My live rock stands.

[brucoh]

Here's my new 50 gal. I built platforms for my live rock with 1" acrylic rod and 1/8" acrylic sheet.
Front view.....you can't really see the stands unless you are looking. The four small rocks in front are the only ones actually touching the sand. It makes for good flow behind and under the rocks.

Here are diagonal views were you can see part of the stand in the middle. BTW, I don't have a fake background, I tinted the back with mirror tint so I get a good reflection off my tank.

 

[brucoh]

Here are side views were you can see under the rock.

I have a small powerhead that circulates water across the back and under the rock.

 

[hot883]

Looks really good. Maybe you won't see all the coraline algea on the acrylic once it gets started because the rock will look like that too? So long as it is stable; I applaud your idea. Barry

 

[brucoh]

It's really stable, it's all one piece. Believe me, I tested and re-tested it. The last thing I want is an avalanche. I used Weld-on 3 to join the acrylic so it isn't just going to fall apart.

 

[crazyaqua]

really cool idea looks nice

 

[jrthomas40]

that is a really cool idea

 

[brucoh]

I stole the idea from one of my LFS's. They have a 220 gal. with acrylic stands on larger scale. I really like it because it takes less rock to give your tank a full look and it also lets you have better water circulation.

 

[hawk fish]

GREAT idea saw something like that in one of my books neverthought about doing it until now!!!

 

[brucoh]

Here's another shot from the back. This platform has three levels, the two sides are about 4 inches off the sand and the middle is 8 inches high. I drilled holes in the side platform sheets so I could just slide them up through the legs of the middle platform, thus making it all once piece. I have a bunch of base rock laying around so I piled a bunch of it on out of the water to test the strength of the thing. I shook it and wiggled it and it stayed solid, didn't feel any threat of it toppling.

The only part I screwed up on was breaking the left corner off the lower platform while I was drilling the hole. You can kinda see it in the picture. It's still glued 3/4 around the leg so it isn't going anywhere.

 

[goingpoor]

cool ideal to be able to make caves a little more sterdy

 

[maingo]

cool idea, and the tank is very nice

 

[thereefkeeper]

Looks Good!

 

[fish3]

cool idea i might do that

 

[kg2qe]

I have plexiglass that will now be put to good use be put to good use. It will improve my tank and cost me nothing. Great idea!