Custom In-Wall 150 Project

[cerreta]

Conda, I know this is a bit late, but I have always had more success by aquascaping before adding the water.

Maybe it will help some viewers. Have a basic plan of what you want, then build it in sequence.

Place any supports in the bare bottom first, including plenum and base layer of sand to cover plenum, if using one. Second, add base layer of rocks and zip tie this to a frame (if you are using one) or to the other rocks. Three, add remainder of sand. Four, add the rest of the rocks and zip tie where necessary. Five, add the water by pouring it into a pan allowing it to fill then waterwill softly pour over the lip without the crashing downpour of water disturbing the sandbed.

Here are some links to aquascaping in sequence. (I know there are many ways to do this, but I found this to be tidy and easy without the water in there already).

My 2001 80 Gallon Reef Tank Plan: Overhanging cliff from left to right.
Oh BTW, all this rockwork sits atop of a eggcrate plenum.

Step 1: a CPVC plumbing rack was built to support the cliff.

Step 2: Add base layer of rocks and zip tie.
Step 3: Add sand
This pic shows end of step 3

Step 4: Add the rest of the rocks and zip tie where necessary.
Please don't look at my newbie, feable attempt at plumbing

Years later with tank full o' corals: I have a fancy-dancy overflow now:strooper: and my plumbing has improved.

 

[conda]

Thanks for the tips. I can't plan like that, I just build as I go. Like I said in my previous post, the bottom caves seem to look perfect, it is placing the rocks on top of those caves where I am getting stuck right now. My wife told me to stop and we will try again later.

 

[pnsnowboard]

i really like the aquascaping good job

 

[rdmpe]

Conda, get some of that putty stick type epoxy. That stuff is great. I don't really use it to glue rocks together, but use it to create nice seats between contact points of the rocks, so they have a nice stable solid seat to the rock below. If it sticks, fine. If not, it is still much more stable IMO.

I use something called "Aqua-Mend" from home depot. Same stuff as sold in the lfs but cheaper.

Cerreta - great rockscaping - tank is awesome!

 

[tigerarmy40]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6804974#post6804974 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by conda
I could not find any flat rocks, but here are a couple of pics with some changes. Ignore the rocks to the left of the cove. It's hard to see in the pic, but there is a third cave on the bottom left, it is just facing the other direction.

I've been trying to picture corals on the ledges and other areas, I think you are right when you say it will look much better when filled in. But I'm still not 100% on this yet.

Thanks for the feedback, and don't be afraid to hurt my feelings.

I think the actual base on the bottom right is looking really good, the caves and crevices are awesome, but I think the rocks on top and to the left look really manufactured and not too natural...I would try creating a pile behind the caves that runs out to the left of them with out too much hieght!! just tryin to help

 

[conda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6808058#post6808058 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tigerarmy40
I would try creating a pile behind the caves that runs out to the left of them with out too much hieght!!

What do you mean by this? I did close the bottom right cave with a rock, if you look closely you can see it, but left opening for escape. Do you mean so the caves are closed?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6807918#post6807918 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rdmpe
Conda, get some of that putty stick type epoxy. That stuff is great. I don't really use it to glue rocks together, but use it to create nice seats between contact points of the rocks, so they have a nice stable solid seat to the rock below. If it sticks, fine. If not, it is still much more stable IMO.

I was just thinking about that today. If I can get them to stick, I may be able to better lay them on top.

I think I'm going to take the top layer off and try again. If I break up some of the big rocks I have, maybe I can get some good ones for up there. I'm trying to make a C shaped cove on the right and a island/tower on the left.

 

[tigerarmy40]

its kinda hard to explain but i was thinking you could give the caves more depth and add a few rocks to the bulk of the stack instead of the hieght and have some coming off the far left that gradually get smaller and come out to a point !?!? if you can make the point coming off the left curve a little then you could have the seperate rocks on the far left follow the curve and it would look really natural!

