Advice on Aquascaping

[llovsbarbie]

So sitting in my tank is what looks like a big pile of rock. I have tried countless times on making a cool set up and well and cant manage to keep the rocks in place or they just dont fit right. :doh: So here I am asking what is it you do in terms of aquascaping? Do you drill holes and use zip ties? Glue? Any advice would be great, pictures even greater!!

 

[Peppie]

I have seen it done both ways on many forums. The problem with drilling is you need to keep the rocks out of the water for the least amount of time so you dont get alot of die off. You can get a large tub and keep the rocks submerged in SW while you drill them with a battery operated drill. Not the ideal situation. But it can be done. The epoxy rout will work also. But IME the epoxy didnt hold very well . I may have had the wrong type, but I dont think so. With this method you can do it right in the DT. IMO zip ties are a last choice. You still need to remove the rock to drill it then try to zip it. If you are going to drill it you may as well put a rod in it.
Sorry no pics here.

 

[Krish]

I have always been good at aquascaping by just stacking and not using anything. Drilling with zip ties or acrylic rods is how a lot of people do it though. I wouldn't fool with epoxy really because if every you wanted to change up something you will have afun time on your hands LOL.

 

[krisfal]

I have used epoxy (it is not hard to remove if you change your mind), drilling (I found this to be difficult, some rock was very dense and hard to get through and other pieces would suddenly fall apart), rods (through holes I drilled) and zip ties (usually through natural holes). For the most part I stack the rock and then use epoxy to help stabilize the set up, sometimes if I cannot keep the rock where I want it I will use other rocks or acrylic rods to hold it in place until the epoxy sets. The key I have found to the epoxy is to not rely on it to glue the rock together, rather join the rock by squeezing it around bumps or into holes on both pieces so that once it hardens it keeps them together, the epoxy will release from the rock rather easily so it is not like just glueing rocks together (hope this makes sense).

On my current project I am going to try the black pond foam, I used it on my koi pond and waterfall and found it easy to work with.

 

[akunochi]

Great foam insulation....works great...hold everything in place. But must be done dry.

 

[jgalvin]

I have a book that gives samples of Aquascaping if you'd like to borrow it. Just wanted to add, that isn't it amazing how long you can spend with your arms in your tank Aquascaping? I plan on playing around with my tonga branch this weekend One reason i would not go the permanent route is if you like changing things up every so often. I for one re-aquascape every year or so.

 

[Chichas01]

I have my a couple of 1/2" acrylic plates that sit under my sand bed and are drilled out so that I could insert acrylic rods into them. I drilled out my rock as well so that the rods go into the rock. Works really well so that the base does not shift at all.

 

[TJL]

Chicas, yours is one of the best examples of utilizing acrylic rods that I have seen. Was trying to find it myself to re-post here. I'm already planning on this for my new system. Thanks for showing.

Todd

 

[Scooterman]

Really rocks can stay hours without harmful die offs. I personally won't worry too much about rocks sitting out a few hours if that is what it takes to make it work. I know JMO lol but I haven't had issues as such.

I have seen it done both ways on many forums. The problem with drilling is you need to keep the rocks out of the water for the least amount of time so you dont get alot of die off. You can get a large tub and keep the rocks submerged in SW while you drill them with a battery operated drill. Not the ideal situation. But it can be done. The epoxy rout will work also. But IME the epoxy didnt hold very well . I may have had the wrong type, but I dont think so. With this method you can do it right in the DT. IMO zip ties are a last choice. You still need to remove the rock to drill it then try to zip it. If you are going to drill it you may as well put a rod in it.
Sorry no pics here.

 

[TinyBubbles]

+1 for Krish's approach. If I can't stack/lean/cantilever my rocks the way I want; I change the plan.