Keeping the rocks in place: Did you add aquascape support in your tank?

[thrillreefer]

Current tank I cemented the main LR structures with Aquastik epoxy before any corals or fish. Directly on the tank bottom. Then added sand after. Have had zero issues with rocks moving or shifting. Will do this method again

 

[Alexraptor]

I stack and interlock them naturally, and bond the structures with "strategically placed" SPS frags.

 

[lmfbs]

I’m a plopper. I just plop the rocks on the sand and stack. I do make sure to stack them so they aren’t likely to tumble.

On the sand is wild. How brave! Do you worry a fish will dig a hole under them?

 

[Timfish]

I've found if systems are maintained long enough aquascaping will need to be moved around and corals moved or removed. Drilling rock and using pipe or rods allows for sturdy aquascaping that can be moved or adjusted as needed. This video was done with dry rock but maricultured live rock can be done with a drill bit extension and keeping the rock submerged in aged saltwater.

 

[Reefer Matt]

On the sand is wild. How brave! Do you worry a fish will dig a hole under them?

No, I don’t have any gobies or burrowing fish. But some of them make little caves sometimes. After a while, the coral becomes the glue anyway. But everyone’s situation is different, and results may vary. Here’s my sps tank, where the coral have encrusted the rocks after five years. The rocks are also stacked in the middle of the tank to allow flow around all sides. I have removed the sand from this tank though, because it is black sand that is magnetic.

 

[B&CinB.C.]

I just finished the aquascape for our new tank and was wondering about the egg crate when I saw it on here a few days ago. I don't like the idea of putting the rock on the bare glass . If you use the egg crate can the sand be cleaned? What about fish that bury in the sand ? I have been thinking about putting a thin layer of sand down and putting the rocks on top , (they're glued together with Aquaforest Stone Fix and are quite stable) , and then putting the rest of the sand in after.

 

[The_Skrimp]

I’ve used so much at this point that my rock scape might as well be made of superglue. My hope is that eventually enough coral taking over will help hold everything together.

 

[ieatbugman]

I stacked without support and am kinda wishing i had. But then again i have changed the rockwork twice so im not to upset at my lack of planning. This was also my first saltwater tank and i had no idea what to expect

 

[Shaina Carey]

I have mine perching on one another. I did not glue them or anything to make it easy to take out and scrub algae if it forms.

 

[lmfbs]

No, I don’t have any gobies or burrowing fish. But some of them make little caves sometimes. After a while, the coral becomes the glue anyway. But everyone’s situation is different, and results may vary. Here’s my sps tank, where the coral have encrusted the rocks after five years. The rocks are also stacked in the middle of the tank to allow flow around all sides. I have removed the sand from this tank though, because it is black sand that is magnetic.

Oh basically you've used slow setting natural glue, I see!

Beautiful tank, by the way.

In my previous tank I used acrylic dowels drilled through the rock. This one I've used marco cement to join the rocks. I actually kind of regret how large I've made each structure, honestly.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Fav style

I’m a plopper. I just plop the rocks on the sand and stack. I do make sure to stack them so they aren’t likely to tumble.

 

[mfinn]

Back 17-18 years ago when I was setting up a new 240 I decided I didn't want the rock sitting on the bottom in sand and wanted some circulation under the rock.
So I picked up a 1" thick slab of acrylic and drilled many 3/8" holes in it and and added 3/8 x 3"-6" acrylic dowels, creating the space off the bottom I wanted.
It's not anything fancy but when I went to a new 240 I used it again.

 

[TinnysReef]

Marcorocks cement with flat foundation pieces have made a huge difference. I also like creating "islands" that can be separated or pushed together to look like one structure. If I ever had to take rocks out, the pieces will be solid and I won't have to worry about breaking corals and crashing rocks.

 

[HawkeyeDJ]

I built 3 tall angled towers that I could rearrange as needed in my 24g AIO cube.

To prevent them from falling over (due to flow, sand sifters, or me) I superglued horizontal legs to the bases from pvc pipe. So far, so good.

 

[Richsoar]

I started a new build two years ago which got interrupted by a whole house remodel. My plan was and still is to support the base rocks on pvc tripods. The reason for this is to give the snails and other burrowing creatures a clearer path through the substrate under the scape.

 

[Labridaedicted]

My 3 large stacks are all supported via 1/2inch acrylic rod in addition to the E-marco 400 to make things look more coherent like they are solid. The ledge on the right is also rubble placed in a frame and then cast with e-400 to create a deeper sand bed and a short ledge (which I find common in natural reefs).

 

[br116]

Have in the past. This time I used super glue and rock dust.

Yeap. on pvc pipe as support. that way you can build "stairs/shelves". Holes drilled for plugs.

 

[kingranch2003]

Glued structures on an eggcrate base. They came out really good despite taking a long time. Will someday get it going but life got in the way.

That looks freaking awesome

 

[Olefreebe]

My rocks are big. They are not moving. 25 to 45 lbs each. They don’t require any extra support. It was not easy to get them into place.

Nice artistic stacking job lol

 

[RocketEngineer]

That looks freaking awesome

Thanks. It’s not up and running yet.