I dont know if I make sense but just tryin to throw some outside point of views at you! I know when I aquascape its hard to do with out someone standing back and giving me a second point of view!!!

 

[conda]

Can you draw me a picture?

 

[asnatlas]

conda, here are a few shots of my first attempt on aquascaping... Maybe it will give you a few ideas...

 

[tigerarmy40]

those look pretty good! I will give you a drawing but believe me when I say its goona be funny lookin!! but it will give yoiu the general idea of what Im talking about....
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a207/tigerarmy40/Untitled1.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket"></a>

 

[conda]

@asnatlas: Thanks for the pics, that does help. You have some good base rock there that look good for stacking. Mine are not so easy.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6816287#post6816287 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tigerarmy40
those look pretty good! I will give you a drawing but believe me when I say its goona be funny lookin!! but it will give yoiu the general idea of what Im talking about....
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a207/tigerarmy40/Untitled1.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket"></a>

Now I see what you are talking about. I think that is a great idea and will try this tonight. I took the left side of the cove along the back of the tank, but you took to to the front and I like that idea. If that works, it will give me much more room to finish the left side--which is what I was worried about.

 

[dtaranath]

This whole thread is great. :thumbsup: Where in Elverson do you live? I work at the new urgent care center.

 

[dtaranath]

...do you think you'll ever get to that electrical post

 

[conda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6822987#post6822987 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dtaranath
This whole thread is great. :thumbsup: Where in Elverson do you live? I work at the new urgent care center.

I live on 345 between 401 and 82 and was just at the urgent care last month with my baby daughter. We were both really sick and the Dr there was awesome. I do not remember his name, but he was foreign and hooked me up with some serious meds that killed my illness within days--and this was after I was sick for three weeks straight. So I love that place!

Regarding the electric: Did I forget to post about it? I think I still have pics. I'll recap some stuff once I get this aquascaping done.

 

[dtaranath]

Both docs there are foreign. Do you remember which one you saw? I'm the Indian one, he's the Philipino.

Anyway, I'm in the process of redo-ing my 90gal. Also getting ready to aquascape, so I'm looking forward to seeing how you do yours. I like the pics that asnatlas put up. gives me some good ideas.

 

[conda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6832221#post6832221 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dtaranath
Both docs there are foreign. Do you remember which one you saw? I'm the Indian one, he's the Philipino.

Anyway, I'm in the process of redo-ing my 90gal. Also getting ready to aquascape, so I'm looking forward to seeing how you do yours. I like the pics that asnatlas put up. gives me some good ideas.

I have to take some more pics of my progress, it is slow since I have to put the tank work last. I'll post some later this week. Do you have a thread for your tank yet?

Regarding the DR: Not sure if he was Indian or Philipino and I don't want to post his name, but his initials are CP. Is that you?

 

[cerreta]

its a small world

 

[smleee]

Back to the top! Nice to see the rocks going in Conda, I could not find anything about the thickness of the glass for you tank, how thick is it?

eee

 

[Jon]

Hey Conda, great thread and good progress, been following along for a while now.

Anyway, could I ask you a favor? I'm getting a new tank built soon and had some concerns about how far the bulkhead connections stick out behind the tank. Could you measure how far yours stick out (glass to outside of PVC elbow) and note bulkhead size. I only have 14" behind tank to the wall and I want to get a feel if I could reasonably walk behind for service and not accidently hit/break one.

Thanks for any help and my appoligies for the brief highjack.

Jon.......

 

[dtaranath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6832980#post6832980 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by conda
I have to take some more pics of my progress, it is slow since I have to put the tank work last. I'll post some later this week. Do you have a thread for your tank yet?

Regarding the DR: Not sure if he was Indian or Philipino and I don't want to post his name, but his initials are CP. Is that you?

He's the other guy.

any new pics of your current aquascaping?

I don't have a thread yet, but eventually, I will. Still slowly acquiring parts for the complete system. Just finished getting the lights and the RO/DI. Now I'm debating on putting the sump in the basement...