Help with rock lifts
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19309
Printed Date: July 13 2026 at 9:35pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Help with rock lifts
Posted By: Seth
Subject: Help with rock lifts
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 3:45pm
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I want to try and make a suspended reef. Does anyone have a drawing pics of how to make one. Want to do it in a 45. ------------- 75gal sps dominated reef. Bigger and better coming soon |
Replies:
Posted By: Lyscer
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 4:03pm
| Mark peterson did this in a 120, have you done a search on here for suspended reef, or something to that effect? |
Posted By: Seth
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 4:06pm
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I saw his post, but it doesnt say how he did it. ------------- 75gal sps dominated reef. Bigger and better coming soon |
Posted By: bbauman
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 4:17pm
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I believe Mark used PVC pipe and zip ties to hold the rocks in place. He showed it to me when I visited once. ------------- 28g Cube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23030" rel="nofollow - Beginners Guide to Saltwater Aquariums Brandon in West Jordan |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 4:21pm
I'm not sure if this is what you mean or not. These are home made PVC supports to keep the rock just above the sand. They are made with sprinkler pipe and fittings.
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Posted By: Seth
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 4:30pm
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I want it to look like this http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/uploads/20070621_013512_newtank11s.jpg - http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/uploads/20070621_013512_newtank11s.jpg ------------- 75gal sps dominated reef. Bigger and better coming soon |
Posted By: bbauman
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 4:47pm
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What Mike just showed you will look like that. If I'm correct in remembering, Mark used grey or darker colored pipe where it would be visible to conceal the pipe that holds the rock above the sand. ------------- 28g Cube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23030" rel="nofollow - Beginners Guide to Saltwater Aquariums Brandon in West Jordan |
Posted By: Seth
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 4:52pm
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In the picture the stingray is under the rock. In Mikes picture the pipe would get in the way. ------------- 75gal sps dominated reef. Bigger and better coming soon |
Posted By: bbauman
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 4:54pm
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That's where I think the zip-ties came in. Mark used just a couple of points for the pipe to come up out of the sand, and zip tied things in place to make it sturdy. In mike's picture, there are several pipes. If you experiment with different designs, I'm sure you'd be able to accomplish the same thing. ------------- 28g Cube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23030" rel="nofollow - Beginners Guide to Saltwater Aquariums Brandon in West Jordan |
Posted By: Seth
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 4:55pm
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Thanks ------------- 75gal sps dominated reef. Bigger and better coming soon |
Posted By: bbauman
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 4:58pm
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Sure, no problem. You may want to call or PM Mark to get a confirmation or any ideas. He's always willing to help. You could also speak with Dion (Holdencraft 33) because he has that tank that you showed in the picture now. ------------- 28g Cube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23030" rel="nofollow - Beginners Guide to Saltwater Aquariums Brandon in West Jordan |
Posted By: jeffras
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 5:38pm
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You may want to create a stand out of the pvc and drill the liverock. The stand would be under the sand and you would have fewer points where the pipe came out. Insert the pvc into the holes in the live rock and you are set. Think about some old chairs from say the 70's where they only have 2 legs in the front but the design supports the weight. If you don't understand what I am trying to say I can draw some pics later. ------------- Jeff Rasmussen |
Posted By: Lyscer
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 7:40pm
| Look on reefcentral as well. I know about 6 months ago I saw a thing on there where someone used flexible PVC to make some cool rock formations that only touched the sand in 1 place. Once again they used pvc and zip ties. If I remember correctly they showed some pictures on how they did it. |
Posted By: GARFVolunteer
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 9:46pm
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If I was to do my tank again I would really look into do it like this:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?">
     Here is the link: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=686757&perpage=25&pagenumber=4 - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=686757&perpage=25&pagenumber=4
Thanks,
Scott ------------- President Idaho Marine Aquarium Society A fair and biased reef hobbyist "How do you make poor people rich by making rich people poor" Rush Limbaugh on Obama taxes |
Posted By: Seth
Date Posted: July 13 2007 at 10:34pm
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I think im going to drill the rocks. They are around 40 pound rocks to big to zip ties. ------------- 75gal sps dominated reef. Bigger and better coming soon |
Posted By: JS
Date Posted: July 16 2007 at 12:53pm
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That's amazing! I would think you would have to be selective of the type of live rock you are drilling and zip tying. Some of the more porous rock I have had in the past has been very brittle and could easily be broken. I wonder if Dion still has Mark's old tank set up in the same way? I am in the process of setting up a new tank and may have to research this some more. Thanks for the thread. ------------- Be careful who watches your tank! http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27846 |
Posted By: Seth
Date Posted: July 16 2007 at 1:12pm
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I have a big 40 pound rock that im going to drill and the rest im going to zip tie. ------------- 75gal sps dominated reef. Bigger and better coming soon |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: July 16 2007 at 1:36pm
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Come and see it. Its still the same. Next couple of weeks it will be moveing into a 180 but will primarilly be the same. ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: sivert55
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 4:57pm
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Has anyone had any problems with stagnant water developing inside the pvc structue? Do you pump water through it? Or are the holes drilled in it enough to keep it moving? After that pic of the 5ft bristleworm in that guy's pvc structure, I can't decide whether to seal it all off or drill it and pump it.
