DIY Rock and PVC Aquascaping designs

akillian · 03/30/2013, 12:23 AM

Check it. I've got a 20 gal rimless thats getting a complete makeover. getting rid of all my livestock and starting fresh.

The goal for this one this time is simplicity, low maintenance, elegance, and unusual.

Going bare bottom. Also making my own live rock. I'm trying to design a PVC frame that I can form the rock around.

Here are a couple of designs i've started with. Keep in mind, I'm shooting for simplicity, so I know there isn't a ton of space for corals, but i am going to be very selective in them, and i tried to design branches for added space.

I apologize for these my drawing skills. I'd make the rock look more natural, these are just basic structures. Also, I'm aware that the structures aren't very natural, but I'm also going for unusual; plus, how many good corals have you seen that look "natural."

Design 1:

Design 2:

Tell me what you think, which one's better? Advice? Ideas?

I'm probably going to do it this weekend, and I'll be sure to post good pics and step by steps if you guys like the concept.

akillian · 03/30/2013, 11:49 AM

Also, I don't want my pvc filled with water or have any openings for unwanted critters... does anybody know of good stuff to put inside the pvc that will help it sink and keep it's structure?

I was thinking that I'd make small, dime sized balls out of the rock mix, and fill the pvc with them once they're cured. This way it wouldn't be so heavy that it bends the arms of the structure, but would still add a good amount of weight to it.

nanomania · 03/30/2013, 12:58 PM

kool...... waiting for pics.....

sp0k · 03/30/2013, 03:56 PM

I like number 2....
Heres how i did my

[IMG]http://i50.*******.com/5134w4.jpg[/IMG]

MrRyanT · 03/30/2013, 07:55 PM

I like no. 2 as well.

nanomania · 03/31/2013, 01:29 AM

No.1 will look more natural i guess.....

akillian · 03/31/2013, 06:15 AM

I went fore somewhat of a combo... i'll post pics of the pvc skeleton later today. Also some pics of some test rock I made yesterday. still have to silicone the pvc and figure out the details of my bare bottom before i do the rock work

akillian · 03/31/2013, 02:38 PM

This is my tank right now, I'm selling all of the livestock so that I can start over...

ALRIGHT
so here's what I've got so far.

PVC Skeleton (foil is the size of my tank):

Testing DIY Rock... I had just made these so they'll look much different when they dry/cure and the salt dissolves

Driest mixture:

Wettest mixture:

In-between:

Left is with all rock salt, middle is a mixture with rock salt and kosher salt, right is mixture with rock salt and coated in mixture with kosher salt:

Mixture with kosher salt:

Plan:

I would just use 1 1/2" plastic, but its like 400 bucks for that thickness...

I think I'll be using a combo of different salt mixtures to make the rock, but it depends on how they turn out when they're done! I like the idea of using kosher salt because that makes it porous enough for good bacteria, but gives the detritus nowhere to settle.

The pvc will be filled with sand, and the connectors will be siliconed to one another. This will prevent water or critters from getting into the PVC and causing unknown issues.

Opinions? Advice?

peppie · 03/31/2013, 05:47 PM

Your rock looks very dense. Will you have additional natural live rock anywhere in the system? Your bio filtration from your man made rock will be min. because of the density.

What else are you using in your rock mix??

akillian · 03/31/2013, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peppie

Your rock looks very dense. Will you have additional natural live rock anywhere in the system? Your bio filtration from your man made rock will be min. because of the density.

What else are you using in your rock mix??

about 4 part rock salt and 1 part portland cement. when it's cured, the salt should dissolve and leave the rock fairly porous.

picked out the main recipe from travis' third batch http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=807988

sp0k · 03/31/2013, 09:00 PM

looks good....

nanomania · 03/31/2013, 09:57 PM

make holes in ur pvc.......

EnderG60 · 04/01/2013, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanomania

make holes in ur pvc.......

yeah take those end caps off, let it be a cave system for fish to get inside of.

jube66 · 04/01/2013, 10:05 AM

Man that is a lot of planning and time invested, nice work thus far.

03/30/2013, 12:23 AM	#1
akillian Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 38	DIY Rock and PVC Aquascaping designs Check it. I've got a 20 gal rimless thats getting a complete makeover. getting rid of all my livestock and starting fresh. The goal for this one this time is simplicity, low maintenance, elegance, and unusual. Going bare bottom. Also making my own live rock. I'm trying to design a PVC frame that I can form the rock around. Here are a couple of designs i've started with. Keep in mind, I'm shooting for simplicity, so I know there isn't a ton of space for corals, but i am going to be very selective in them, and i tried to design branches for added space. I apologize for these my drawing skills. I'd make the rock look more natural, these are just basic structures. Also, I'm aware that the structures aren't very natural, but I'm also going for unusual; plus, how many good corals have you seen that look "natural." Design 1: Design 2: Tell me what you think, which one's better? Advice? Ideas? I'm probably going to do it this weekend, and I'll be sure to post good pics and step by steps if you guys like the concept.

