Rock scaping

[Mark420]

Ok I know that you don't want to stack Lr to tight. And I'm sure most of you will reply to this post by saying "evryone does it different or just do what looks good" but her it goes, I'm looking for idea's on how to stack my LR, I just don't want a "wall" look, my tank is a 5ft long 105g. I would like to have maybe 2 "piles" and room for fish to swim(I plan on turning it into a feef tank after it has established, but for now it'll have some larger fish. If anyone knows any good site w/pics on different styles of LR stacking i would greatly appreciate it.

PS: I also want to make sure the piles are secure and don't have a rock slide,it happened to me a couple times w/ my 58g
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[suckair]

My old way of thinking was to stack it up the back glass. I have changed since them. Now I like to find the real long big pieces “20-40lb rocks” and stack them on other rocks to make swim thru and tunnels. I also found, as coral colonies get large you don’t have as much room for rocks so plan for that.

Randall

 

[Jeff Hood]

On my new tank I will be using a drill and pvc and acrylic rods to build structures. I hate the wall of rock stacked against the back glass. Be creative and use an internal skeleton for your structure so you can have overhangs, ledges and leaning towers. Use some epoxy to stabalize the structure when placed over the pipe and rods.

Good luck.

Jeff

 

[Toadally1]

Mark - This is how I have mine set up. I didn't want the wall look either. Just click on the folder (Reef Tank)

reef tank

[ October 22, 2001: Message edited by: Toadally ]

 

[BBReefkeeper]

Mark-
Do a search for "Tanu". He has posted several times how to build towers using drilled out LR and 1/2" PVC. I used his idea and built some very attractive towers. Great overhangs, lots of arches and swim through areas. I have a lot of height and open space for corals w/o a rock pile.
Good Luck
Bryan

 

[dieselboy]

So glad to see people with a disdain for reef walls!

It's always been my thinking to let the corals grow naturally and take up the majority of the water column, and keep the live rock at a bare minimum. LR *walls* just don't leave anything to the imagination or aesthetics IMO. Something about having nicely colored SPS but only 6 or so inches for upward growth really doesn't do it for me, and looks too cramped and claustrophobic...quite the contrast to the feeling of great expanse, openness, and freedom associated with a coral reef or the re-creation of one.

That having been said, one LR trick (for smaller rock structures, overhangs) that I've done for awhile was to use in conjunction with epoxy, superglue (runny, not gel) and water to hasten the cure time. When I built my 2 big rock structures (each made from several *interlocking* pieces of LR), I used epoxy, rubberbands and cable ties to hold them all in place. While it all starts to partially cure, I spread the runny superglue generously over the curing butt connection with my finger, then wet these connections with water. For some reason, this process speeds up the cure time, and if done correctly, the entire structure can be handled (carefully!) w/in 10 minutes. Mixing superglue with epoxy make this mixture super sticky (until you add the water, which hardens the whole thing), and expect this mixture to be warm to the touch. With this technique, I was able to make plenty of big overhangs, caves, and weird ledges with a very minimal amount of visible *hardware*. Looks great, and people ask me all the time where I got these rocks from, they look that unique. HTH

 

[Mark420]

Thanks for all of the replies

It'a great to hear tjat there are others that don't like the "wall" look. I'll be taking a look at some of your guy's tank pics to get some good idea's.I'll keep you posted

 

[Mark420]

WOW, I like the tower that tanu made w/PVC it looks great, I think that I'll add one to my setup

But I'm still looking for more ideas on rock scaping. Any more tips??

 

[Laurie]

Use some large pieces of branch rock. It can create lots of open areas with interesting pieces jutting up and out here and there. Crooks in the branches are good places to stick corals.

I like the open look, too, and have 2 "piles" one longer than the other with about a 1 foot space between. The rock doesn't touch the back wall except in one small area and one end is completely open. The other end would be, too, but we needed someplace to stick our monster galaxea so it wouldn't sting anybody else anymore. I also like lots of space above the reef. Many of our fish swim around up there from time to time.

