I made a bonsai rock

[Dangerwill]

I was checking out some threads looking for some inspiration for my new build. I came across crazy4acros bonsai cube and the next thing I knew I was at hdepot getting supplies.


This was the idea that got me hooked



This is what I ended up with.





I started with 8 good size rocks and ended up with 1 big one. Hydraulic cement is not fun to work with but I got the hang of it after a while. Small batches and keep stirring or you end up with a bucket of pavement. After it cures Im going to do a few days of saltwater and powerheads in a big tub then in the tank it goes.

 

[ToddBell]

Looks pretty sweet!

 

[SammyL]

Dont laugh but what is Hydraulic cement?

 

[Dangerwill]

Looks pretty sweet!

Thanks Todd i cant wait to get some coral on it

 

[Dangerwill]

Dont laugh but what is Hydraulic cement?

Its reef safe concrete that is made for wet applications. It cures superfast so that it can be applied to wet spots like a crack in a basement wall or in this case to a bunch of reefrock. I also used a few zipties to get everything in place

 

[sweet2004r1]

Wow that is super nice!!!!

 

[d0nniec]

very nice rock work there

 

[R1ant04]

great job on the rock work. Will b waiting on pics of it in the tank.

 

[Norcalhkr]

Nice job on the bonsai, I use them in both of my nanos, big fan

 

[MikeC120]

Nice job

 

[LivingStrong08]

Great bonsai! I originally had some bonsai style rockscape in my 67. Now, not so much. Be sure that you have it supported all the way to the bottom of the sand. I had a BSJ dig and I barley avoided a major catastrophe!

I am looking forward to your growth on this.

 

[zibba]

Looks great! I know from experience that it's not easy to create that look. Good work.

 

[Robb/Scottsdale/AZ]

Well done.

Agree with Timmy about making sure you have a good footing for it so it doesnt topple or tip over.

When I put together a false wall on the back of my tank I used the the black pond foam and eggcrate. That has held well over the past 5 years. I used the same foam for binding together many small pieces of branch rock into bigger units at the base and that didnt last as long, its coming apart now. I think Ill try your hydraulic cement next time.

you might be able to use the cement and eggcrate as a footer.

 

[[Q]Powered_ITR]

very nice!

 

[Dangerwill]

Thanks for the compliments guys, you made my day! It cured nice and seems pretty solid. Tomorrow im going to submerge it. It feels pretty sturdy and balanced but i may glue it to a piece of starboard.

 

[Dangerwill]

UPDATE on my bonsai tank.

Tank is up and running, cycle is complete, fish and coral have been transferred and blah blah blah here's some pictures!

 

[incapearl]

That's sweet!

 

[82ndengineer]

I'd like to do this type of rock design in a peninsula style tank. Yours looks good now lets see it in 6-8 months full of coral and looking awesome.

 

[truthdesigns]

do you have other rock in there? I like the bonsai idea just think it would look alot cleaner if there was more sand scape less rock...

 

[Dangerwill]

There is other rock besides the bonsai structure. I needed to provide some hiding places for the fish and since those rocks were covered in ricordeas and zoos it made the decision to include them pretty easy.

From a photography standpoint, the bonsai rock would be best placed alone in a cube tank or a tank with a corner overflow. From a sitting in my living room standpoint i couldn't be happier with the way it turned out.