How secure should the aquascaping be?

heyfredyourhat · 03/22/2008, 03:36 PM

I made a large arch in my tank, and i am wondering how secure should it be? I mean, will a fish or "critter" try and ram at it and ever cause it to topple? I know that critters can dig underneath and cause it to fall. But should it be solid?

I made a pvc frame so the rock will never come off and fall off individually, but as a whole (about 100lbs) chunk

seanb1 · 03/22/2008, 03:39 PM

i would make darn sure it cant fall, if it does it will definatly be laying on your floor.

i doubt theres a fish alive in anyones tank that can ram a 100lb rock.

heyfredyourhat · 03/22/2008, 03:48 PM

I know it is bad news if it falls over. It seems pretty secure to me. I can rock it a small amount, i dont think there are any critters that will be able to get it rocking and cause it to fall over, but who knows i am still elarning.

Longchamp · 03/22/2008, 04:34 PM

Be careful if you have any large snails or urchins.

ILoveReefer · 03/22/2008, 05:09 PM

If your really worried, maybe using some hold fast or some other type of reef sefe epoxy would help secure it in place.

horwitzs · 03/22/2008, 06:59 PM

The only way they could move that heavy a structure is by undermining it.
Make sure it is not just resting on top of sand they can excavate.

heyfredyourhat · 03/22/2008, 07:12 PM

I put put the rock down and then the sand, but in my attempts at finding the perfect look i may have lifted it up. So i did try to move sand again and get rock down below as best i could

horwitzs · 03/22/2008, 10:00 PM

Sounds to me like it will be fine. That is a heavy piece of rock, and since it is one solid piece, even if critters undermine it, it will just shift a little, you won't have rocks tumbling down which is the big risk to your glass.

tbar · 03/22/2008, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by seanndenise1
i would make darn sure it cant fall, if it does it will definatly be laying on your floor.
.

Has anyone heard of this happing? I am in the process of going bare bottom and asked several LFS owners if I should epoxy the rocks together. They all said it was a non issue and never heard of it happing and I never heard of it happening on here. I'm sure there is that one in a thousand but for the most part it would be very rare for a rock to break the bottom glass if it fell. Would it be more of an issue in a non tempered bottom like I think the 40 breeder is?

tbar · 03/22/2008, 10:31 PM

I just realized they were talking about a 100 lb. rock. That might be different then what I was thinking about. My biggest rock is around 10 lbs.

heyfredyourhat · 03/22/2008, 10:42 PM

It is not a 100lbs rock...It is a whole bunch of 10lbs rock drilled and "shishkebobed" together... I was afraid that something could hit it or climb on it and cause it to topple....But its like you said maybe one in a thousand...

drparker · 03/22/2008, 10:53 PM

There is one thing in your tank that can and if given enough time might even bump into and knock it over.

You! While doing something else if it can take you bumping into it while cleaning the glass and doesn't fall you should be fine.

03/22/2008, 03:36 PM	#1
heyfredyourhat Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BC Canada Posts: 963	How secure should the aquascaping be? I made a large arch in my tank, and i am wondering how secure should it be? I mean, will a fish or "critter" try and ram at it and ever cause it to topple? I know that critters can dig underneath and cause it to fall. But should it be solid? I made a pvc frame so the rock will never come off and fall off individually, but as a whole (about 100lbs) chunk

03/22/2008, 03:39 PM	#2
seanb1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: bettendorf, iowa Posts: 668	i would make darn sure it cant fall, if it does it will definatly be laying on your floor. i doubt theres a fish alive in anyones tank that can ram a 100lb rock. __________________ he who knows how, will always work for he who knows why..... David lee Roth. Current Tank Info: 125 reef/29 gal sump/29 gal fuge 3- 175w 20k xm mh/4 65w actinic, octopus nw-200 skimmer3 k-4s mag-12. 2 returns. 2 phosban reactors, GFO/carbon.

03/22/2008, 06:59 PM	#6
horwitzs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kitsap Penninsula Posts: 470	The only way they could move that heavy a structure is by undermining it. Make sure it is not just resting on top of sand they can excavate. __________________ -Seth Current Tank Info: 120g fresh, 150g salt.

03/22/2008, 10:00 PM	#8
horwitzs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kitsap Penninsula Posts: 470	Sounds to me like it will be fine. That is a heavy piece of rock, and since it is one solid piece, even if critters undermine it, it will just shift a little, you won't have rocks tumbling down which is the big risk to your glass. __________________ -Seth Current Tank Info: 120g fresh, 150g salt.

03/22/2008, 10:31 PM	#10
tbar Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: SE Virginia Posts: 452	I just realized they were talking about a 100 lb. rock. That might be different then what I was thinking about. My biggest rock is around 10 lbs. __________________ I have done a 5 gal water change (about 17%) every week since week one. Hopefully having this posted here will motivate me enough to keep doing so. Current Tank Info: 33L, Two 36" 24 watt Marineland LED's, Tunze 9002 Skimmer, 2 Koralia 1's, pico hob filter for carbon.

03/22/2008, 03:48 PM	#3
heyfredyourhat Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BC Canada Posts: 963	I know it is bad news if it falls over. It seems pretty secure to me. I can rock it a small amount, i dont think there are any critters that will be able to get it rocking and cause it to fall over, but who knows i am still elarning.

03/22/2008, 04:34 PM	#4
Longchamp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: baltimore Posts: 341	Be careful if you have any large snails or urchins.

03/22/2008, 05:09 PM	#5
ILoveReefer Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cheektowaga Posts: 851	If your really worried, maybe using some hold fast or some other type of reef sefe epoxy would help secure it in place.

03/22/2008, 07:12 PM	#7
heyfredyourhat Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BC Canada Posts: 963	I put put the rock down and then the sand, but in my attempts at finding the perfect look i may have lifted it up. So i did try to move sand again and get rock down below as best i could

03/22/2008, 10:42 PM	#11
heyfredyourhat Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BC Canada Posts: 963	It is not a 100lbs rock...It is a whole bunch of 10lbs rock drilled and "shishkebobed" together... I was afraid that something could hit it or climb on it and cause it to topple....But its like you said maybe one in a thousand...

03/22/2008, 10:53 PM	#12
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	There is one thing in your tank that can and if given enough time might even bump into and knock it over. You! While doing something else if it can take you bumping into it while cleaning the glass and doesn't fall you should be fine.