Topic of the Week September 11 - Aquascaping w/ Live Rock

billyr98 · 09-11-2006, 05:08 PM

Well we have all done this at least once... (a month for some)

Lets all give out tips... I first would like to go to Austrialia and see the barrier reef in person to get a good feel of what I am trying to replicate...

Second would be... Don't go crazy like I did and put too much rock in tank... Even though it is still in my system, just into the sump it went!

Making overhangs are awesome looking...

Caves are benefitical for the fish...

I also like the idea of glueing hard tubing to corals and drill a hole in live rock to place corals in without the falling...

Tyraps are good for keeping you rocks in place, but you might see them and it doesn't look natural in a reef

Well lets hear your tips::: ----

Woodstock · 09-11-2006, 05:17 PM

IME, Working with large rocks makes it much easier to create caves and overhangs. Long rocks are invaluable when aquascaping.
Try to place sturdy rocks with flat but small bottoms as the base.. and jiggle as you go

Test each teir with a firm jiggle to be sure it is stable and will not tumble easily. Try to cover as little of the substrate/bottom as possible yet allow for steady support.

If you don't use a substrate, invest in a protective layer of cutting board along the bottom to prevent glass breakage during an avalanche.

If you do use a substrate, placing the bottom rocks on the glass (under the sand) or using a PVC stand to support the rocks. This is most important if you ever add any sand burrowing critters that might dig tunnels through the sand.

Gina · 09-11-2006, 06:18 PM

On our 75 I made 3 separate mounds. The mound on the right of the tank is built in such a way as to provide plenty of entrances and good water movement through it.

It can be difficult to achive an eye pleasing scape and making sure water flow through and around is adequate. But, once you feel you've achieved what you were aiming for.....you do it all over again in a few weeks! LOL!!

cheeks69 · 09-11-2006, 06:38 PM

For me aquascaping has always been a challenge, I'm always moving something around and never really satisfied. I tried to make some seperate islands and leaving the middle open for fish to have enough swimming room. I also tried to place the LR away from the back pane and sides to allow flow to reach these areas.

My advice is use nice porous rock and don't get carried away with the amount of rock you add the tank especially if you use a DSB, and most importantly try to avoid the famous "rock wall"

billyr98 · 09-11-2006, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheeks69

For me aquascaping has always been a challenge, I'm always moving something around and never really satisfied. I tried to make some seperate islands and leaving the middle open for fish to have enough swimming room. I also tried to place the LR away from the back pane and sides to allow flow to reach these areas.

My advice is use nice porous rock and don't get carried away with the amount of rock you add the tank especially if you use a DSB, and most importantly try to avoid the famous "rock wall"

rock wall.. did u see original picks of my tank? LOL

Cougra · 09-11-2006, 10:59 PM

One of the things that I regret the most is the size of the tank that I purchased. It's only 12" wide so it's extremely difficult to make any use out of the space that I have to have a nice scene. If I ever get the chance to upgrade the tank I'm definately going to have one that's deeper front to back so I can have more freedom in scaping the tank. I would love one that's at least 24" wide for that sence of depth.

billyr98 · 09-11-2006, 11:40 PM

Buy another Michelle, then you get to reaquascape!

sasquatch · 09-12-2006, 12:12 AM

Hey scapers, in preparation for this over the weekend I brought a 30 gal sump online under the tank and above the 45 sump/fuge, into this went 1/3 of my LR about50 to 60 lbs. display is bottom drilled so from the unused corner I have a 1'' pvc drilled tube right above the sand all the way across, this is running a quiet one 6000 for flow, also 2 820 hagen powerheads with nozzles cut off buried in centre facing out (crud be flying). I also pulled out a 2 gal container of Halameda(it smelled real bad) This used all my rodi water so am waiting for bucket to fill so I can vaccuum the floor so to speak.This tank stood stagnant for 2 years with only water top ups and no skimmer,a few crabs,snails and a green donut coral(and a lot of algae) in the last 6 months I have added 4 vho's,2 175w pfo 10k xm m/h, a sump a seperate sump/fuge a Big skimmer,new pumps etc ect. Now my equipment issues are past tense the scarey bit starts What to do in the display. What do you guys think would do well in this set up??( sorry, Im exicited this has been a long time coming)

billyr98 · 09-12-2006, 05:57 PM

Witfull · 09-12-2006, 06:08 PM

cement blocks are great cave and arch makers,,,,lol

boozeman · 09-12-2006, 06:21 PM

Witfull · 09-12-2006, 06:28 PM

laugh if you wish,,,my fish love them~

cheeks69 · 09-12-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witfull

laugh if you wish,,,my fish love them~

I like it the only problem for me is not alot of surface area for bacteria. Have you noticed fauna thriving on the blocks or are they barren ?

cheeks69 · 09-12-2006, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasquatch

What do you guys think would do well in this set up??( sorry, Im exicited this has been a long time coming)

What are the dimensions of the tank ? And how much LR do you have in the display, any large pieces ?

