SPS tank stacked, epoxied , ziptied or foam whats best

[wickedfish]

I have stacked but it has cost at minimum the loss of 5 frags either some where to tight to get to or they broke on the way down. It has also cost my colonies countless breaks. Do I start my aquascape over and zip tie or leave it alone and hope that shifting stays to minimum? What do you guys do in your Sps tanks?

 

[jcolletteiii]

I used black pond foam and zip ties. Many use acrylic rod or pvc pipe and drill holes into the rock, then string the rock like beads onto the rod/pipe. My method appears to be pretty stable, and I like having the zip ties in there as well as a backup.

 

[slant77]

Mine are stacked nothing else. just find the right combo that looks good to me and lock together good.

 

[jcolletteiii]

Mine are stacked nothing else. just find the right combo that looks good to me and lock together good.

I used to do this as well when I was running nanos. I'd worry, though, with the bigger tank that as colonies grow, and the center of gravity of the rock pile changes, that things could topple and break other frags, colonies, or worse, glass.

 

[buy_baff]

I just stack it but I make sure it fits fogether verry well and only use large pieces. Here is a pick of my scape when I first set-up the tank.

and here is 4 months later

 

[wickedfish]

heres my fts

http://s864.photobucket.com/albums/ab208/chefesteban/

 

[wickedfish]

I think this is it, like i said as things grow larger things mean more to me and would hate to make more frags unintentionally

 

[wickedfish]

left side

 

[wickedfish]

right side

 

[wickedfish]

bay, your tank looks more mature than mine it is also 4 month old. Nicely done where did you buy your colonies or did they come from another one of your tanks? Your lighting looks like it penetrates pretty well to reach the middle like that. I have all of my sps high which sort of sucks for astetic reasons

 

[buy_baff]

I grew them all from small frags. Transfered to this tank from old tank with a layover in my prop set-up. Here are some pics to show the groth over the 4 months.
This is right after adding the corals.

and for months later

left side

right side

these pics are a month old tank is 5 months now. I have lumenbright pendents and lumatek switchable ballists.

 

[wickedfish]

Sick bro you are a beast! I have hamiltons 2 t5 2 250 mh. Not the greatest lighting setup but next time, I know what to buy.

 

[disenchantedone]

That is one Badass tank, Bay! I'm impressed! Thanks for posting a FTS for inspiration!

 

[buy_baff]

Thanks guys! It's comeing along nicely.

 

[MechEng99]

I place my rocks how they fit well together, then epoxy them together just to make sure. I was originally going to do the acrylic rod/zip tie thing, but I wanted to have some ability to tear some rocks off if I needed to (in case a coral fell or something.)

 

[wickedfish]

Anyone else, Mecheng you epoxied them out side then placed them in right? What type of epoxy did you use?

 

[rireuter]

go to home depot and in the adhesives aisle there is some stuff called "water weld" made by JB weld i beleive, i asked around in the DIY forum what to use and i was referred to this by many. its the same thing as aquastik, a 2 part epoxy in a "log" that makes a nice putty when you rub it together, stick your rocks together like silly putty!!! dries gray and hard as a rock, even dries underwater!!!!

 

[MechEng99]

Actually, I placed them all in the tank, filled with water (since that sometimes changes things, added flow (want to make sure those rocks aren't going to move at all!!), and then expoxied them. The skimmer will go crazy depending on what type epoxy you use. I've used the expensive coral epoxies...now I'm just using the cheapo "Fix-it Stick". It's never bothered anything, and I don't think it would unless you used tons and tons of it. I've even used it with corals in the tank - PE wasn't even affected. Just watch your skimmer and adjust accordingly.

 

[landlord]

During my new tank construction I went with a combination of plastic driveway markers (1/4 inch rods) and aquamend. Was able to assemble the rockwork outside forming 3 large pieces which laid in the tank nicely. Solid construction of a base is the key, as the corals grow and take shape they will make many structures unstable or top heavy depending on your design. Frag accidents are the worst. The desire here was to prevent them from happening.

landlord

 

[rogerwilco357]

rock on the back glass

rock on the back glass

I grew them all from small frags. Transfered to this tank from old tank with a layover in my prop set-up. Here are some pics to show the groth over the 4 months.
This is right after adding the corals.

and for months later

left side

right side

these pics are a month old tank is 5 months now. I have lumenbright pendents and lumatek switchable ballists.

how did you get that island to float off the back wall ? very nice like the idea.
Roger