Aquascaping 101?

[earlybird]

Thanks reefkprz for bringing me back around towards having fun. I was starting to stress out a little but I'm good now.

I'm almost afraid to post pictures at this stage. I don't want to be the poster boy for "too much research- look how earlybird screwed up." J/K. I will take a ton of pictures and start my tank diary upon arrival of LR.

 

[renogaw]

yea, aquascaping was fun the first 10 minutes of my FIRST aquascape...countless "fixes" later it sucks

 

[azreefgirl]

You'll likely spend hours on your aquascaping. Maybe not all at the same time, but you'll get it set up how you like it, then you'll look at it a few minutes/hours/days later and decide to move something around. Then you'll add corals and have to do minor to major remodeling to fit that coral or the piece of rock it's attached to into the configuration. And the process will continue until you get another tank, then you'll start all over. Each time you move things around, you'll create something that you like better than the last time.
Maybe I'm just a big sicko, but I like remodeling/redecorating my tank. The only time it's really frustrating is when I'm trying to recreate a configuration after an avalanche (caused by moving things around), or when I can't the rocks to cradle a new coral just perfectly so that I don't have to use epoxy. In fact, I'm looking forward to the day I can get another tank and do it all over again! I should probably seek professional help--it's obvious that I have a problem.

Good luck and keep us updated with pics!

 

[buzzininnv]

I built sub-structure out of PVC pipe and elbows. It allowed me to make caves and holes easily. Using the pvc structure made it look like I have more rock than I really have.

 

[pettyhoe]

My advice, big rocks first, then smaller ones to do the aquascaping, because when your ready to put coral in, each one is on its own peice of rock, so you have to adjust each time you add one. Moving large peices around is much more difficult than smaller ones.

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by BuzzininNV
I built sub-structure out of PVC pipe and elbows. It allowed me to make caves and holes easily. Using the pvc structure made it look like I have more rock than I really have.
Do you have pictures of the process? I've read about this in a book but haven't seen pictures.
Thanks everyone.

 

[garnet13aj]

Okay, so I'm a bit to lazy to read all the previous posts so I'll just add my own experience. I would definitely put the rocks directly on the glass as you were planning on (otherwise they'll shift and eventually end up on the bottom their own, but may topple in the process). I didn't neccessarily put the biggest rocks on the bottom, I messed around with them until they seemed to be the most stable. I didn't use any adhesive because it seemed to be more trouble than it was worth and took to long to dry (plus the rocks need to be dry--which ends up killing all the beautiful bacteria). I would just mess around with the arrangment a bit until it seems stable and still looks good, it doesn't take as long as one thinks. Good luck!

 

[renogaw]

Originally Posted by earlybird
Do you have pictures of the process? I've read about this in a book but haven't seen pictures.
Thanks everyone.
it's been talked about in a couple books, and i have one at home i can tell you the name of when i get home tonight. basically you just take 3/4" pvc fittings, and make cradles out of them (boxes, squares, etc) this can get difficult due to lack of fitting choices (there's not very many corner pieces, so you have to use 90's). i read though that the water in the pvc pipe can become very very stagnant, or it will eventually fill up with sand, and without water movement you're looking at danger. if done properly, with good flow, etc, the pvc can become homes for burrowing fish, eels, bristleworms...but if something dies in there..........
much better off using baserock imo.