Purchasing live rock today. How do I structure it.
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olonmv
Valuable Member
My rock is stacked without any glues or epoxies. That’s an option but, it’s better done without sand so the rocks are solidly on the bottom. Reason being…..if you place it on top of sand there’s a risk that it can become unstable if the sand shifts out from under it.
olonmv
Valuable Member
No problem, just like you said. Clear the sand to the side (if it’s established sand I.e. been in the tank for a few months, be careful shifting it around. You don’t wanna create a spike of bad stuff) place rock in the orientation you prefer that is stable and then backfill as needed.
I used the following products on dry rock. Best choice I have ever made. Sculptured the rock exactly like I wanted.
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E-Marco-400 Aquascaping Mortar Complete Kit - Grey
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Jurassic Gel 4540 Reef Adhesive
Why does BRS recommend this? Jurassic Gel is great for aquascaping with live rock in a dry tank. The large 200 gram tube allows you to liberally use the super glue to make an ultra-stable aquascape. The glue is just thick enough to bridge small gaps and gives a much more natural look than...
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livinlifeinBKK
5000 Club Member
I just stack mine...that always gives me the option of easily rearranging it if i ever decide to add more pieces or decide i want to restructure it to add more hiding places for the fish or more real estate for corals
If you can keep it wet and experiment with stacking outside the tank first, that would be best.
Bin/Tub of saltwater with similar footprint as your tank would be ideal but maybe a long shot.
*rocks rarely stack the way you "hope" (for me anyway)
Maybe no livestock in your tank yet?
Then not as big a deal but still maybe easier.
I agree to push the sand to the sides and stack on the bottom glass without a lot of sand underneath.
Bin/Tub of saltwater with similar footprint as your tank would be ideal but maybe a long shot.
*rocks rarely stack the way you "hope" (for me anyway)
Maybe no livestock in your tank yet?
Then not as big a deal but still maybe easier.
I agree to push the sand to the sides and stack on the bottom glass without a lot of sand underneath.
Curious if anyone ever used this or similar. Some of our maintenance company guys swear by it.
Do not glue everything together... if you ever need to take rock out to catch a fish or get to a pest.. it will be a huge chore or impossible.
Don't do it.
Most rock can be stacked safely or minimal gluing of 2 pieces or so here and there to bring it together. If you are planning on corals, those naturally produce swim throughs and hiding spots when they become colonies.
Good rock has tons of holes already in it for small fish like grammas, firefish, blennies, etc. These fish like crevices as small as they are.
A few bigger caves for angelfish/tangs to swim around is fine.. I wouldn't go all stonehenge with it.. it looks unnatural and isn't needed. Again, corals will fill in and create natural areas.
Don't do it.
Most rock can be stacked safely or minimal gluing of 2 pieces or so here and there to bring it together. If you are planning on corals, those naturally produce swim throughs and hiding spots when they become colonies.
Good rock has tons of holes already in it for small fish like grammas, firefish, blennies, etc. These fish like crevices as small as they are.
A few bigger caves for angelfish/tangs to swim around is fine.. I wouldn't go all stonehenge with it.. it looks unnatural and isn't needed. Again, corals will fill in and create natural areas.
Troylee
all about the diy!!!!!
I did years ago.. back then everyone was making a foam wall insert with the handy foam… it works really good! Just throw some sand on it while it’s wet to make it look more natural.. never saw any I’ll effects in my tank either from it..Curious if anyone ever used this or similar. Some of our maintenance company guys swear by it.
I hope you are stacking it, in tank.
It's nearly impossible to move a structure say from a tabletop into your tank and get the same structure.
While building your structure, Think from the very bottom layer about creating caverns and through ways for fish to swim and water to flow. Build from the base layer, which is your footprint, and build vertically. Every step of the way, consider how you can orient the rocks to get the best fish habitat and flow through. As you get to the rocks that will be your viewing and mounting surface, Take that into consideration as well.
Building a scape is not a fast thing. @F i s h y and I spent probably 8 hours obsessing over the initial scape for my 300.
Got it. Asking for my personal tank I will be building.
Akreefnewguy
Active Member
Personally I didn't use glue or puddy just staked so it can be moved. Plus the learning curve of what can be placed next to each other or what will over grow other corals. So I moved mine three times in four days. So I have rocks isolated for a small zoa center will be hammers eventually etc..
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