Aqua-scaping

[jschoon]

I am looking for advice on how to place my LR. Let me elaborate. I am looking for...

1. How to stack - dry stack or use a safe epoxy
2. What is more important, height or length or ?
3. Stack on substrate or elevate? How?
4. Lessons learned from your experiences - What not to do

Thanks. The reason I ask is that I have almost 20 pounds of LR in my 38 gal tank. I am slowly increasing the amount of LR until I get to about 40 - 45 pounds. I am adding slowly as I find rock I like and can afford. Right now I am dry stacking and basically it is low. The height is about half the height of the tank at it's tallest. I want to get a good foundation for later additions. Thanks again in advance for sharing your advice and experience.

 

[Anonymous]

Lets see here...

1. I do both, but for overhangs and arches I epoxy so it's a matter of preference. I've also drilled rock and used fiberglass rods to make columns.

2. It's what looks good to you. Height works well if you have corals that need to be closer to the light, open space may be more important if you have fish that like that. Personally I'm fond of arches and overhangs and open space rather than the "WALL O ROCK" you often see. With good quality rock, low bioload and proper skimming you can make due with not stuffing the tank with rock IMO.

3. Again, it depends. You can bury the base of some rock in the substrate and stack others on top with/without epoxy but bear in mind that having "x" pounds of rock hitting the glass when your creation collapses can take 10 years off your life, not to mention ruin the carpet when the tank breaks...been there, done that. So if you stack it, make sure it doesn't move!

As far as elevating, you mean on a platform of sorts? You can use PVC pipe and make a framework for it to rest on if you'd like, and even wire pieces to it for effects.

Here's a neato idea: http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=89098 shows how it looks to have pieces "floating" on the back wall of a tank.

The rock/bacterial action won't be any different either way. If you have no substrate you don't want to set the rock directly of the glass bottom-that's asking for trouble so PVC or some other type of frame or starboard would be in order.

 

[jschoon]

Thanks, your comments were helpful. I know I still have a long way to go and that odds are I will never feel that I have "finished".

As far as the epoxy goes, is there a particular brand or type that works best? Do I need to worry about the occupants being killed by the chemicals in the epoxy?

 

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine just set up a new tank and glued his rock to the back wall, then used a few strategically placed large rocks in the front of the tank. The fish swim behind the rocks and it looks really cool.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, your comments were helpful. I know I still have a long way to go and that odds are I will never feel that I have "finished".

As far as the epoxy goes, is there a particular brand or type that works best? Do I need to worry about the occupants being killed by the chemicals in the epoxy?

At home improvement stores there are 2 part underwater use plumbers epoxy that works well and is not toxic, but I'll be jiggered if I can remember any brand names..it seems to me that if it's safe for "human consumption" i.e. for use with plumbing it was okay for using in the reef.

Dangit..I'm sure the name will come to me or someone else will chime in. As far as being finished with a tank, sorry to tell you but THAT never happens :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

You will never be satisfied with the rock structure. Just except that. My husband moves those darn rocks all the time.

 

[jumpincactus]

The most important point is to make sure when stacking you allow plenty of space between the rocks so you get good flow thru the rocks. I have seen some tanks that are so packed that there is no where for the water to flow thru the structure

 

[SnowManSnow]

just stack them up so they dont fall.

i wouldnt glue them to the back wall... imo

b

 

[Anonymous]

By the way, did you read this article in this month's Advanced Aquarist? Some good tips in it...
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/8/lines

 

[fishaddict]

Fish and inverts love areas outta the light. Most on my fish find a home in a shaded cave. Try to look for pieces that have holes and curves so they can be easily stacked into tunnels.

 

[Anonymous]

The most common mistake made when doing this, aside from adding too much rock, and not allowing for water flow, is a clear LACK OF BASIC DESIGN SENSE. Poor compostion, failing to break up space in a comfortable way, failing to recognize the importance of open space, playing large shapes against small ones, the list goes on.

For example, a large pile of rock on the left side of the tank to the water surface, offset by a small pile on the right (not all the way to the right, leave some space) going no more than a quarter to half of the way to the surface will give you a nice composition, plenty bof flow, and a natural looking aquascape...if done right that is. :wink:


Jim