Live Rock Landscape

[aryiman]

So I hear people talk about masonry bits, zip ties, pvc pipe, underwater putty/gel but I don't see any pictures of these being applied. I am trying to figure out how to put my live rock in my tank and not sure how to make sure it is secured on the bottom.

I was just going to set it on the bottom of the tank but I heard that is a big no no. So please help me and post up examples of how to use these different techniques that are talked about.

Thanks,

Tyler

 

[tkeracer619]

I always put the rock strait on the bottom of the tank. If you put it on sand it can shift. A falling rock is much more dangerous then a supported rock.

Generally those methods are used for larger tanks.

Here is how I did it. It gives an illusion that the tank is packed full of rock when it really isn't. The fish have a ton of open swimming room behind the rock.

 

[Dono]

Also, dont put your rock on the glass bottom, support it with some egg crate (you can buy it at any hardware store in the light section)

 

[tkeracer619]

double post

 

[aryiman]

wow tke, that looks like a nice setup.

I might just go for the egg crate route

 

[sucker_fish]

you can also drill holes in rock and use pvc or acrylic rod ran through them to stack rock and make pillars, zip ties to hold together pretty much anything, pvc racks, rocks whatever you can get a zip tie in around or through.

 

[aryiman]

you can also drill holes in rock and use pvc or acrylic rod ran through them to stack rock and make pillars, zip ties to hold together pretty much anything, pvc racks, rocks whatever you can get a zip tie in around or through.

Ok so people actually just drill into their rock and then attach to other rock using zip ties or pvc rods?

This helps out a lot.

Tke is there anything holding your stands down to the glass or just the weight of the rock?

 

[tkeracer619]

Thanks. It has been a lot of work

There is nothing holding them down other then the rocks. I capped all of the ends of the pvc structure so no water could get into the pipes and get stagnant.

You can fill the pvc structure with some sand prior to capping them.

Drilling rock and using pvc as pegs requires large rocks. A 1/2 pipe requires a large hole and unless it is a big rock they tend to break apart when you get into them with a masonry bit. Acrylic rods are great because they are stronger and you can use a lot smaller hole.

 

[aryiman]

Does anyone have a picture of the eggcrate going under the live rock?

 

[jeff@zina.com]

Ok so people actually just drill into their rock and then attach to other rock using zip ties or pvc rods?

Yep. I bought plastic hangers at the dollar store and cut sections of them for the rods. A masonry bit drills a hole in seconds. Epoxy will hold it all together, or just use the rods if they're tight in the holes.

Jeff

 

[Cozmo4]

I['m in the middle of building a new 210g and am building the rock structure partially with PVC, zip ties and epoxy. I'm using BRS Reef Saver rock primarily and it's relatively easy to drill.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46634369@N05/5402160287/" title="DSC_0026 by Cozmo420, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5402160287_a159d6d929_z.jpg" width="426" height="640" alt="DSC_0026" /></a>

Here's nearing the end of one section. The two "branches" are built independently of the "base" so that I don't have to try and lift and lower a 60 lb structure into the tank - there is PVC coming out of the bottom of each "branch" that drops into a hole in the base. I'll epoxy it in place once it's in the tank. You can see the epoxy in between a couple of the rock. I mostly used zip ties just to hold everything in place while the epoxy dried around the rock/PVC joints.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46634369@N05/5402760776/" title="DSC_0027 by Cozmo420, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/5402760776_976c35d9c8_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="DSC_0027" /></a>

Here's my workhorse on the project...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46634369@N05/5402159129/" title="DSC_0022 by Cozmo420, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5402159129_3903032710_z.jpg" width="426" height="640" alt="DSC_0022" /></a>

 

[fla_tony]

I used pvc/zipties/epoxy to make my scape. I use the pvc with zipties to support everything while the epoxy dried. The ditched the pvc placed in the tank the put in the sand to go around the bottom rock and its stable as can be.

The live rock is just place in. The dry rock is what was all constructed with pvc zipties and epoxy.

 

[heckfire]

I always put the rock strait on the bottom of the tank. If you put it on sand it can shift. A falling rock is much more dangerous then a supported rock.

Generally those methods are used for larger tanks.

Here is how I did it. It gives an illusion that the tank is packed full of rock when it really isn't. The fish have a ton of open swimming room behind the rock.

wow,, that is a beautiful setup

 

[seapug]

Also, dont put your rock on the glass bottom, support it with some egg crate (you can buy it at any hardware store in the light section)

+1. You can go crazy with PVC platforms, acrylic rods, etc. but simple pieces of eggcrate under the rock will go a long way to providing some basic stability to the aquascape.

 

[duncantse]

If you have a small tank, then stacking up the rocks would be fine. I myself have a 20 gallon tank and I didn't use any zipties, pvc, etc. I stacked them up and they did not fall.

 

[aryiman]

I have a 55g tank

heckfire, did you build a pvc structure like tke did?

Thank you all for the help and visuals!

 

[heckfire]

I have a 55g tank

heckfire, did you build a pvc structure like tke did?

Thank you all for the help and visuals!

no no.. i was admiring his,,, mine is a leaning tower of death,, i have around 30 pistol shrimp undermining my rocks

 

[aleonn]

Definitely go with eggcrate on the bottom. RC sponsor Bulkreefsupply sells it, as well as your local Home Depot (as lighting diffuser under the lighting section, as mentioned).

I used a 7/8" drill bit to insert 1/2" PVC through large BRS rocks. For the smaller rocks I used a 3/16" drill bit to pass through zip ties. If you soak your rocks for a day or two, it's so much easier to drill them (cuts like butter).

 

[aryiman]

Thanks for all the opinion and advice. I am convinced that I'll just do the eggcrate to being with. I'm looking at getting some live rock from aquatic connection.

The live rock I'm looking at is:
25 lb of Pacific Deepwater (medium pieces)
25 lb of Bali Alor (large pieces)
25 lb of Premium Fiji (large pieces)

Any suggestions? I was looking to get about 50 lbs to start with

 

[auburngrad]

you might want to search for aquatic connection reviews, both here and googled.