Securing your aquascape

[El Dude]

So I would like to ask how many different ways you know of to secure live rock for epic aquascapes? I've used:

Simple stacking
Live rock putty(the green/white stick)
Zip ties


I know some people drill into the rock and use plastic rods(Alexseawater comes to mind but he's MIA) but I've never tried that. Is it really that simple? Anybody have any experience or tips with this method?

Also, what other methods of securing your aquascape are out there? I want a nice aquascape in my new build but I want it to be bulletproof...

Thanks for looking and sharing...


...and DISCUSS...

 

[pgr11]

Jason has done the drill and acrylic rod method a bunch. You should ask him about it next friday. That is if your coming.

 

[Evanski9]

Zip ties and acrylic rods! FTW!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Suckas

 

[El Dude]

Jason has done the drill and acrylic rod method a bunch. You should ask him about it next friday. That is if your coming.

Pancakes and sh!t talking? I'll be there!

 

[Emac909]

Ive seen a while back were someone used Portland cement and sand like putty too concrete the rocks together.

 

[wyrdREEF]

i just used the stacking method in my tanks, but my buddy just set up a tank and used the green and white stick putty and then used mortar over that to blend all the pieces. came out pretty clean, ill get some picks from him or tell him to post some pics up....

 

[toomuch420]

Drill rock with concrete drill bit,
Insert appropriate sized acrylic rods,
Putty putty (I like d& d mix green & pink looks kinda like coralline) acrylic rods,
Let putty dry before stacking pieces


*rAzOr*

 

[wickedfish]

If you can set up a scape that you will always like.....drill it. But I would not even attempt that until you've bought and placed your coral.

1.i have to fish out the mother f'n meanest fish.

2. I saw a mean crab I need to get him.

3. This acro colony would have been so perfect right there.

4. You never are pleased with all the Realestate you ruined.

5. Just stack em so I don't have to write in this thread.

I've done rods, cool rockscape equals not enough coral real estate.

 

[rayray]

i just stacks them and exaggerate arches and overhangs as much as possible. over time erosion from flow and coral do the rest.

i try really hard to look 2-3 years into the future when the rocks will be covered in coral instead of trying to simulate old coral growth with rockscape at the start. I've tried many of the suggested methods and when I finally built a rockscape the could withstand a 10.0 earthquake I had immediately take it apart for some emergency reason :a43:

'scaping is more critical in FOWLRs where the rock tends to stay bare forever.

 

[Spinner]

Yeah i say just stack them too............................NOT

They are tricking you A pile of rocks........... is a pile of rocks:rap:

 

[El Dude]

Mace where did you find the second picture? That's a gang of branching rock! Very nice!

 

[Mr. Plant]

I also just stack em. Its best to have 2 people. I have a friend getting his arm wet, while I stand back and give directions on where to put them. I try to stack in the middle, keeping them off the back glass and sides also. Try to keep as few on the bottom as possible, while also keeping them stable, if that makes sense. I like several smaller islands. Let the corals give you the hight.

I don't like the idea of making them permanent, cause you don't know when you will get the itch for a change. Good luck!

 

[lowbudget]

stack it like pancakes see you in the morning

 

[Spinner]

It's man made rock There is several good DIY rock videos on youtube. With using ballons, 100% oyster shell(rinced very very well as this help rock dry lite color), white cement, reef sand/flake, rubble rock, big chunk rock salt,and water. And most important imagination
The rock in the second picture took three people over a week to make all the pieces. I will try to find it again an PM you?

Anyway you do it.....it's all good when your REEFN.

 

[Kbra]

I've always stacked it and was gonna try rods this time but now im leaning back to mostly stacking maybe rods for a few highlights

 

[matthewbrian316]

I just bought some mortar from macro rocks after talking to some peeps who made some very nice aquascape they claim its just as easy as stacking and when it cures its solid.

 

[ReeferMadness818]

wow thats real nice work