Rock Work and PVC Rack ?

jjmatti · 08/29/2006, 12:52 PM

I am setting up a 180 gallon and am looking to find some threads on how to aquascape using my live rock and PVC to make cliffs and caves. I saw some diagrams in Calfo's book " Ag uide to Coral Prop" but am looking to see if anyone here has any good ideas.
Do you guys know of any threads that might help me? I have done searches but keep coming up empty.
Thanks,
Jason

Habib · 08/29/2006, 12:59 PM

Jason, I moved it from the Feedback forum (for site related stuff into here (the RD forum). Let me know if you prefer it to be moved to another forum.

jjmatti · 08/29/2006, 01:01 PM

No problem, just am trying to see some pics of how people made the most of thier live rock. I know someone on here has taken some pictures and has some good ideas...

Travis L. Stevens · 08/29/2006, 01:20 PM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...&pagenumber=29

Follow that page all the way to page 32 and you will get a great example. It might not be extremely detailed, but you should get the idea.

theatrus · 08/29/2006, 02:12 PM

Good thread! I like those towers

jjmatti · 08/29/2006, 02:54 PM

He definitely had a great idea. Using the pillars to build around. I am going to try to incorporate that. I think that might work for building the arches.
Although I am still looking to see if I can find a pic of how to build a dramatic overhang. I want my rock work to be as open as possible with lots of "flat" spots to put corals and frags.

MCary · 08/29/2006, 03:15 PM

I thought about using the plastic shelves they sell at Lowes. If you put them in upside down there is actual a tray with a grid created.

The set of shelves was $12. I'm going to pick some up and do some experimenting.

Mike

jjmatti · 08/29/2006, 03:21 PM

MCary,

take some pics and post them here when you get a chance. I am interested to see what kind of shelves they are.
I once tried making a shelf or stand out of PVC and eggcrate but to make a large made covering it difficult.
It seems the drilling and slipping over pipe is the most effective in getting good coverage.

TCU Reefer · 08/29/2006, 04:05 PM

I don't have a step by step guide but here's a couple pics on how I did my aquascaping.

Laid out the tank dimensions and played with a few formations

Drilled flat rock for the pillars

Finished aquascaping product (I didn't use PVC for the right structure)

Chihuahua6 · 08/29/2006, 05:13 PM

Love it TCU! Was it hard drilling through the rock?

theedudenator · 08/29/2006, 06:41 PM

I like that also!!

I do wonder how hard it is to drill the rock!

Is PVC bad for the tank?

TCU Reefer · 08/29/2006, 07:31 PM

Live rock is pretty easy to drill since it's very soft. I used a 1" carbon hole saw bit. As long as you don't drill too close to the edge of the rock, you're golden. Piece of cake.

jjmatti · 08/30/2006, 07:02 AM

TCU ,
That is awesome. I see now how you did that overhang.

bohlke · 08/30/2006, 04:24 PM

TCU - Did you pull that rock out of your tank and drill it, if so did you have to cure it before you put it back in your tank?

08/29/2006, 12:52 PM	#1
jjmatti Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 517	Rock Work and PVC Rack ? I am setting up a 180 gallon and am looking to find some threads on how to aquascape using my live rock and PVC to make cliffs and caves. I saw some diagrams in Calfo's book " Ag uide to Coral Prop" but am looking to see if anyone here has any good ideas. Do you guys know of any threads that might help me? I have done searches but keep coming up empty. Thanks, Jason

08/29/2006, 12:59 PM	#2
Habib CEO of Salifert Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Holland (Europe) Posts: 19,447	Jason, I moved it from the Feedback forum (for site related stuff into here (the RD forum). Let me know if you prefer it to be moved to another forum. __________________ Proud owner of the very rare YET (Yellow Elephantis Tang) from the Lord Bibah Islands. "Ice cream, steaks, and Bailey's Irish Cream all help promote healthy immune systems. Why else would I love to naturally eat them packed with fat as they are?" - R. Holmes-Farley, 2012

08/29/2006, 01:20 PM	#4
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...&pagenumber=29 Follow that page all the way to page 32 and you will get a great example. It might not be extremely detailed, but you should get the idea. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/29/2006, 02:12 PM	#5
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Good thread! I like those towers __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

08/29/2006, 04:05 PM	#9
TCU Reefer Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,044	I don't have a step by step guide but here's a couple pics on how I did my aquascaping. Laid out the tank dimensions and played with a few formations Drilled flat rock for the pillars Finished aquascaping product (I didn't use PVC for the right structure) __________________ Steve - DFWMAS Member Click on the red house to view my build thread Current Tank Info: 215g starboard SPS in-wall, AC Jr, 3 x 250w MH's, 10k Reeflux, 320w VHO actinics, closed loop w/ Sequence Dart and OM 4-Way, Tunze wavebox, VorTech, 2x modded MJ 1200's, ASM G4 recirc/meshwheel, Geo 618 Ca reactor, custom Melev sump, Mag 9.5 return

08/29/2006, 01:01 PM	#3
jjmatti Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 517	No problem, just am trying to see some pics of how people made the most of thier live rock. I know someone on here has taken some pictures and has some good ideas...

08/29/2006, 02:54 PM	#6
jjmatti Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 517	He definitely had a great idea. Using the pillars to build around. I am going to try to incorporate that. I think that might work for building the arches. Although I am still looking to see if I can find a pic of how to build a dramatic overhang. I want my rock work to be as open as possible with lots of "flat" spots to put corals and frags.

08/29/2006, 03:15 PM	#7
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	I thought about using the plastic shelves they sell at Lowes. If you put them in upside down there is actual a tray with a grid created. The set of shelves was $12. I'm going to pick some up and do some experimenting. Mike

08/29/2006, 03:21 PM	#8
jjmatti Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 517	MCary, take some pics and post them here when you get a chance. I am interested to see what kind of shelves they are. I once tried making a shelf or stand out of PVC and eggcrate but to make a large made covering it difficult. It seems the drilling and slipping over pipe is the most effective in getting good coverage.

08/29/2006, 05:13 PM	#10
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	Love it TCU! Was it hard drilling through the rock? __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

08/29/2006, 06:41 PM	#11
theedudenator Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 168	I like that also!! I do wonder how hard it is to drill the rock! Is PVC bad for the tank?

08/29/2006, 07:31 PM	#12
TCU Reefer Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,044	Live rock is pretty easy to drill since it's very soft. I used a 1" carbon hole saw bit. As long as you don't drill too close to the edge of the rock, you're golden. Piece of cake. __________________ Steve - DFWMAS Member Click on the red house to view my build thread Current Tank Info: 215g starboard SPS in-wall, AC Jr, 3 x 250w MH's, 10k Reeflux, 320w VHO actinics, closed loop w/ Sequence Dart and OM 4-Way, Tunze wavebox, VorTech, 2x modded MJ 1200's, ASM G4 recirc/meshwheel, Geo 618 Ca reactor, custom Melev sump, Mag 9.5 return

08/30/2006, 07:02 AM	#13
jjmatti Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 517	TCU , That is awesome. I see now how you did that overhang.

08/30/2006, 04:24 PM	#14
bohlke PBITAWA Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: at the super sweet NRC lounge Posts: 1,253	TCU - Did you pull that rock out of your tank and drill it, if so did you have to cure it before you put it back in your tank?