. If you have sand already in the tank, you can take PVC pipe cut to different lenghts, bury them in the sand and put the base rock on the PVC. That will give you a stable base and from there it is just common sense on stacking.

Sisterlimonpot · 01/10/2010, 09:44 AM

I've seen some great aquascaping that actually used PVC tubes or acrylic rods to connect the rock to each other. What they do is actually drill holes in the rock and slide the tubing through to hold everything stable.

I've also seen someone use high powered magnets glued to the rocks and he ran them up the back of his glass to make a nice rock wall.

There are a lot of different ways to do it you just have to have an imagination.

01/10/2010, 07:15 AM	#1
orgtizz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hbg PA Posts: 195	Rock Work I'm back from my tank break... I think we all take one from time to time... Now I want to add some SPS's but I would like to know if the majority of people secure thier rock work with some type of cement, or do they just stack them? Currently mine are just stacked, but I'm worried that they might toppel (sp) with the wheight of the SPS coral... BTW Tank params and lighting will support them... (I tried this in the SPS forum, but didn't get good response)

01/10/2010, 09:20 AM	#3
210reefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 75	Mine, all 300 or so lbs, is stacked and I have a fair amount of coral. The original placement is IMO the key. DON'T start by stacking rock n 4" of sand, you WILL hav a colapse sooner or later. If you can place the base rocks directly on the glass, that is best but not always possible. If you have sand already in the tank, you can take PVC pipe cut to different lenghts, bury them in the sand and put the base rock on the PVC. That will give you a stable base and from there it is just common sense on stacking. __________________ 210 RR, 30 gal sump, Aqua Euro 250 skimmer, 2 x K4's, 2xK3's, turbo twist UV, 2 x 300 watt heaters, shop light w/6500k bulb for fuge, 300 lbs LR, 300 lb LS, powder blue tag, kole tang, regal tang, humu humu trigger, coral beauty angel, 2 x perc. clowns. ITS NOT THE DAYS IN OUR LIFE BUT, THE LIFE IN OUR DAYS THAT MATTER.

01/10/2010, 09:44 AM	#4
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	I've seen some great aquascaping that actually used PVC tubes or acrylic rods to connect the rock to each other. What they do is actually drill holes in the rock and slide the tubing through to hold everything stable. I've also seen someone use high powered magnets glued to the rocks and he ran them up the back of his glass to make a nice rock wall. There are a lot of different ways to do it you just have to have an imagination. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

01/10/2010, 08:35 AM	#2
gdsmith56 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Harpers Ferry, WV Posts: 122	I'm not doing SPS but we just stacked the rock in our nano tanks. Basically some large rocks on the bottom with some 'breathing space' between the rock and back wall, then some medium rocks on them and against the back wall. IMO, the key thing is to have the base rocks on something solid - the glass tank if you're going barebottom or, in my case, some eggcrate that is covered with a little substrate. The base rock is placed on top of this and then more substrate added around the base rock and throughout the rest of the floor.