The example on RC that uses spa-flex looks very attractive. But I'd be afraid of it bending and collapsing over time. Does anyone had any long-term success with spa-flex bent under load? ------------- Sold it all. Building a 285 with dedicated fishroom. |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 5:37pm
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Mine are sealed so no water can get in. I'm not sure if I would use spa flex to hold rock up. It will relax under weight. ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 5:43pm
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I would use Schedule 40 (thicker wall) PVC for strength and seal it off.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: EagleEyez5
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 6:18pm
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this sucks......now I have to rethink my whole design on the new 125........and I was fine with my current design until I saw this thread..... ------------- http://www.highendcorals.com/"> 
WMAS PAID SPONSOR |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 7:10pm
Well, that was easy! ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
EagleEyez5 wrote:Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: August 21 2007 at 2:22pm
The 3/4" pvc is all sch80 gray sprinkler nipples (3-10" pieces) with the threads cut off and joined with pvc fittings, which btw, are also schedule 80
I made a flat frame with six legs. The legs had tees at the bottom that connected nipples for the base, with an extension jutting forward. Then I used Tees and 45 degree fittings around the edge to create a skirt where I drilled small holes through the LBTR to zip tie the rocks around the skirt to cover all the framework.
Does this help? ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: August 21 2007 at 2:39pm
"O" man, you could have at least used clean Oolitic sand ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: August 21 2007 at 6:46pm
 I know. I wondered about what it might do. When dry, it was easy to pour it in the pipes. But seems like all my Utah sand is dirty until I'm ready to use it..Then I have to hurry to wash it and try to throw it in a tank before the fish get in there. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: sivert55
Date Posted: August 31 2007 at 11:10pm
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mark, I like the sand idea. Do you have pictures of the setup before you covered it with rock? ------------- Sold it all. Building a 285 with dedicated fishroom. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 04 2007 at 5:37pm
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Nope, sorry. It's kind of a secret design. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Corey Price
Date Posted: September 05 2007 at 1:15pm
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Very cool, Mark. I get the concept. So the nipples that are sch. 80 are the supporting structure? Great idea- gray PVC would be much less visible than the standard white stuff available around here.
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Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 05 2007 at 1:50pm
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Gray PVC is readily available too at Home Depot in the electrical area.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: bbauman
Date Posted: September 05 2007 at 3:01pm
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Can't you pick up all of these materials at Home Depot? That would make sense - Mark had one REALLY close to his house. ------------- 28g Cube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23030" rel="nofollow - Beginners Guide to Saltwater Aquariums Brandon in West Jordan |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 05 2007 at 3:23pm
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Yes you can. The gray schedule 80 sprinkler risers are readily available in 1/2" size up to 24"
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Corey Price
Date Posted: September 05 2007 at 11:08pm
| You can get bigger Sch 80 nipple pipes (3/4" & up) at plumbing supply stores, such as Derks (Dorks, as the locals call it) in Layton. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 06 2007 at 11:49am
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There is no need for larger than 1/2". I used only these nipples, which are Schedule 80, no PVC pipe (which is only class 200 or schedule 40), because they are very, very strong when put together with fittings which are always a standard schedule 80. I used white fittings. It would be good to find gray fittings but otherwise just paint them with black ABS glue.
The trick is to make a good structure with legs that go down into the sand. Six legs supported almost 200 lbs. of rock. Each pair of legs ended at Tees connected together with other nipples (capped at the ends) sticking out horizontally to support the whole structure. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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