Carib Sea rock

[tory990]

Hey everybody. I'm working on setting up my aquarium. I gave up on the acrylic and went for a predrilled tank that basically plug and play. My question is I bought some of the Caribsea South Seas rock. Here's a link for it https://www.chewy.com/caribsea-south-seas-rock-base-rock/dp/322482
My question is how do I break it up to build an aquascape? Or is it possible. There's some decent size chunks. I bought 2 boxes of it. I watched a BRS video where they used a mallet and chisel to break them up, they were using Marco rocks which I feel are similar. Can I do this with these though or will they just shatter into dust? I don't want to just pile rocks up in the tank and run with it if I can build something awesome but I don't want to break them into dust either. Anybody have any experience with them? Any suggestions for aquascaping these dudes? Thanks for the help.

 

[LeftyReefer]

hammer will work. If you have a chisel or punch, you can be a bit more strategic with it.

 

[tory990]

hammer will work. If you have a chisel or punch, you can be a bit more strategic with it.

Great thanks. I was just afraid it would just disintegrate once I touched it lol.

 

[LeftyReefer]

it is messy. There will be lots of dust and bits coming off, so do it outside or somewhere you can clean it up. shop vac would be handy.

I power washed all my rocks before putting them in my tank.

keep the small bits for frags. glue frags to them and then glue them to your scape. perfect match.

 

[tory990]

it is messy. There will be lots of dust and bits coming off, so do it outside or somewhere you can clean it up. shop vac would be handy.

I power washed all my rocks before putting them in my tank.

Yeah they had a lot of dust on the video. There's lots of dust in and around the boxes already. Not that I feel confident in my ability to build something great but I'd rather try that just pile boulders up lol.

 

[bruno3047]

Hey everybody. I'm working on setting up my aquarium. I gave up on the acrylic and went for a predrilled tank that basically plug and play. My question is I bought some of the Caribsea South Seas rock. Here's a link for it https://www.chewy.com/caribsea-south-seas-rock-base-rock/dp/322482
My question is how do I break it up to build an aquascape? Or is it possible. There's some decent size chunks. I bought 2 boxes of it. I watched a BRS video where they used a mallet and chisel to break them up, they were using Marco rocks which I feel are similar. Can I do this with these though or will they just shatter into dust? I don't want to just pile rocks up in the tank and run with it if I can build something awesome but I don't want to break them into dust either. Anybody have any experience with them? Any suggestions for aquascaping these dudes? Thanks for the help.

I used a small handsaw to cut the larger rocks in half, so they end up flat on one side. I used those as my base rocks and then built the other rocks on top of those. You can see those rocks in my avatar. I have another 60 pounds soaking in a vat with freshwater. I’m going to use those on my new build. Great rocks. You can work them a little bit with a screwdriver to dig out the holes like I did.

 

[tory990]

I used a small handsaw to cut the larger rocks in half, so they end up flat on one side. I used those as my base rocks and then built the other rocks on top of those. You can see those rocks in my avatar. I have another 60 pounds soaking in a vat with freshwater. I’m going to use those on my new build. Great rocks. You can work them a little bit with a screwdriver to dig out the holes like I did.

Awesome, thanks. Was a handsaw easier you think than using a hammer and chisel? How much did you end up using for your tank? Mine is 75 gallon display with 20 gallon sump. I want some for the sump at least a little for copepods and stuff. I'd like to eventually be able to support a mandarin. I'd considered just ordering some base rocks depending how cost effective they are and if I can find them. There's a lot of these type rocks that have gone out of stock recently.

 

[bruno3047]

Awesome, thanks. Was a handsaw easier you think than using a hammer and chisel? How much did you end up using for your tank? Mine is 75 gallon display with 20 gallon sump. I want some for the sump at least a little for copepods and stuff. I'd like to eventually be able to support a mandarin. I'd considered just ordering some base rocks depending how cost effective they are and if I can find them. There's a lot of these type rocks that have gone out of stock recently.

The saw will give you a flat side. This is really only good if you’re going to use that as the very bottom of your aqua scape so it can lay flat on your sand. My tank is a 125G 72” x 18” and I used 80 pounds. I’m building a 315G 120” x 24” and I’ll be adding another 60 pounds. Same kind of set up as what you see in my avatar. A rock island with caves underneath. I’ll have two of them in my new tank. Some people use a screwdriver to drill out the line where they want to chisel.