03/30/2013, 12:58 PM	#3
nanomania Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: mumbai, india Posts: 1,101	kool...... waiting for pics..... __________________ TRY BUYING CAPTIVE BRED ANIMALS/FISHES/INVERTS... DONT BUY A DOG, ADOPT THEM..... SAVE NATURE..... JUNGLES AND OCEANS RULE.....

03/30/2013, 03:56 PM	#4
sp0k Registered Member. Join Date: May 2012 Location: vegas Posts: 136	I like number 2.... Heres how i did my [IMG]http://i50.*******.com/5134w4.jpg[/IMG] __________________ The great question... which I have not been able to answer... is, "What does a woman want? Current Tank Info: in the works Current Tank Info: 125g 40g sump..all in the making

03/30/2013, 07:55 PM	#5
MrRyanT MrRyanT Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,731	I like no. 2 as well. __________________ We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle Current Tank Info: 30 gal display

03/31/2013, 01:29 AM	#6
nanomania Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: mumbai, india Posts: 1,101	No.1 will look more natural i guess..... __________________ TRY BUYING CAPTIVE BRED ANIMALS/FISHES/INVERTS... DONT BUY A DOG, ADOPT THEM..... SAVE NATURE..... JUNGLES AND OCEANS RULE.....

03/30/2013, 11:49 AM	#2
akillian Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 38	Also, I don't want my pvc filled with water or have any openings for unwanted critters... does anybody know of good stuff to put inside the pvc that will help it sink and keep it's structure? I was thinking that I'd make small, dime sized balls out of the rock mix, and fill the pvc with them once they're cured. This way it wouldn't be so heavy that it bends the arms of the structure, but would still add a good amount of weight to it.

03/31/2013, 06:15 AM	#7
akillian Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 38	I went fore somewhat of a combo... i'll post pics of the pvc skeleton later today. Also some pics of some test rock I made yesterday. still have to silicone the pvc and figure out the details of my bare bottom before i do the rock work

03/31/2013, 02:38 PM	#8
akillian Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 38	This is my tank right now, I'm selling all of the livestock so that I can start over... ALRIGHT so here's what I've got so far. PVC Skeleton (foil is the size of my tank): Testing DIY Rock... I had just made these so they'll look much different when they dry/cure and the salt dissolves Driest mixture: Wettest mixture: In-between: Left is with all rock salt, middle is a mixture with rock salt and kosher salt, right is mixture with rock salt and coated in mixture with kosher salt: Mixture with kosher salt: Plan: I would just use 1 1/2" plastic, but its like 400 bucks for that thickness... I think I'll be using a combo of different salt mixtures to make the rock, but it depends on how they turn out when they're done! I like the idea of using kosher salt because that makes it porous enough for good bacteria, but gives the detritus nowhere to settle. The pvc will be filled with sand, and the connectors will be siliconed to one another. This will prevent water or critters from getting into the PVC and causing unknown issues. Opinions? Advice? Last edited by akillian; 03/31/2013 at 02:50 PM.

03/31/2013, 05:47 PM	#9
peppie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,883	Your rock looks very dense. Will you have additional natural live rock anywhere in the system? Your bio filtration from your man made rock will be min. because of the density. What else are you using in your rock mix??

03/31/2013, 09:00 PM	#11
sp0k Registered Member. Join Date: May 2012 Location: vegas Posts: 136	looks good.... __________________ The great question... which I have not been able to answer... is, "What does a woman want? Current Tank Info: in the works Current Tank Info: 125g 40g sump..all in the making

03/31/2013, 09:57 PM	#12
nanomania Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: mumbai, india Posts: 1,101	make holes in ur pvc....... __________________ TRY BUYING CAPTIVE BRED ANIMALS/FISHES/INVERTS... DONT BUY A DOG, ADOPT THEM..... SAVE NATURE..... JUNGLES AND OCEANS RULE.....

04/01/2013, 10:05 AM	#14
jube66 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Zanesville, OH Posts: 63	Man that is a lot of planning and time invested, nice work thus far. __________________ But honey... the kids love the tank. Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Reef Tank