pvc pipe and eggcrate rock shelving
- Thread starter Steverino
- Start date
Anybody have any PVC structures to support live rock? I am winging this and it is looking pretty good so far, but wish I had more to go on and could use other peoples success and mistakes before I commit. I am drilling some holes in a couple pieces of rock with a large diameter concrete drill bit.
Qwiv
Persistant Perspective
I'll gove you some advice. The first advise I have is, you really just need to play with it to get it how you want. It also depends on the actual rocks you have and what look you are going for.
But here are my tips. Drill small holes all over the PVC pipe and fill the pipes with filter floss. Might as well grow some pods in there.
My second bit of advise is a way to hide those vertical pipes without building a mound in front of them. Find a rock that will cover the pipe how you want it (or 2, or 3). Now take some of the underwater epoxy and glue a few zip ties to the rock on the back side. After it is dry/hard, zip tie the rock to the pipe. Put the zip ties through a hole in the PVC, so it can't slide up/down.
Hope that helps some.
But here are my tips. Drill small holes all over the PVC pipe and fill the pipes with filter floss. Might as well grow some pods in there.
My second bit of advise is a way to hide those vertical pipes without building a mound in front of them. Find a rock that will cover the pipe how you want it (or 2, or 3). Now take some of the underwater epoxy and glue a few zip ties to the rock on the back side. After it is dry/hard, zip tie the rock to the pipe. Put the zip ties through a hole in the PVC, so it can't slide up/down.
Hope that helps some.
I've actually drille dholes in the rocks and slid them down over the top of the PVC pipes. On the couple of pieces I've tried, it works pretty well. I imagine I will have some rocks that will break, so I will use them for filling holes and stacking on top later. I am taking photos as I go to post later, if it all works!. I have drilled holes in the pipe, and the ends are open, to make sure I get some water flow in there. I have not heard or did not know about raising the pods though, I'll have to research that.
GROSSR
Active member
I will use a powerhead under the eggcrate to blow the detrius around so I gets into the water column. I have enough room on the side and the front to pass the powerhead around. I like the idea of leaving it there and then moving it as I see fit. I know if I take it out and "plan" on doing it weekly it will turn in monthly.
rich
rich
RandyStacyE
New member
I used 3" PVC as legs and zip tied them to the egg crate. I used a hole saw to bore out some large holes in the legs so that my little fish can swim through them and so that it could allow some flow. It helps if you lay at least some pieces of rock against the shelf to allow hermits and other critter to climb up and down.
I really loved the shelf and it does work. It keeps the rock off of the sand. It allows your sand sifter 100% access to the all of the sand. It gives some additional shelter and all kinds of good stuff.
My problem was my clown fish. He decided to excavate 100% of the sand from the center of the tank. He paddled his little tail and blew all of the sand down to the glass. Now my sand is WAY too thick on the left and right side of the tank and I can't get him to stop doing that. That area is now his territory.
I really loved the shelf and it does work. It keeps the rock off of the sand. It allows your sand sifter 100% access to the all of the sand. It gives some additional shelter and all kinds of good stuff.
My problem was my clown fish. He decided to excavate 100% of the sand from the center of the tank. He paddled his little tail and blew all of the sand down to the glass. Now my sand is WAY too thick on the left and right side of the tank and I can't get him to stop doing that. That area is now his territory.
Are either of you using the eggcrate as shelves, above the sand? I am building a kind of "scaffolding", it is really PVC pipes that go up vertically, so that I can stack a couple tall skinny stack of rocks across the back of the tank (with room behind, no leaning against the glass). My tank is a 30" "tall" and I was hoping to create a tall "wall of rock" that was stabilized across the back, instead of simply stacking rocks in a pyramid shape for stability. That takes up too much floor space to get it 25" tall. These tall PVC pipes will have a PVC base structure for stability, but it will all be under the sand except for the 2-3 pipes going upwards.
Qwiv
Persistant Perspective
On one of my tanks, I have all the rocks supported just above the sand, on egg crate. The other I made a few tall structures, almost like (3 and 5) legged stools. The fish swim under and through the structure. That is a BB tank. So I have done both.
The tank with the rocks just supported above the sand is all 2" pipe with 3/4" drilled holes and a few large openings for my goby. The tall one is all 3/4" pipe about 10" above the bottom of the tank. That one has tons of 3/16" holes and is stuffed with the plastic bail similar to the stuff in a CPR Skimmer. The pods love living in there. There is so much flow in that tank, I am not worried about build-up in the pipes.
The tank with the rocks just supported above the sand is all 2" pipe with 3/4" drilled holes and a few large openings for my goby. The tall one is all 3/4" pipe about 10" above the bottom of the tank. That one has tons of 3/16" holes and is stuffed with the plastic bail similar to the stuff in a CPR Skimmer. The pods love living in there. There is so much flow in that tank, I am not worried about build-up in the pipes.
