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View Full Version : Can I get some feedback on this aquascaping idea please?


spencerC
08-22-2007, 04:44 AM
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/aquascaping.JPG

(3 general "towers" of live rock with a long pile of LR behind them/in the middle creating 2 caves in between)

This is an idea i have for aquascaping in my standard rectangle-size aquarium that i'll be getting within the week, hopefully.:neutral:
Hopefully it makes a bit of sense!
I wanted to do something a bit creative and i thought this up.

The picture on top is pvc pipe, if i need it...?
I'm thinking cause it's not that big of a tank i can just get away with aqua-safe-gluing the pieces together to create this?

Are there any sites specifically about LR aquascaping?
Or a site with lots of good aquascaping-inspiring pictures?

michika
08-22-2007, 04:56 AM
I like the general idea! You may want to consider making the towers uneven heights, and the same with the caves. It will give you a more "natural" look.

I found this aquascaping photo that I'm hording as a possible idea. Although I'd do more like you're planning with some caves and bridges.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/36deeptank.jpg

spencerC
08-22-2007, 05:05 AM
Thanks :smile:

Yeah i tried to make them look uneven in the picture but it didn't work so well.
I kinda want there to be some very general symmetry, but we'll see how it goes.

I love the aquascaping in that picture, I wonder how that was done so seamlessly.
I dont even have my first tank and I'm already having ideas for my first upgrade to a 150+! haha.

There's only so much you can do with a 75 gallon.

I don't think I will need PVC pipe... will I?

bv_reefer
08-22-2007, 05:25 AM
aqua scaping sure does take imagaination and alot of spare time,then worst of all when you're finally done you look at it from a view and automatically see something that can be ''better''! - knowing the right shapes,sizes, and type of rock for what you want to do sure helps, good idea though :smile:

Snappy
08-22-2007, 05:26 AM
Depending on what you will be having in the tank, flow is a huge consideration. Make sure that your aquascaping will let the flow through where necessary. I like the general idea although you will be limited where you can place corals. Perhaps one of the columns could be flatter on top or make ridges that you attach corals to? Again it all depends on what you plan to keep.

niloc16
08-22-2007, 05:38 AM
if you are going to do towers i would recommend pvc structure. it will be less chance of a rock slide

Redrover
08-22-2007, 06:50 AM
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k81/Redrover_02/DSCN0299.jpg :robot: :
I agree with Colin use PVC pipe to form your structure ...take your larger rocks and zip tie them to your PVC structure, which in fact form caves.

Redrover
08-22-2007, 06:53 AM
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k81/Redrover_02/DSCN0299.jpg :robot: :
I agree with Colin use PVC pipe to form your structure ...take your larger rocks and zip tie them to your PVC structure, which in fact form caves.

" Catherine that is one great looking tank "
Sorry for the double take

Dale
08-22-2007, 07:40 AM
Hi Spencer,

Lots of people use PVC as suggested but one problem I see with your design is securing the PVC towers to the tank. You probably don't want to permanently bond them to the bottom glass yet silicone will not provide a reliable bond between PVC and glass as you have drawn it. If you go the PVC route you will need to create a more stable base for the towers.

Another option is to build towers of light diffuser material (egg crate) as I have done in this photo:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/fishherder/100_2738.jpg

The panels are held together with electrical zip ties and the normally white egg crate can be spray painted black using Krylon fusion paint.
To make a tower as in your drawing I might suggest zip tying three panels together measuring say 3"x12" each (just for example). This will give you a triangular tower 12" high. The tower can be secured to the bottom of the tank using aquarium safe silicone. This is done by running a bead of silicone on each side of the egg crate and then gooping it through the grating so that the silicone meets and globs together. When it dries it will hold the egg crate firmly in place.

Here is a photo of how that egg crate structure looks now:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/fishherder/100_2769.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/fishherder/100_3022.jpg

Redrover
08-22-2007, 02:18 PM
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k81/Redrover_02/P1000199-1.jpg

This will give you a idea of rock work using PVC pipe :smilecol: :smilecol:

Darth Wader
08-22-2007, 06:11 PM
I think the towers are a good idea. If your planning on adding a fair amount of corals in the future I would also recommend drilling holes in the sides of the rock going up the tower so you have the ability to peg corals on the side. In my opinion when you have corals growing off the sided of rocks that are in that type of shape it gives it a real nice natural look. It can be difficult to mount corals on vertical rocks like that if you haven’t drilled holes for pegging. Watch the video on reefvideos.com to see how to do it if your unfamiliar with the pegging technique.