appleepiee
New member
What's the best way to create a rock wall?
Rock Wall
- Thread starter appleepiee
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acrylic_300
New member
With a little talent you can do it and leave the rocks an inch away from the back wall.
You can also use plastic pipes to elevate rocks in the back of tank. The pipes will be hidden by the front.
This is an 8 foot tank 30 inches tall with no rocks touching the back. The rocks on the upper right corner are suspended on stilts.
You can also use plastic pipes to elevate rocks in the back of tank. The pipes will be hidden by the front.
This is an 8 foot tank 30 inches tall with no rocks touching the back. The rocks on the upper right corner are suspended on stilts.
appleepiee
New member
Thanks. Very nice tank.
I've seen some people use PVC to create a framework for the wall, then balance the rocks on the PVC, almost like shelves. Others drill holes through the live rock, and thread it onto clear acrylic rods. Sometimes the rods are attached to a base hidden under the sand bed.
Very nice tank indeed, Acrylic_300.
Very nice tank indeed, Acrylic_300.
Instead of acryllic rods, I built a 1/2" PVC framework that sits on the bottom of the tank (under the sand) with 1/2" PVC pipe sticking up out of it (short columns). I drilled rock and set them on these PVC rods. You have complete control of aquascape with this. Nothing visible as with zip ties. Rocks can later be removed (not epoxied together). I set up 2 separate caves with central valley. Nothing touching back or side walls. Couldn't be happier w/ result. Have 2 sandsifting gobies and a sandsifting star and do not worry at all about rocks shifting. Also, I have 2 MP40W powerheads running full power on "green" mode and have never had a sandstorm despite use of sugar-sized aragonite. I also have a 220G currently and am setting up a 400G in-wall and will def be doing the same thing. HTH.
Rickyrooz1
Acropora Nut
This is my "wall" set up. I'm no longer a fan of the wall look but it does maximize surface area for coral placement.
appleepiee
New member
I am trying to understand the meaning of short columns. Do you have a picture of your tank? I would love to see. Thanks.
appleepiee
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15744457#post15744457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rickyrooz1
This is my "wall" set up. I'm no longer a fan of the wall look but it does maximize surface area for coral placement.
Very nice. I love it.
Tried to take some this evening, but my stupid camera is on the fritz. Basically I made a square out of 90 degree elbow 1/2" PVC fitting and 1/2" PVC pipte. Along each side, I inserted 3 1/2" Ts - two on each end pointing down and one pointing up. As I have a 7" DSB, I made 5" legs out of the 1/2" PVC and pushed those into the downward Ts (So I had a square standing on 8 legs). I then cut 1/2" PVC of various lengths (3-5") and pushed them into the Ts pointing upward (4 separate columns). All joints were glued with standard PVC cement. I then drilled rock and pushed them onto these columns. The entire PVC structure (legs and square) are beneath the sandbed and the PVC extending upward is completely embedded in the rock. This is the essence of what I did.
However, you are not locked into squares: PVC fitting are a bit like legos. Incorporating 45 degree bends, I made 2 parrallelograms of different sizes such that I've a large central valley running between the 2 structures. As the rocks are very solidly set on the upward pipe columns, I then was able to stack rocks on these to make a roof over 2 separate caves.
Notably, I set this all up outside the tank to find the best position of each individual rock (including drilling and scaping the rocks then removed the rocks, placed the frames inside the tank and then placed each pre-drilled rock onto the column).
Not particularly a novel way of doing things. However, I think that this provides a more solid base and solid vertical support than using acryllic rods.
2 cents.
Steve
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15744457#post15744457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rickyrooz1
This is my "wall" set up. I'm no longer a fan of the wall look but it does maximize surface area for coral placement.
If my tank looked that nice, I'd be a huge fan on the wall look. NICE!!!
Rickyrooz1
Acropora Nut
Thanks
epstein
New member
appleepiee
New member
What did you use to make your rock wall? Is that foam I see? If it is what kind?
Btw if you don't want water squirting out of your 1/8 hole at your return drill it in a 45 degree angle.
Btw if you don't want water squirting out of your 1/8 hole at your return drill it in a 45 degree angle.
epstein
New member
My walls are built with great stuff spray foam which is inert after it cures......then I applied a marine 2 part epoxy I purchased from Canada....to seal and harden foam.....and when that was applied I used dried sand for texture.....My walls also have about 30 lbs of rock and rubble in them. The tank has been running approximately 18 mos and the color you see if from being completely encrusted in coraline
hope this helps
Brian
hope this helps
Brian
appleepiee
New member
Thanks epstein I am going to try it. 
I'll let you know how it turns out.
I'll let you know how it turns out.Similar threads
