Aquascaping 101?

[earlybird]

I've checked the archives and looked at picture after picture. I understand it's trial and error but I could really use some tips that anyone can offer. I'm ordering 45-50lbs and I'm assuming I'll get a variety of rock sizes. I plan on placing my rock directly on the glass and not the sand although I'm worried that the rock under the sad could cause a build up of nitrate

. I'm guessing with that much live rock in a 29g I'll probably have to stack it against the back of the tank. How do you decide what rocks go on the bottom, is it always the bigger rocks? I'm going to have a tub of saltwater premixed for my tank and one to wash the rocks off. Do I scrub the rocks or just shake them off and just scrub the visible die off? Finally, do you lay all the rocks out on the floor while deciding which rock goes where, is it okay to have them exposed to air while aquascaping?
Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[goingpoor]

I Have Always Stared With The Bigger Rocks So It Is More Sterdy But Thats Just Me Heck Its Takes Me Houres To Rearange My Rocks If Needed To Be Done Its Something You Just Have To Mess Around With For Awhile When Placing Them And Making Sure Your Not Teeter Tottering Any Rocks So You Dont Have A Avolanch,and As Far As Being Out Of Water I Wouldnt Have It Out For Long Make Sure To Keep The Rocks Moist Dont Let It Dry Out.well Hope This Helps And Good Luck With The New Rock.....

 

[reefforbrains]

with larger amounts of rock its sometimes nice to put the rock in a kiddie pool up on a milk crate and run a sump pump over the top. Let the pump wash the rocks and hickers off into the bottom where you can pick and chose what you want to keep beofre adding it to the tank. Rare that you wont get at least one or two meanies better suited for fuge duty
As for aqauscaping. Every rock is different. Thats part of the reason we love it so much. Take lots of pics

 

[jaybird101]

Originally Posted by earlybird
I've checked the archives and looked at picture after picture. I understand it's trial and error but I could really use some tips that anyone can offer. I'm ordering 45-50lbs and I'm assuming I'll get a variety of rock sizes. I plan on placing my rock directly on the glass and not the sand.
Go to Home Depot/Lowes and buy a piece of egg crate (found in the lighing panel section) and place it in the bottom to protect the glass.
I'm guessing with that much live rock in a 29g I'll probably have to stack it against the back of the tank. How do you decide what rocks go on the bottom, is it always the bigger rocks?
Make some caves with the rocks for fish to hide in. This could be done with a wide range of sizes moved around. Just make sure it's stable.
I'm going to have a tub of saltwater premixed for my tank and one to wash the rocks off. Do I scrub the rocks or just shake them off and just scrub the visible die off?
If your tank is cycled YES scrub off die off, If the tank has not cylcles, just rinse off in salt water and place them in, the die off will help with the cycle.
Finally, do you lay all the rocks out on the floor while deciding which rock goes where, is it okay to have them exposed to air while aquascaping?
The more time the LR is exposed to air, more the die off. Keep them in the tub of salt water as you pick and choose.
Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by ReefForBrains
with larger amounts of rock its sometimes nice to put the rock in a kiddie pool up on a milk crate and run a sump pump over the top. Let the pump wash the rocks and hickers off into the bottom where you can pick and chose what you want to keep beofre adding it to the tank. Rare that you wont get at least one or two meanies better suited for fuge duty
As for aqauscaping. Every rock is different. Thats part of the reason we love it so much. Take lots of pics
Great idea but there's no way I can buy a kiddie pool. I live in a small condo and it would have to be tossed afterwards. Will shaking the rock off in a bucket of water remove hitchers? I can shake vigorously.
jaibird,
Thanks very helpful. Did you cut your eggcrate support to fit the entire bottom of your tank? I have some eggcrate left from making my tops but not enough to cover the entire bottom.

 

[reefforbrains]

looks like a job for the bathtub..........

 

[reefforbrains]

no, some snails and such might jump of with a vigorus shake, but shrimp and crabs that hide inside the holes are much more likley to suck in and be unnoticed with a shake.

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by ReefForBrains
looks like a job for the bathtub..........
Okay this I can do if it is okay. Walk me through the process if you can. Talk to me like I'm 10.

 

[renogaw]

personally, most of my hitchikers were in the bottom of the box the live rock came in, or showed up weeks after my cycle was done. i'd not worry TOO too much about them, get what you can get off, hope for no mantis, and let what you can't find take the ride.
just FYI, i had about 13 crabs, 20 urchins, and tons of baby brittles survive the cycling.

 

[earlybird]

Well I'm not plannin corals until months down the road so I should have time hopefully to remove any bad hikers. Hopefully I'll have many live through the cycle. I do plan on doing water changes if ammonia gets high which could help.

 

[renogaw]

most likely you'll be finding hitchikers months from now (i just found 2 more gorilla crabs from 8 months ago).
best advice i can give you other than what's given: get a waterproof tarp, plastic sheet cover, or anything else you can think of and put it in front of your tank on the floor to prevent all that water getting on your floor. also, get a good foot stool. aquascaping bent over with your face infront of your tank and your arm going over the tank rim into the bottom hurts your back LOL

 

[earlybird]

Thanks I'm going to get some visquine (sp?), eggcrate, pvc for qt today at the store.

 

[reefforbrains]

Reno is right that many can come off during transport, but hey I am the same guy that keeps hours like a Vampire now from a single shrimp in my reef keeping me up at night.
Fill tub with 4 inches or so of water and make sure temp and salinity is in spec. Then with an extra pump just let it pickup from below and blow onto the top of the rock in a constant stream washing the hikers to the tubs bottom. It dosnt have to be super forceful to blast them off. Try to keep the rock in the water stream so it doesnt dry out but even if you stack the rock up and pour the water from over the top, the trickledown effect will work fine. After an hour or two, you will be shocked at how many critters are down in the bottom.
Put rock on something elevated, anything will work. You just want to keep the rock off the botom where they will just jump back on and hide again. A spare BBQ grill or grate of any kind will work fine.

 

[earlybird]

I think i have just the thing. Behind my local grocery store they stack their milk crates and bread crates. I'm sure I can borrow a few withouth anyone knowing the better. Uh oh that sounds like theft, maybe I'll ask.

 

[renogaw]

yup, really try to get what you can off, especially so you dont have to do what RFB is doing for his mantis. but don't expect to get everything

 

[renogaw]

one last thought i had:
if you have the rock in a tub or whatever, you can probably see any aptasia that might come out. blast those suckers before they get in your tank.

 

[earlybird]

10-4 Thanks. Any one else have any tips?

 

[wyvern]

I'm sure you allready know but, make sure that the tub is free of any soaps and chemicals. Also clean the egg craters from the grocery store. You never know whats been on them. Keep us all posted.

 

[reefkprz]

have fun with it! its starting to sound like a chore. dont let it be. its just way too fun you make your tank look the way you want.

 

[renogaw]

and for crying out loud, i think your tank is the most anticipated thing in a LONG while so make sure your camera has batteries.