Untraditional Aquascaping for a reef

tarhull87 · 07/22/2011, 12:39 PM

Hi all,

Looking to get back into the game, I've had a 75g reef and 180g FOWLR in the past, looking to set back up another reef, 55-75g.

Anyways, I'm hoping to have aquascaping that will appear to be an "under a pier" sort of setting, with the simulation of wooden dock pilings coming down to the sand with some areas of live rock rubble or something.. maybe concrete pilings.

Do you all have any recommendations for the best way to construct them? Wood or PVC or otherwise and how to get them looking good?

I was thinking usinng like 3" PVC, and then coating them with foam and like rolling them in some rock rubble (if I'm simulating concrete pilings), but what about a wooden look?

Ideally, the pilings will have some sort of ledges and be at angles such that corals will be able to grow vertically/diagonally around them.

Looking forward to suggestions...

Mike

Genin · 07/22/2011, 12:44 PM

The wood pillars would look pretty amazing but I'm not sure how you'd pull it off. Do they have some type of clear coat you could put over the wood to prevent any salt water penetration that wouldn't leak chemicals into the water? I mean if you could get a product like that then you could definately do the wood. If you put untreated/sealed wood in the water, it will rot.

DanEnglish · 07/22/2011, 12:54 PM

some kinds of manzanita wood can be submerged in SW without treatment.
Dan

rcg49 · 07/22/2011, 01:25 PM

I'm not sure what material u could use, but just an idea for a wood pillar is to use some sort of clay wrapped around a pvc pipe, and use a metal brush to put vertical striations like you would see in wood. Then use some aquarium safe brown and black paint to mimic the color of wood. I've heard horror stories about people using real wood in tanks and it just falling to pieces, but i've never tried it myself. Please post pics when ur done, i'd love to see the finished product!

Cable_Guy · 07/22/2011, 01:40 PM

Pine is also waterproof.

The pull pine from the bottom of lakes that have been there for 100+ years and they are like new.

cook · 07/22/2011, 01:40 PM

Hydraulic cement does not need to cure. Regular concrete need at least 2 months. You may be able to coat wood with fiberglass resin, It is inert when dry.

noahm · 07/22/2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cable_Guy

Pine is also waterproof.

The pull pine from the bottom of lakes that have been there for 100+ years and they are like new.

I believe you are thinking of cedar or redwood. Some old growth heartwood of other species, like pine is full of enough natural preservative to last a very long time in water, but modern milled pine is cut from 20-50 year old trees and has no such rot resistant property. It can take up to 150-200 years for them to start storing enough secondary chemicals in the xylem tissue to make a big difference.

Either way, I would make fake wood pilings out of DIY rock mix. You can even use real tree bark as a surface mold stamp.

huig · 07/22/2011, 03:16 PM

PVC with pond foam and/or cement for texture.

Don' t use real wood.

tarhull87 · 07/22/2011, 04:44 PM

Thanks guys.

Ok, now, best thoughts on how to create a faux wood grain on the pvc?
Or do you think it will look better to do concrete looking columns with rock rubble foamed in. Probably the rubble..

jcolletteiii · 07/22/2011, 05:01 PM

Foam would seem to be ideal, but you will have a big problem neutralizing the buoyancy, especially if you want the pilings to be spread throughout the tank and not just anchored to the back wall. If they come loose and float, they could smash into your lighting or worse, the glass.

07/22/2011, 12:39 PM	#1
tarhull87 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 20	Untraditional Aquascaping for a reef Hi all, Looking to get back into the game, I've had a 75g reef and 180g FOWLR in the past, looking to set back up another reef, 55-75g. Anyways, I'm hoping to have aquascaping that will appear to be an "under a pier" sort of setting, with the simulation of wooden dock pilings coming down to the sand with some areas of live rock rubble or something.. maybe concrete pilings. Do you all have any recommendations for the best way to construct them? Wood or PVC or otherwise and how to get them looking good? I was thinking usinng like 3" PVC, and then coating them with foam and like rolling them in some rock rubble (if I'm simulating concrete pilings), but what about a wooden look? Ideally, the pilings will have some sort of ledges and be at angles such that corals will be able to grow vertically/diagonally around them. Looking forward to suggestions... Mike

07/22/2011, 03:16 PM	#8
huig Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: belgium Posts: 272	PVC with pond foam and/or cement for texture. Don' t use real wood. __________________ The metric system is the tool of the devil! My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that's the way I likes it Current Tank Info: 100 g soft reef, 100 g and 120 g Mediterranean tanks, 400 g deepwater reef, 1000 g FOWLR in the making

07/22/2011, 05:01 PM	#10
jcolletteiii Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 58703 Posts: 1,265	Foam would seem to be ideal, but you will have a big problem neutralizing the buoyancy, especially if you want the pilings to be spread throughout the tank and not just anchored to the back wall. If they come loose and float, they could smash into your lighting or worse, the glass. __________________ T5-powered (ex-LED club member) SPS-dominant 50g. Cadlights CUBE. Current Tank Info: 16g biocube

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07/22/2011, 12:44 PM	#2
Genin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PA Posts: 755	The wood pillars would look pretty amazing but I'm not sure how you'd pull it off. Do they have some type of clear coat you could put over the wood to prevent any salt water penetration that wouldn't leak chemicals into the water? I mean if you could get a product like that then you could definately do the wood. If you put untreated/sealed wood in the water, it will rot.

07/22/2011, 12:54 PM	#3
DanEnglish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 360	some kinds of manzanita wood can be submerged in SW without treatment. Dan

07/22/2011, 01:25 PM	#4
rcg49 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Flagstaff, Az Posts: 94	I'm not sure what material u could use, but just an idea for a wood pillar is to use some sort of clay wrapped around a pvc pipe, and use a metal brush to put vertical striations like you would see in wood. Then use some aquarium safe brown and black paint to mimic the color of wood. I've heard horror stories about people using real wood in tanks and it just falling to pieces, but i've never tried it myself. Please post pics when ur done, i'd love to see the finished product!

07/22/2011, 01:40 PM	#5
Cable_Guy Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 66	Pine is also waterproof. The pull pine from the bottom of lakes that have been there for 100+ years and they are like new.

07/22/2011, 01:40 PM	#6
cook Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Harmony,fl Posts: 1,292	Hydraulic cement does not need to cure. Regular concrete need at least 2 months. You may be able to coat wood with fiberglass resin, It is inert when dry.

07/22/2011, 04:44 PM	#9
tarhull87 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 20	Thanks guys. Ok, now, best thoughts on how to create a faux wood grain on the pvc? Or do you think it will look better to do concrete looking columns with rock rubble foamed in. Probably the rubble..