DIY Rock and PVC Aquascaping designs

akillian · 03/30/2013, 12:11 AM

Check it. I've got a 20 gal rimless thats getting a complete makeover. getting rid of all my livestock and starting fresh.

The goal for this one this time is simplicity, low maintenance, elegance, and unusual.

Going bare bottom. Also making my own live rock. I'm trying to design a PVC frame that I can form the rock around.

Here are a couple of designs i've started with. Keep in mind, I'm shooting for simplicity, so I know there isn't a ton of space for corals, but i am going to be very selective in them, and i tried to design branches for added space.

I apologize for these my drawing skills. I'd make the rock look more natural, these are just basic structures. Also, I'm aware that the structures aren't very natural, but I'm also going for unusual; plus, how many good corals have you seen that look "natural."

Design 1:

Design 2:

Tell me what you think, which one's better? Advice? Ideas?

I'm probably going to do it this weekend, and I'll be sure to post good pics and step by steps if you guys like the concept.

akillian · 03/30/2013, 11:50 AM

Also, I don't want my pvc filled with water or have any openings for unwanted critters... does anybody know of good stuff to put inside the pvc that will help it sink and keep it's structure?

I was thinking that I'd make small, dime sized balls out of the rock mix, and fill the pvc with them once they're cured. This way it wouldn't be so heavy that it bends the arms of the structure, but would still add a good amount of weight to it.

HeadleesSon · 03/30/2013, 12:04 PM

I think you will need to cap the ends of the pvc. Even full of small rocks, it would harbor critters if they can get in.

akillian · 03/30/2013, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadleesSon

I think you will need to cap the ends of the pvc. Even full of small rocks, it would harbor critters if they can get in.

yes, i would cap it too

HeadleesSon · 03/31/2013, 02:38 AM

OK. I would say use sand then. It will pack much more densely then rock and takes no special effort on your part.

akillian · 03/31/2013, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadleesSon

OK. I would say use sand then. It will pack much more densely then rock and takes no special effort on your part.

Would you recommend any sand? Should I silicone the PVC together to be sure that water/bacteria doesn't get in?

HeadleesSon · 03/31/2013, 12:46 PM

You could use any well rinsed sand. There would be little harm in bacteria getting in it. It would just serve as more live substrate, but silicone would make sure the caps never pop off.

akillian · 03/31/2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadleesSon

You could use any well rinsed sand. There would be little harm in bacteria getting in it. It would just serve as more live substrate, but silicone would make sure the caps never pop off.

I just don't want anything (ie tiny brittle stars) to be able to get in. That would just add to my bioload, especially if they decided to make a bunch more tiny brittle stars... Plus, I saw this and freaked out a little bit... http://www.oregonreef.com/sub_worm.htm

So basically, I'm trying to find the best possible was to keep water and anything in my tank out, or anything that somehow got into my pvc in. Especially if I put sand in when it's wet. Wouldn't that cause mold?

Dotterer · 03/31/2013, 01:36 PM

Holy cow - that worm is huge.

I was thinking about using some in-tank PVC on my build, and now know I've got to keep that thing capped. Thanks for the heads up.

rovster · 03/31/2013, 01:40 PM

The first one is more natural looking if anything. Personally, if you are going for "out there" unusual, I really like the second one and looks like it would be interesting loaded up with corals!

akillian · 03/31/2013, 02:39 PM

I went with somewhat of a combo...

This is my tank right now, I'm selling all of the livestock so that I can start over...

ALRIGHT
so here's what I've got so far.

PVC Skeleton (foil is the size of my tank):

Testing DIY Rock... I had just made these so they'll look much different when they dry/cure and the salt dissolves

Driest mixture:

Wettest mixture:

In-between:

Left is with all rock salt, middle is a mixture with rock salt and kosher salt, right is mixture with rock salt and coated in mixture with kosher salt:

Mixture with kosher salt:

Plan:

I would just use 1 1/2" plastic, but its like 400 bucks for that thickness...

I think I'll be using a combo of different salt mixtures to make the rock, but it depends on how they turn out when they're done! I like the idea of using kosher salt because that makes it porous enough for good bacteria, but gives the detritus nowhere to settle.

The pvc will be filled with sand, and the connectors will be siliconed to one another. This will prevent water or critters from getting into the PVC and causing unknown issues.

