Build cost of a Negative Space Aquascape - wow!

[juarec0201]

I used a combination and found I prefer the epoxy and cover with sand look. I did used these products to build a scape that I tore down. It was up for a year and I didn’t have any issues with live stock. Not sure if the acrylic fortifier is the make or break for it to last in our aquariums.

 

[exnisstech]

I had a guy do the rockwork on my 180 and he used emarco. I’m pretty happy with it. I have several large overhangs he made using some solo cups and just the emarco. Not sure how much $$ you’re going to save however lol.

Picture please

 

[JC1977]

Look up Jestersix on Facebook he’s done lots of rockscapes. I’m lucky he lives in my town lol but he does ship stuff. Anyways he does amazing work and I’ll have him do my 360 as well when I’m ready.

 

[drukkosz]

This is how I did mine. I also used live rock from my display at the time. I only used glue and sand.year and a half later - no issues.

NSA- Negative Space Aquascape

Finally had some time to work on the aquascape After watching Nathan I decided to give it a try. I have to admit it was really enjoyable. I used my live rock that I broke into pieces and used the glue and sand method. If you planning on doing that make sure you have a plenty of glue. I think I...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[lost66]

For many people in this hobby money is not the issue. Have you seen BRS video series about owner's "dream tank"? He spent like gazillion dollars for everything, some people even flew to build something for him. And then after few months "well, it wasn't my dream tank after all". Of course they will propose you the most expensive solutions. I cannot even imagine how much do you have to earn to not even think about $400 for glue for your rocks...

As many others here, I also used quickrete. At the beginning it looks ugly but after couple of months you can't even tell where is the seam. If you are more patient then me you can use fine sand to cover dark spots and results will be stunning from day 1.
My tank is 3 years old now and everything is holding up. I built 75g and 240g scaping using only that 1 bucket which is what, $20 now?
I refuse to buy any glue which is "reef glue". The markup for those products is huge. Super glue? Sure, dollar tree. Epoxy? Sure, on sale on amazon once a while for $5 and I buy like 5 of them and I am stocked for year.

 

[bryan3536]

So funny little update, here. Using mostly Starbond “thick” glue from Amazon, and regular Superglue from the dollar store, I put together 90% of a structure that was going to take up the right 1/3 of my 180g tank, using the crushed rock/baking powder spray method. I used epoxy for heavy pieces. It worked OK, but the regular dollar store “thin” glue didn’t penetrate crushed rock like the various recommended thin glues did. Still, the bond seemed pretty strong and sturdy.

“Seemed.”

I knew it needed support from underneath where I hadn’t fully glued things, so I let it all cure for a few days, then flipped it. Oof. Bunch of stuff fell off, including long lateral pieces I thought I had sufficiently supported with epoxy.

After a few choice words, I decided to walk away from this new pile of rocks and work on another task I needed to do in this scape “refurbishment” - moving two nems to the other side of my scape, breaking zoas off two large pieces of rock I was planning to remove, and then removing three large pieces to make room for the “new” scape.

So as I do all this, I’m removing the big rocks one at a time, then sticking them back in the DT as I go to the next one, and lo and behold, they end up kind of haphazardly put into a “new” pile . . . That I loved. It was somehow sloped front to back, had swim throughs on 4 sides, an arch piece I wanted to reuse was front and center, and the sections I (carefully) broke off to make Zoa “islands” made two cave entrances in the back for goby burrows, etc. it was awesome.

And then I looked at what was left of my new “fabricated” scape, and saw it would fit next to the pile I had made ... And 20 min later it was all put together.


The “new” pieces are the bright white toward right center, the reformed rock pile is to the right of that.

 

[bryan3536]

As far as lessons learned, I think you need a combination of materials, including thick glue that holds to surface and can “fill” gaps a little, VERY thin glue that will whisk through powder, and epoxy. The regular superglue wasn’t thin enough for this, and I wonder if I would have had better results with some of the recommended (and very chemical smelling) thin glues that I saw others using online, including on some of the videos posted here. I think those are stronger, penetrate the dust, and dry quicker than what I was using. I did not use concrete, so I can’t speak to that, but the epoxy is pretty good to work with.

I also think you do need to figure out a way to clean off the surface before you bond. I am not 100% sure, but I think one of my epoxy connections broke off because the epoxy did not stick to the rock work because I did not sufficiently dust it off.

lastly, I used the baking soda mixed with water method for an accelerant, I think it worked, but I’m not 100% sure it did all that much. I had also mixed in some baking soda with the Marco rock dust, Figuring that would help it bind faster, but again not sure it did.

 

[Hooz]

Glue masters liquid glue and fine sand.

No accelerator. No insta set. No mortar.

Find Tidal Garden‘s video on YouTube My aquascape was made with that method and I’d never go to another method.

This right here! Skip it all and just use the thin glue from Gluemasters and powdered Marco Rock. I would splurge for the Marco Rock "NSA Powder" from BRS, though. I've done two scapes this way and have had to smash up rocks for more powder both times.

Both scapes are over 2 years old now and no joint issues. I moved last July and transported them in buckets... not very gently. They held up just fine.