Tips and Tricks on Creating Amazing Aquascapes

[fairl80z]

 

[reefchile]

I like it

 

[pola0502ds]

Are there any threads out there that go in depth on how to physically aquascape? The beginning of this thread seems it's more on theory and it's good stuff. I'm looking for what tools you can use to cut and break up live rock? What you can use to hold it together? Tips and tricks on how to work the stone?

 

[C3hutson]

hacksaw and screwdriver+hammer work for me.

 

[oseymour]

hacksaw and screwdriver+hammer work for me.

What are the rods and cement that people use to hold them together.

 

[South City]

Marco Rocks sells a mortar made specifically for aquascaping in saltwater. I like it. For the rods, you can buy the fiberglass reflectors from Home Depot/Lowes and cut them. They are solid and relatively inexpensive.(around $2 a piece)

What are the rods and cement that people use to hold them together.

 

[C3hutson]

Even better than cementing is getting a masonry drill bit the same diameter as the orange rods and putting the rocks together without glue or epoxy. That way everything is super easy to disassemble if you have to remove one of the rocks

 

[FirstContact]

Here's what turned out with fiberglass rodding and HDPE board:

 

[FirstContact]

With sand and hiding fish. All the fish like the drop off on the right side of the tank.

 

[Squibege]

90G. Do I need more rock? I have one flat piece and another chunky one.

Any comments/ suggestions welcome!

 

[boostedvq]

My planned scape for my 54 x 40 x 22 tank. Photos are from the left, right, top and front respectively.

What do you think?

 

[BrianKC]

My planned scape for my 54 x 40 x 22 tank. Photos are from the left, right, top and front respectively.

What do you think?

Dude. That's pretty epic. The only feedback I have is that it's a little centered. Any way that triceratops skull-like rock (seriously, awesome rock) could be off-center a bit?

 

[boostedvq]

Dude. That's pretty epic. The only feedback I have is that it's a little centered. Any way that triceratops skull-like rock (seriously, awesome rock) could be off-center a bit?

Thank you for the feedback. I'll move it slightly right once it's in the tank

 

[mntbiker2008]

Any suggestions on what I can do here? It is a 55. I would like to get as much space for corals as possible but also leaving plenty of room for fish.

 

[fairl80z]

Any suggestions on what I can do here? It is a 55. I would like to get as much space for corals as possible but also leaving plenty of room for fish.

Make 2 different sized islands

 

[Zach103]

Figured I would join in and see what you guys think. Still have some extra rock I can throw in too.

 

[Zach103]

Figured I'd see what you guys thought. I have some more I can add if needed.

 

[maxxII]

My planned scape for my 54 x 40 x 22 tank. Photos are from the left, right, top and front respectively.

What do you think?

I think the pig really brings the whole aquascape together.....

 

[maxxII]

90G. Do I need more rock? I have one flat piece and another chunky one.

Any comments/ suggestions welcome!

That appears to be at least 4 different rocks......

3 on the left and 1 on the right.

I suggest removing the lower "3rd" rock on the left, and figure out someway to level off the 2nd rock which you have leaning downward at an angle towards the center of the tank.

Figure out what you need to do to brace/support that ledge so that it is perpendicular to the 1st rock/tallest rock on the left and make a floating shelf of it. You may need to take the 3rd rock and ziptie/attach it to the other side of the 1st/tall rock as a counter balance for the ledge.

IMO, that will do alot for your scape....

 

[maxxII]

Thoughts?

40 lbs of rock (Marco Rocks and Tonga Shelf) held together with Emarco 400 hydraulic cement and zipties, with acryic rod feet raising them up off of 90lbs of sand in a standard 120 (48x24x24)

There are numerous holes drilled into the rock for frag plug placement.

Suggestions and comments welcomed.