Opinions? Advice?

akillian · 03/31/2013, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dotterer

Holy cow - that worm is huge.

I was thinking about using some in-tank PVC on my build, and now know I've got to keep that thing capped. Thanks for the heads up.

Yeah, nothings getting in our out of my pvc now lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rovster

The first one is more natural looking if anything. Personally, if you are going for "out there" unusual, I really like the second one and looks like it would be interesting loaded up with corals!

Thanks! I kinda went for a combo of each

HeadleesSon · 04/01/2013, 01:26 AM

Nice project! That worm is scary! No open pvc in my tank, ever. Thanks for sharing that.

03/30/2013, 12:11 AM	#1
akillian Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 38	DIY Rock and PVC Aquascaping designs Check it. I've got a 20 gal rimless thats getting a complete makeover. getting rid of all my livestock and starting fresh. The goal for this one this time is simplicity, low maintenance, elegance, and unusual. Going bare bottom. Also making my own live rock. I'm trying to design a PVC frame that I can form the rock around. Here are a couple of designs i've started with. Keep in mind, I'm shooting for simplicity, so I know there isn't a ton of space for corals, but i am going to be very selective in them, and i tried to design branches for added space. I apologize for these my drawing skills. I'd make the rock look more natural, these are just basic structures. Also, I'm aware that the structures aren't very natural, but I'm also going for unusual; plus, how many good corals have you seen that look "natural." Design 1: Design 2: Tell me what you think, which one's better? Advice? Ideas? I'm probably going to do it this weekend, and I'll be sure to post good pics and step by steps if you guys like the concept.

03/31/2013, 02:39 PM	#11
akillian Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 38	I went with somewhat of a combo... This is my tank right now, I'm selling all of the livestock so that I can start over... ALRIGHT so here's what I've got so far. PVC Skeleton (foil is the size of my tank): Testing DIY Rock... I had just made these so they'll look much different when they dry/cure and the salt dissolves Driest mixture: Wettest mixture: In-between: Left is with all rock salt, middle is a mixture with rock salt and kosher salt, right is mixture with rock salt and coated in mixture with kosher salt: Mixture with kosher salt: Plan: I would just use 1 1/2" plastic, but its like 400 bucks for that thickness... I think I'll be using a combo of different salt mixtures to make the rock, but it depends on how they turn out when they're done! I like the idea of using kosher salt because that makes it porous enough for good bacteria, but gives the detritus nowhere to settle. The pvc will be filled with sand, and the connectors will be siliconed to one another. This will prevent water or critters from getting into the PVC and causing unknown issues. Opinions? Advice? Last edited by akillian; 03/31/2013 at 02:47 PM.

03/30/2013, 11:50 AM	#2
akillian Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 38	Also, I don't want my pvc filled with water or have any openings for unwanted critters... does anybody know of good stuff to put inside the pvc that will help it sink and keep it's structure? I was thinking that I'd make small, dime sized balls out of the rock mix, and fill the pvc with them once they're cured. This way it wouldn't be so heavy that it bends the arms of the structure, but would still add a good amount of weight to it.

03/30/2013, 12:04 PM	#3
HeadleesSon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 164	I think you will need to cap the ends of the pvc. Even full of small rocks, it would harbor critters if they can get in.

03/31/2013, 02:38 AM	#5
HeadleesSon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 164	OK. I would say use sand then. It will pack much more densely then rock and takes no special effort on your part.

03/31/2013, 12:46 PM	#7
HeadleesSon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 164	You could use any well rinsed sand. There would be little harm in bacteria getting in it. It would just serve as more live substrate, but silicone would make sure the caps never pop off.

03/31/2013, 01:36 PM	#9
Dotterer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 91	Holy cow - that worm is huge. I was thinking about using some in-tank PVC on my build, and now know I've got to keep that thing capped. Thanks for the heads up.

03/31/2013, 01:40 PM	#10
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 7,518	The first one is more natural looking if anything. Personally, if you are going for "out there" unusual, I really like the second one and looks like it would be interesting loaded up with corals!

04/01/2013, 01:26 AM	#13
HeadleesSon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 164	Nice project! That worm is scary! No open pvc in my tank, ever. Thanks for sharing that.