How to build aquascaping, ROCKS

downhillbiker · 04/17/2008, 03:51 PM

How should i attach my rocks together and keep them from falling over. I want to make cool arches and neat structures, but dont want it to all come crashing down later and kill everything.

I am dealing with live rock and cured base rock, so i dont think building the structure outside of the tank is an option.

mrpet · 04/17/2008, 03:58 PM

i will post pics tonight of my finished rock work. i used acrylic rods zip ties and handi foam worked great if you go to my thread
in the lg tank forum "my 375 in wall " you can see some pics...

kar93 · 04/17/2008, 03:58 PM

Could you post a pic of what you currently have?

downhillbiker · 04/17/2008, 04:08 PM

cool mrpet. i want to see that, but remember i am dealing with live, wet rock, sounds like you had dry base rock.

here the pic of it now, and i have 50 lb curing. all of what i have is loose and can be moved easily.

kar93 · 04/17/2008, 04:15 PM

thats 40lbs now right?

edwing206 · 04/17/2008, 04:34 PM

I'd take that damsel out before you add anymore rock and can't catch it later on when it becomes too aggressive.

downhillbiker · 04/17/2008, 05:13 PM

i think he is ok. there are others to keep him in check. i am done stocking and he is on the lower end of the totem pole.

downhillbiker · 04/17/2008, 05:14 PM

yes thats 40lb. it is spread out across the whole tank, so it doesnt look like that much. total with what is curing i will have 90 lb, and that will do it for my 72. i dont want it too cluttered.

kar93 · 04/17/2008, 05:14 PM

I dont see anyfish in there, where are they?

downhillbiker · 04/17/2008, 05:15 PM

there is regal tang, tomini tang, maroon clown and damsel in the pic. that is old pic. i added rainfords goby, royal gramma, green chromis, and flame angel since then.

kar93 · 04/17/2008, 05:17 PM

Oh, Just a word of warning though. A regal will soon outgrow that tank. When i had mine i couldnt believe how fast it grew.

downhillbiker · 04/17/2008, 05:19 PM

yeah. that is something i will have to deal with soon. i know. do you have any ideas about the rock???? that is what i wanted help with. and the fish are hiding in the pic under the big rock cave on the right. cant really see them.

kar93 · 04/17/2008, 05:21 PM

Here is a rubbish paint drawing of what im doing in my 55:
Front View:

arts007 · 04/17/2008, 07:27 PM

Maybe you can try some acrylic rods to stabilize the rock work along with some putty.

I did mine with 1/2" PVC, its a little taller than the 55 so theres a bit more room to work with but still can be done

the PVC is holding up the rock work on the left, and on the right is just a pile

viceversabrd · 04/17/2008, 08:12 PM

wow, that will look great when all of those sps colonies mature

04/17/2008, 03:51 PM	#1
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	How to build aquascaping, ROCKS How should i attach my rocks together and keep them from falling over. I want to make cool arches and neat structures, but dont want it to all come crashing down later and kill everything. I am dealing with live rock and cured base rock, so i dont think building the structure outside of the tank is an option. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

04/17/2008, 03:58 PM	#2
mrpet Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: ca Posts: 981	i will post pics tonight of my finished rock work. i used acrylic rods zip ties and handi foam worked great if you go to my thread in the lg tank forum "my 375 in wall " you can see some pics... __________________ "FREEEEEEEEDOM" Current Tank Info: 375 in wall with 180 sump

04/17/2008, 04:08 PM	#4
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	cool mrpet. i want to see that, but remember i am dealing with live, wet rock, sounds like you had dry base rock. here the pic of it now, and i have 50 lb curing. all of what i have is loose and can be moved easily. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

04/17/2008, 04:34 PM	#6
edwing206 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Shoreline,Washington Posts: 4,518	I'd take that damsel out before you add anymore rock and can't catch it later on when it becomes too aggressive. __________________ The name's Luis. :) Current Tank Info: 50G cube

04/17/2008, 05:13 PM	#7
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	i think he is ok. there are others to keep him in check. i am done stocking and he is on the lower end of the totem pole. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

04/17/2008, 03:58 PM	#3
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	Could you post a pic of what you currently have?

04/17/2008, 04:15 PM	#5
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	thats 40lbs now right?

04/17/2008, 05:14 PM	#8
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	yes thats 40lb. it is spread out across the whole tank, so it doesnt look like that much. total with what is curing i will have 90 lb, and that will do it for my 72. i dont want it too cluttered. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

04/17/2008, 05:15 PM	#10
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	there is regal tang, tomini tang, maroon clown and damsel in the pic. that is old pic. i added rainfords goby, royal gramma, green chromis, and flame angel since then. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

04/17/2008, 05:17 PM	#11
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	Oh, Just a word of warning though. A regal will soon outgrow that tank. When i had mine i couldnt believe how fast it grew.

04/17/2008, 05:19 PM	#12
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	yeah. that is something i will have to deal with soon. i know. do you have any ideas about the rock???? that is what i wanted help with. and the fish are hiding in the pic under the big rock cave on the right. cant really see them. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

04/17/2008, 05:21 PM	#13
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	Here is a rubbish paint drawing of what im doing in my 55: Front View:

04/17/2008, 07:27 PM	#14
arts007 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 600	Maybe you can try some acrylic rods to stabilize the rock work along with some putty. I did mine with 1/2" PVC, its a little taller than the 55 so theres a bit more room to work with but still can be done the PVC is holding up the rock work on the left, and on the right is just a pile __________________ Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99% perspiration, which is why engineers sometimes smell really bad. Current Tank Info: 120g SPS reef tank. 2x 400 watt Reeflux 12k on lumenbrights

04/17/2008, 08:12 PM	#15
viceversabrd Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hamburg, NY Posts: 296	wow, that will look great when all of those sps colonies mature __________________ 55 gal FOWLR, 260w pc's, 100 lbs. live rock Current Tank Info: FOWLR