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Aquascaping Help

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dbboy17 View Drop Down
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    Posted: March 09 2009 at 10:05am
I just purchased a 90g tank and have a chance to make some changes and want to do it right before i transfer my tank over.  I think that I would like to try to build two towers on each side and then have a few rocks that bridge accross.  I may be asking for too much. 
 
I am hoping some of you guys have some ideas and i've read about a few ideas as well regarding aquascaping.  I want to set up a design that allows for water movement between my rocks as well as provide hiding places for everything and I also want it to be stable. 
 
I just worry that if I pile some rocks up together that i'm not going to really have the waterflow that i want as well as the stability.  I've read about using epoxy, gluing rock to the glass and others.  I was thinking about building a sort of platform system out of pipes and maybe using some of that egg crate material to sort of build some supports. 
 
I would love to hear some ideas that have worked and ones that have not before I start.  If you can list some of the materials used that would help as well. 
 
Trent 
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CrimsRayne View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CrimsRayne Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 09 2009 at 2:49pm
Totally possible and "easy" to do with patience, a decent set of rock, and some good 'ol trial and error.
I'll post some pics of my tanks, the good and not so good aquascaping ideas I've had.  I currently have 8 tanks running and I can't even count how many times I have reaquascaped a couple of these and the ones before them.  Needless to say I have learned a LOT and would love to pass it on.
"What we know from this hobby is too hard to share with the people who just want to look and not get wet." -Rioreefer

"The Puffer Girl"

Zoo freak :)

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dbboy17 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 09 2009 at 2:59pm

Thanks, any tricks of the trade are much appreciated.  Are most people gluing their rocks together or are they just stacking them.  I do see a lot of the time where it looks like the rocks lean up against the back glass.  My only concern with doing that is being able to clean around the back of the tank. 

Do most aquarists like the look of the crusty algae growth on the back wall of their tanks?  I know sometimes the color tends to blend in a little bit with the rocks, but that stuff is hard to get off.     
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I saw a Nano tank where the owner had created an arch of LR.  He had drilled the peices and then ran stiff vinyl tubing as the support.  It looked great and I couldn't see the tubing at all.  I imagine it would allow for some movement that way without much risk of a collapse.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2009 at 3:44pm
Vadryn that is just what I was going to write.  Drill your rock with a hammer drill or regular drill.  Get some acrlic rod to put in the holes that you drilled.  Its best to do this on a lay out of your tank.  I have seen it done before where they take cardboard and cut it to the size of the tank so they have a good idea how its going to look when they build there rocks.   This is what I plan on doing with my tank here soon.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dbboy17 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2009 at 4:26pm
Thanks for the advice.  I don't know if i've seen the scrylic rods.  Is it similar to pvc pipe? 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote vadryn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2009 at 4:32pm
I think this guy used something similar to ice machine water line, but in a larger diameter like 1/4" or 3/8".  It's kinda flexible and would probably be really usefull if you soaked it in hot water as you were using it to make it that much more pliable.  Ice mache water lien may be just right if you are talking a smaller tank or using smaller peices of LR.
 
Around $.10/ft at the local Lowes or HD.


Edited by vadryn - March 10 2009 at 4:33pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dbboy17 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2009 at 4:45pm
I'm aquascaping for a 90g tank and i'm probably going to have a mix of large and small rocks.  I know i can place the rocks just right and they may stay but then i could have a fast moving tang or something just come out and cause enough movement to bring my rocks down.   So for some of it I would like something to secure the pieces together. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote vadryn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2009 at 5:02pm
I'm prepping to switch my 90g from FW to my first SW tank. so I'm going through the exact same stuff in my head.  Do you already have your LR or LBTR?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dbboy17 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2009 at 5:20pm
I do have some live rock from my old tank that i'm going to use but i'm sure i'm going to need more. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CrimsRayne Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 11 2009 at 3:26am
This tank needs some serious love (The corals for it have been taking up half my frag tank), but it has several scorpionfish in it so I am not fond of sticking my hands in the tank.  Pinch
 
I love the rock layout though Smile
 
 
"What we know from this hobby is too hard to share with the people who just want to look and not get wet." -Rioreefer

"The Puffer Girl"

Zoo freak :)

West Jordan
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dbboy17 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 11 2009 at 8:22am
The rock layout looks good, is it leaning against the back wall?  Is it all done with rock stack placement and nothing else to get the rocks to look that way?  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CrimsRayne Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 11 2009 at 2:26pm

Some of the top rocks are touching the back glass.  They are all stacked w/o anything else holding them up/together.

"What we know from this hobby is too hard to share with the people who just want to look and not get wet." -Rioreefer

"The Puffer Girl"

Zoo freak :)

West Jordan
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