Live Rock Stacking, Need some ideas...

epic.exposures · 12/29/2010, 01:37 PM

Hi Everyone I need a little help to make my imagination a reality.

In my 29 gallon tank I stacked LR in a sturdy mound. It didn't look incredibly fantastic but it did the job. I want to do something new with my 56 gallon tank and need a little advise.

First the challenges, and than what I am trying to accomplish (the goal).

Challenges:
1.) Tank is 30 inches wide, and is a 56 tall, because of this there is a 3 inch wide brace at the top of the tank in the middle of the opening, this will limit the size of the pieces of rock I can putin the tank and take out.

2.) I am a renter and I live in an apartment, I'm saving enough money to put a sizable down payment on a house in two years, at which point I will be moving the tank (which I have done before to this apartment with GREAT success.) So I need my rock to be easily removed from the tank when it is time to move.

The Goal:
1.) Create a Live Rock landscape that will create a bridge from one side of the tank to the other. Two contact points on the sand and the rock bowing through the middle of the tank.

2.) A very sturdy setup (dont wanna cave in on the fishies) that will allow me to disassemble the tank in a couple years.

3.) Use different LR to create a unique look.

So how the heck am I going to accomplish this. Anyone have any good ideas?

Pictures of your LR configurations greatly appreciated in this thread, if you have other unique LR arrangments lets know and SHOW IT OFF!!!

Thanks all!

epic.exposures · 12/29/2010, 03:31 PM

Any Ideas, Anyone?

afernandez · 12/29/2010, 03:36 PM

56" tall??? Whao what about front to back?

epic.exposures · 12/29/2010, 03:39 PM

Here is the info from the company who made the tank and stand.

Dimensions: 30-1/4"L x 18-1/4"W x 57-7/16"H
Stand dimensions: 31"W x 19"D x 29.5"H

Sorry its a 56 gallon tall. I think the tank dimensions of 57" high includes the stand.

afernandez · 12/29/2010, 03:50 PM

Oh ok makes sense now lol. Look up minimal aquascape & modern reef tanks they have really good ideas

epic.exposures · 12/30/2010, 09:02 AM

How do people put the rock together with acylic rods?

madcowz · 12/30/2010, 09:07 AM

1/2 inch acrylic rods and a 1/2 inch masonry bit and you are in business.

epic.exposures · 12/30/2010, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madcowz

1/2 inch acrylic rods and a 1/2 inch masonry bit and you are in business.

Is this something I can get at hOme depot, I know the masory bit will b easy to find, but were do you get the acrylic?

Matt Dean · 12/30/2010, 10:26 AM

You can also use zip ties and 2 part putty to secure thinner/longer pieces. That's what i did and it works great. You can simply cut the zip ties and pull the rocks apart. Here's a pic of the beginnings of my rockwork (it's much more now) but you can see how it looks flimsy, but you could pick the center piece up in one piece, it's rock solid.

madcowz · 12/30/2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epic.exposures

Is this something I can get at hOme depot, I know the masory bit will b easy to find, but were do you get the acrylic?

plasticsplastics_inc on ebay. He charges 5 bucks for 6 foot sections.

12/29/2010, 01:37 PM	#1
epic.exposures Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 102	Live Rock Stacking, Need some ideas... Hi Everyone I need a little help to make my imagination a reality. In my 29 gallon tank I stacked LR in a sturdy mound. It didn't look incredibly fantastic but it did the job. I want to do something new with my 56 gallon tank and need a little advise. First the challenges, and than what I am trying to accomplish (the goal). Challenges: 1.) Tank is 30 inches wide, and is a 56 tall, because of this there is a 3 inch wide brace at the top of the tank in the middle of the opening, this will limit the size of the pieces of rock I can putin the tank and take out. 2.) I am a renter and I live in an apartment, I'm saving enough money to put a sizable down payment on a house in two years, at which point I will be moving the tank (which I have done before to this apartment with GREAT success.) So I need my rock to be easily removed from the tank when it is time to move. The Goal: 1.) Create a Live Rock landscape that will create a bridge from one side of the tank to the other. Two contact points on the sand and the rock bowing through the middle of the tank. 2.) A very sturdy setup (dont wanna cave in on the fishies) that will allow me to disassemble the tank in a couple years. 3.) Use different LR to create a unique look. So how the heck am I going to accomplish this. Anyone have any good ideas? Pictures of your LR configurations greatly appreciated in this thread, if you have other unique LR arrangments lets know and SHOW IT OFF!!! Thanks all!

12/29/2010, 03:36 PM	#3
afernandez Never Quit!! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: new york city! Posts: 1,505	56" tall??? Whao what about front to back? __________________ Arlin- Take your time and do it right. Current Tank Info: 120g Apex controller, (2) mp40w Es ,(3) Mp10W Es, Alfa vertex 170, 8 bulb ATI Dimable Sunpower,REEFOCTOPUS-BB-10000, Tunze Ato . 21G MINI-Reef, 250w MH, Mp10Wes

12/29/2010, 03:50 PM	#5
afernandez Never Quit!! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: new york city! Posts: 1,505	Oh ok makes sense now lol. Look up minimal aquascape & modern reef tanks they have really good ideas __________________ Arlin- Take your time and do it right. Current Tank Info: 120g Apex controller, (2) mp40w Es ,(3) Mp10W Es, Alfa vertex 170, 8 bulb ATI Dimable Sunpower,REEFOCTOPUS-BB-10000, Tunze Ato . 21G MINI-Reef, 250w MH, Mp10Wes

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12/29/2010, 03:31 PM	#2
epic.exposures Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 102	Any Ideas, Anyone?

12/29/2010, 03:39 PM	#4
epic.exposures Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 102	Here is the info from the company who made the tank and stand. Dimensions: 30-1/4"L x 18-1/4"W x 57-7/16"H Stand dimensions: 31"W x 19"D x 29.5"H Sorry its a 56 gallon tall. I think the tank dimensions of 57" high includes the stand.

12/30/2010, 09:02 AM	#6
epic.exposures Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 102	How do people put the rock together with acylic rods?

12/30/2010, 09:07 AM	#7
madcowz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Boston Posts: 146	1/2 inch acrylic rods and a 1/2 inch masonry bit and you are in business.

12/30/2010, 10:26 AM	#9
Matt Dean I don't like wet hands! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 555	You can also use zip ties and 2 part putty to secure thinner/longer pieces. That's what i did and it works great. You can simply cut the zip ties and pull the rocks apart. Here's a pic of the beginnings of my rockwork (it's much more now) but you can see how it looks flimsy, but you could pick the center piece up in one piece, it's rock solid.