Keep in mind though, even if your rockwork is very open, once you start placing corals it is going to close up quite a bit so make sure you leave some spots that can remain completely open and coral-free.

 

[Mark420]

bump up

 

[jbf16falcon]

I subscribe to the faction that believes the more flow you have around and through your Live Rock, the better filtration job it will provide. My 175 has 235 pounds of Fuji LR that is stacked 4 inches from the back of the tank. I don't use any structural supports for my rock. I wouldn't suggest that unless you do as I did. My base rocks are about 40 pounds each and were all hand selected for stability against the bottom of the tank. As you go higher the rocks are smaller progressively with some flatter ones projecting from the pile for shelves. I went for a triangle shape and spent hours stacking for stability. I have three large archways through the rock that provide intrest to the eye and for the fish. I was lucky to have a LFS that cures large shipments of rock so he had the large pieces I was wanting. That's hard to do if your ordering 40 pound boxes of rock. My experience has been that there are very few really large pieces shipped in that size of box. Good Luck. I'm sure there are a 100 opinions on how to do this but that's how the hobby evolves. I believe in water flow, water flow, water flow, a good skimmer, a 1.5 to 3" sand bed that varies throuhout the tank for different sand critters and good light. I've done the plenum tanks, gone skimmerless and paid the price of problem tanks. It just happens the one set up in the above method has outlasted the others and is not as much of a maintenance problem. It has been up and running for 6 years now and I have only had to add more sand to the bed. Make the best decision you can based on everyone's input, learn and pass on what doesn't work as well as what does.

 

[Mark420]

This is the type of info I like to hear

I'm trying to get as many different types of set ups as poss. that way I can try to incorporate a lil bit of everything. If any of you guys have pics of your setups please send them this way pics help me alot

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[npaden]

I'm using the 950lbs of southdown sand in my tank as the primary filtration with my live rock more to provide a structure for the corals and clams to set on and provide a boost to the flora and fauna populations.

I was anal enough to draw out a pic of my intended aquascaping before I actually did it.

Here is the drawing:

And here is the final result: (well not final - I've moved a few rocks since the pic but still pretty much the same look)

That's about 300lbs of live rock in my 10' 415 gallon tank.

One other item of note - I have a return outlet that goes low into the rock structure on the right side to keep water flowing through there. Also I try to stack the rocks with as much space between them with plenty of caves, tunnels and hiding spaces for the fish.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[Mark420]

Thanks alot NPADEN

Thats the type of stuff I was looking for.

Pics help me alot!! Wow looks like you have one heck of a clean-up crew, I see lots of snails, but i guess with tank thats 400g+ you need them huh..

BTW I wouldn't consider your lil sketch "anal" cuz it can be very usefull for "slow" people like me.LOL

thanks
[email protected]

 

[Paul A. Ifkovits]

I have always employed a "bridge" technique. This promotes openess and flow while keeping large quantities of rock off your sand bed.

To do this place 2 or three small pieces of rock on the bed, then a large piece on top. If your rock cooperates, 2 pieces will do the trick. But at times it may prove necessary to use three as a tripod.

This technique works on all layers of the structure not just the bottom.

Also like to add that with me, the rock structure is always changing. Either for asthetics, to correct a problem such as a dead spot in the tank, or to accomodate a new coral (which I really do not have room for but...). It is a learning process so do not feel you must stay with your original design.

Paul

[ October 31, 2001: Message edited by: Paul A. Ifkovits ]</p>
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Boiling Forum

 

[Mark420]

Paul do you have any pics of your rock work and tank? It would be nice to see it

 

[Paul A. Ifkovits]

No I do not. I am looking to purchase a digital camera for this purpose. The other thing I meant to mention in my original reply is I like to keep a 1" - 2" space between the rock and the back of the tank.

Paul
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Mercedes 300SL

 

[White-Queen]

I think I need to add more liverock. Those tank look great.
How many of you had a pre-planned set-up? How did the final end up compared to the plan? Also, in what ways did livestock selection influence the set-up or did it?

Angela <><

 

[Bomber]

Mark,
Here's two pictures of our 450.

Three years ago

Three months ago