Aquascaping Techniques

[UWUALineman]

Anyone have a link they could provide with a drawn out technique of how to do rock work with something like PVC or other options. Or even tips or advice to help me out. I am upgrading to a 120 and would like to have a "step" effect in the tank to be able to place coral where they would be more successful. I would like to do this without adding a lot of rock that is just going to be underneath the exposed rock leaving a lot of "dead" space.

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

by step effect do you mean starting in the front at the bottom and working the way up to top back wall?

If so get some egg crate and build some steps, zip tie it together and it will save you money from buying rock to get that high up.

 

[UWUALineman]

Thats the kind of word I am looking for. Buidling steps out of PVC and using the eggcrate as the "shelf". Good thinking. Would be a lot of lost space under therock.

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

You"ll definitely have lots of space under the rock if your plan to have steps.. it will allow scared fish to duck into the nooks and feel safe and still allow a good amount of swimming space underneath.

I would put though some type of power head to move the water around underneath since most of your flow will be above the rock work. A koralias PH would do the trick to eliminate the dead spots back there.

 

[chaderic26]

Read Reef Secrets by Nilsen and Fossa.

 

[Jflip2002]

That is the way to go. Its nice and open, but looks like theres a bunch of rock. Its optimal for flow purposes...

 

[AJO]

For my tank I drilled holes and use acrylic rods, aqumend and super glue to attach the rocks together to create shelvs.
I don't really have any drawn out technique of how I did it.
Here are some pics of my tank.

My aquascaping was inspired by crazy4acros tank.
here is a link to his tank.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1288059&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

 

[UWUALineman]

That is a gnarly setup AIO. I like it. Did you drill completely through the rock or just enough to sink the rock into it?

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

+1, that aquascape looks awesome. Make sure to put the safety hanger clips on the Vortech.

 

[mille239]

I also drilled my base rock and used 1/2" acrylic rods to create a lot of caves and arches (keeping behind the rockwork very open) It was the first time I tried this technique, and am very pleased.

 

[luther1200]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14772325#post14772325 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mille239
I also drilled my base rock and used 1/2" acrylic rods to create a lot of caves and arches (keeping behind the rockwork very open) It was the first time I tried this technique, and am very pleased.

Where did you get that LR. It looks awesome.

 

[seafansar]

Ideas: http://translate.google.es/translat...g&catid=4:numero-2&sl=es&tl=en&hl=es&ie=UTF-8

It had to be translated, but is still a good read.

 

[ctenophors rule]

i am a fan of the minimalist approach (less than 20% of sediment is covered with rock)

the one piece of advce i have for you:

take your time and make this right!!!

i have seen some realy nice tanks with amazing corals, but crappy aquascaping and it just detracts from the whole thing.
like wise i have seen some awesome tanks with no coral, but amazing aquascaping.

to borrow the law of the minimal "your aquarium is only as good looking as its ugliest feature" dont let that be your rock!

let it be your easily fixable coral placement.

hth

 

[luther1200]

What kind of "sediment" are you covering??? Do you mean substrate??

I think the aquascaping looks fantastic, and will look even better once there is coral on it.

 

[AJO]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14771945#post14771945 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by UWUALineman
That is a gnarly setup AIO. I like it. Did you drill completely through the rock or just enough to sink the rock into it?

Thanks Lineman,
I drilled holes about half way through the rock and shoved some aquamend and super glue in the hole before inserting the acrylic rods. I also used a small propane torch to heat up the acrylic rods to be able to bend them so that the holes in the rock did not have to line up perfectly.

 

[UWUALineman]

Great reading on the link. Saved that one.
I am wanting my rock to stretch a few inches from the top of the tank down to the sand bed without taking up too much of the tank space out front. It is turning out to be quite the challenge.

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Go a little lower than a few inches from the top. You'll want the grow out / unimpeded flow room later.

 

[mille239]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14773110#post14773110 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luther1200
Where did you get that LR. It looks awesome.

I got it from Marcorocks.... it's called spaghetti rock.

 

[luther1200]

How was the price?

 

[mille239]

really good prices... I bought #100lbs, (it's dry rock) and I believe it was $215 Shipped! (not to mention because it is so porous, I could only use 80lbs of it)

They sold it by the box of 50lbs.