Witfull · 09-12-2006, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheeks69

I like it the only problem for me is not alot of surface area for bacteria. Have you noticed fauna thriving on the blocks or are they barren ?

micro dusters are blooming everywhere on them inside the caves.

09-11-2006, 05:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,409 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Topic of the Week September 11 - Aquascaping w/ Live Rock Well we have all done this at least once... (a month for some) Lets all give out tips... I first would like to go to Austrialia and see the barrier reef in person to get a good feel of what I am trying to replicate... Second would be... Don't go crazy like I did and put too much rock in tank... Even though it is still in my system, just into the sump it went! Making overhangs are awesome looking... Caves are benefitical for the fish... I also like the idea of glueing hard tubing to corals and drill a hole in live rock to place corals in without the falling... Tyraps are good for keeping you rocks in place, but you might see them and it doesn't look natural in a reef Well lets hear your tips::: ---- __________________ Billyr98 - I'm BACK!! -

09-11-2006, 05:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,502 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Topic of the Week September 11 - Aquascaping w/ Live Rock IME, Working with large rocks makes it much easier to create caves and overhangs. Long rocks are invaluable when aquascaping. Try to place sturdy rocks with flat but small bottoms as the base.. and jiggle as you go Test each teir with a firm jiggle to be sure it is stable and will not tumble easily. Try to cover as little of the substrate/bottom as possible yet allow for steady support. If you don't use a substrate, invest in a protective layer of cutting board along the bottom to prevent glass breakage during an avalanche. If you do use a substrate, placing the bottom rocks on the glass (under the sand) or using a PVC stand to support the rocks. This is most important if you ever add any sand burrowing critters that might dig tunnels through the sand. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

09-11-2006, 06:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,842 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Topic of the Week September 11 - Aquascaping w/ Live Rock On our 75 I made 3 separate mounds. The mound on the right of the tank is built in such a way as to provide plenty of entrances and good water movement through it. It can be difficult to achive an eye pleasing scape and making sure water flow through and around is adequate. But, once you feel you've achieved what you were aiming for.....you do it all over again in a few weeks! LOL!! __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

09-11-2006, 06:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,386 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Topic of the Week September 11 - Aquascaping w/ Live Rock For me aquascaping has always been a challenge, I'm always moving something around and never really satisfied. I tried to make some seperate islands and leaving the middle open for fish to have enough swimming room. I also tried to place the LR away from the back pane and sides to allow flow to reach these areas. My advice is use nice porous rock and don't get carried away with the amount of rock you add the tank especially if you use a DSB, and most importantly try to avoid the famous "rock wall" __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

09-11-2006, 10:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Topic of the Week September 11 - Aquascaping w/ Live Rock One of the things that I regret the most is the size of the tank that I purchased. It's only 12" wide so it's extremely difficult to make any use out of the space that I have to have a nice scene. If I ever get the chance to upgrade the tank I'm definately going to have one that's deeper front to back so I can have more freedom in scaping the tank. I would love one that's at least 24" wide for that sence of depth. __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

09-11-2006, 11:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,409 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Topic of the Week September 11 - Aquascaping w/ Live Rock Buy another Michelle, then you get to reaquascape! __________________ Billyr98 - I'm BACK!! -

09-12-2006, 12:12 AM	#8 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,982 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Topic of the Week September 11 - Aquascaping w/ Live Rock Hey scapers, in preparation for this over the weekend I brought a 30 gal sump online under the tank and above the 45 sump/fuge, into this went 1/3 of my LR about50 to 60 lbs. display is bottom drilled so from the unused corner I have a 1'' pvc drilled tube right above the sand all the way across, this is running a quiet one 6000 for flow, also 2 820 hagen powerheads with nozzles cut off buried in centre facing out (crud be flying). I also pulled out a 2 gal container of Halameda(it smelled real bad) This used all my rodi water so am waiting for bucket to fill so I can vaccuum the floor so to speak.This tank stood stagnant for 2 years with only water top ups and no skimmer,a few crabs,snails and a green donut coral(and a lot of algae) in the last 6 months I have added 4 vho's,2 175w pfo 10k xm m/h, a sump a seperate sump/fuge a Big skimmer,new pumps etc ect. Now my equipment issues are past tense the scarey bit starts What to do in the display. What do you guys think would do well in this set up??( sorry, Im exicited this has been a long time coming)

09-12-2006, 05:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,409 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Topic of the Week September 11 - Aquascaping w/ Live Rock __________________ Billyr98 - I'm BACK!! -

09-12-2006, 06:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,802 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Topic of the Week September 11 - Aquascaping w/ Live Rock __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

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