Tips and Tricks on Creating Amazing Aquascapes
- Thread starter Veganbrian
- Start date
GrizFyrFyter
New member
That's pretty cool for us that lack the creativity to build our own. Seems fairly priced too.
Anyhow, here is my current setup. I still need to epoxy everything but I wanted to get my tank cycling (until I realized I didn't have enough salt).
SaltwaterSensei
Premium Member
I really like that Belgian aquascape! So minimal while still having lots of nooks and hiding places... not an easy combo to make.
AGreyCrane
New member
This is my first time aquascaping and I'm not sure the left looks quite right. The intent is to have the left shorter than the right so that you can see the progressive peaks in the tank when viewing from the left side (the left corner is the first view you get of the tank).
I'm generally rubbish at art and design type stuff, so if any of you with the touch have any suggestions they are greatly appreciated.
P.S. It gets so scary stacking the rocks higher, I was terrified about putting the right any higher.
I'm generally rubbish at art and design type stuff, so if any of you with the touch have any suggestions they are greatly appreciated.
P.S. It gets so scary stacking the rocks higher, I was terrified about putting the right any higher.
GrizFyrFyter
New member
Epoxy them together and build a stable base and you have little to worry about.
MikeTR
New member
I believe it's florida rock but I have no way to really know. Was probably purchased at an lfs in or near Gainesville. Came with the tank when I bought it. The rest was dry marco rock.
ReefKeeper64
Wanna be a reefkeeper
I had great results using polygem 307 lite Sculpting Epoxy Putty to bond rock together. It seems expensive but saved me a ton of time and work. Plus a little goes a long way. I also used many thin rubber bands to get the rocks formed into the proper shapes and hold them in place during the bonding process. Then I pulled the rubber bands off when finished. The rubber bands were much easier to work with than string or zip ties since they hold the shape you want so easily. http://www.polygem.com/products/zoopoxy/sculpting/307-lite-2-gallon-kit-sculpting-epoxy-putty
I had great results using polygem 307 lite Sculpting Epoxy Putty to bond rock together. It seems expensive but saved me a ton of time and work. Plus a little goes a long way. I also used many thin rubber bands to get the rocks formed into the proper shapes and hold them in place during the bonding process. Then I pulled the rubber bands off when finished. The rubber bands were much easier to work with than string or zip ties since they hold the shape you want so easily. http://www.polygem.com/products/zoopoxy/sculpting/307-lite-2-gallon-kit-sculpting-epoxy-putty
Thanks for the reply reefkeeper..I love the look of your rocks.. Also how is the weather down there in Tampa...I was born down there and have visited ocassionally, but haven't been there recently. I will post some pics when i am done aquascaping in the next few weeks.
ReefKeeper64
Wanna be a reefkeeper
No problem and glad you like the rockwork! The weather down here is as hot as a sauna set at 105 degrees (just feels that way :angryfire
this time of year but fall, winter, spring are awesome so I can't complain. I added three arrows to show highlights. The two orange arrows show where the 1" returns are. The one yellow arrow shows where there is a concealed 2" drain (there is a strainer as well). Water exits from the tank from that 2" drain and goes back to the pump for the CL and then flows back into the tank through those 1" returns. To create just the right overall shapes, it is easier to break a piece of large rock into a few smaller pieces and then rubber band them together and reform them with epoxy. The next morning you pull the rubber bands off and you're done! Your rock work never tumbles and it's easy keep most of your rock off the sand where detritus tends to accumulate. You can make bridges, overhangs, whatever you can imagine. Use less rock than you think you really need because corals will double the overall mass of the formations with time. Also, place plenty of loose rock around the main formations for a more natural effect. That also allows you to change things up a bit if you want to later on.
Here is my aquascape over time. It changed several times over the years and now, I have had my current scape for the last year and finally achieved to what I believe is natural looking reef. My inspiration for my final aquascape were my dives in Curacao and Aruba, rock walls with outcrops and tables.
Here is a pic of my first scape.....I liked it but it just wasn't functional...two piles of rocks.
As you can also see as a newbie, I was suffering with a lot of issues.
I moved the tank into my current residence and gave it a bit of a fresh start. Again, two piles of rocks however with more caves.
I liked the above scape and had it for a considerable amount of time however my new coral additions made the rock pile unstable and I started to collapse repeatedly in different areas. Numerous attempts to fix it failed as I was only stacking rocks.
My goal for my new scape was for it to be solid, unique, and natural looking. I sourced out korallenwelt reef ceramic rock to redo my aquascape and made a clear plan. I wanted a reef wall on the back of the glass, a pile to the left that I wanted to grow monti plates, an sps tower in the center, caves and a table.
I first replaced the right hand stack of rocks that collapsed.
I than prepped the rest of the backwall, cutting it with a handsaw for a seamless fit. I was actually surprised that a hand saw was able to cut it, it was garbage after but I took my time not to ruin anything.
Everything all in, gives a bit of an idea of the initial structure. This was completed Feb 2012. All pieces were expoxyed in and the creases between panels were also filled with the two part reef epoxy. To secure the structure I used the "sandwhci method" which is superglue (I prefer gorilla glue), two part epoxy, superglue. All structures are solid and nothing has fallen over or collapsed.
I filled in some of the structures harsh edges with zoanthid colonies. Here are two shots from January 2013.
Here is the most recent shot....about two weeks ago. I am really happy with the progression and hope you like the aquascape. Pictures don't do the structures and depth justice.
Sorry for the bad photos, all taken with iphone 4 or 5 (depending on photo age)
>jason
Here is a pic of my first scape.....I liked it but it just wasn't functional...two piles of rocks.
As you can also see as a newbie, I was suffering with a lot of issues.
I moved the tank into my current residence and gave it a bit of a fresh start. Again, two piles of rocks however with more caves.
I liked the above scape and had it for a considerable amount of time however my new coral additions made the rock pile unstable and I started to collapse repeatedly in different areas. Numerous attempts to fix it failed as I was only stacking rocks.
My goal for my new scape was for it to be solid, unique, and natural looking. I sourced out korallenwelt reef ceramic rock to redo my aquascape and made a clear plan. I wanted a reef wall on the back of the glass, a pile to the left that I wanted to grow monti plates, an sps tower in the center, caves and a table.
I first replaced the right hand stack of rocks that collapsed.
I than prepped the rest of the backwall, cutting it with a handsaw for a seamless fit. I was actually surprised that a hand saw was able to cut it, it was garbage after but I took my time not to ruin anything.
Everything all in, gives a bit of an idea of the initial structure. This was completed Feb 2012. All pieces were expoxyed in and the creases between panels were also filled with the two part reef epoxy. To secure the structure I used the "sandwhci method" which is superglue (I prefer gorilla glue), two part epoxy, superglue. All structures are solid and nothing has fallen over or collapsed.
I filled in some of the structures harsh edges with zoanthid colonies. Here are two shots from January 2013.
Here is the most recent shot....about two weeks ago. I am really happy with the progression and hope you like the aquascape. Pictures don't do the structures and depth justice.
Sorry for the bad photos, all taken with iphone 4 or 5 (depending on photo age)
>jason
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Thanks tfeyrer!
I have seen some three sided tanks where there is a wall near the over flow and islands and arches down the rest of the tank through the middle. This would allow for nice viewing on three sides and maximize the area you would have for corals!
>jason
I was thinking of that....The main viewing point on what is traditionally the "front" is built into the wall and only accessible from the back where I can take the panels off. I'm going to have to play around with it a little I think because getting around the rock to clean is a little tricky.
Thanks jkoot!