 

[tory990]

The saw will give you a flat side. This is really only good if you’re going to use that as the very bottom of your aqua scape so it can lay flat on your sand. My tank is a 125G 72” x 18” and I used 80 pounds. I’m building a 315G 120” x 24” and I’ll be adding another 60 pounds. Same kind of set up as what you see in my avatar. A rock island with caves underneath. I’ll have two of them in my new tank. Some people use a screwdriver to drill out the line where they want to chisel.

That's a good idea. Then the 80 pounds I got should more than do me. I was thinking losing some to dust and whatnot. How die you bond yours? What products did you use?

 

[|Frank|]

I pretty much followed along with this video. I used a 1/4-1/2in wood chisels and a hammer. I just laid a cardboard box down where I was working and had at it.

 

[bruno3047]

That's a good idea. Then the 80 pounds I got should more than do me. I was thinking losing some to dust and whatnot. How die you bond yours? What products did you use?

I didn’t bond them. They just kind of interlock. You just got to keep playing with them until they feel solid.

 

[tory990]

I pretty much followed along with this video. I used a 1/4-1/2in wood chisels and a hammer. I just laid a cardboard box down where I was working and had at it.

Thanks for your help. I'll check the video out.

 

[J.D.]

Carbsea life rock, hammer and Marco Cement, current cycling in a tub

 

[tory990]

I didn’t bond them. They just kind of interlock. You just got to keep playing with them until they feel solid.

I'm on the fence with not bonding them. I'd like to be able to move them if needed but I'm also afraid of them getting knocked over if I don't bond them.

 

[tory990]

Carbsea life rock, hammer and Marco Cement, current cycling in a tub

That looks awesome. My issue is I don't have an artistic bone in my body so I'm not sure how many times I'll redo it til I get something I maybe can live with lol.

 

[bruno3047]

I'm on the fence with not bonding them. I'd like to be able to move them if needed but I'm also afraid of them getting knocked over if I don't bond them.

Bonding has its pros and cons. Pro is that a rock won’t fall off and crush one of your animals while you’re cleaning the tank. Cons is that if you need to remove rocks to, let’s say get a fish out, then what do you do?Plus, I’m going to be moving all my rocks to my new tank and setting them up in the 315. If they were bonded together, that would suck.

 

[J.D.]

That looks awesome. My issue is I don't have an artistic bone in my body so I'm not sure how many times I'll redo it til I get something I maybe can live with lol.

Honestly it's not too difficult, browse for aquascapes you find pleasing and use it as inspiration. This scape took me a week or two, until I was happy with it. Bonded it in 3 sections so I can move it, it's about 28ish × 19ish (W / H)

 

[tory990]

Honestly it's not too difficult, browse for aquascapes you find pleasing and use it as inspiration. This scape took me a week or two, until I was happy with it. Bonded it in 3 sections so I can move it, it's about 28ish × 19ish (W / H)

Thanks for the help. I'm looking now for chisel and hacksaw. Hopefully I can figure my scape out this weekend or get an idea anyway.

 

[bruno3047]

Thanks for the help. I'm looking now for chisel and hacksaw. Hopefully I can figure my scape out this weekend or get an idea anyway.

Handsaw is better than a hacksaw. You need something with teeth. A newer one would make quick work of those rocks, which are very hard. Something like this:

Stanley Trade cut 15 in. Tooth Saw STHT20348 - The Home Depot

The 15 in. TRADE CUT Tooth Saw provides quick, efficient cutting with a comfortable, slip resistant bi-material grip. With triple ground teeth, this saw makes for fast cutting on both the push and pull

www.homedepot.com

 

[tory990]

Honestly it's not too difficult, browse for aquascapes you find pleasing and use it as inspiration. This scape took me a week or two, until I was happy with it. Bonded it in 3 sections so I can move it, it's about 28ish × 19ish (W / H)

Thanks for the help. I'm looking now for chisel and hacksaw. Hopefully I can figure my scape out this weekend or get an idea anyway.

Handsaw is better than a hacksaw. You need something with teeth. A newer one would make quick work of those rocks, which are very hard. Something like this:

Stanley Trade cut 15 in. Tooth Saw STHT20348 - The Home Depot

The 15 in. TRADE CUT Tooth Saw provides quick, efficient cutting with a comfortable, slip resistant bi-material grip. With triple ground teeth, this saw makes for fast cutting on both the push and pull

www.homedepot.com

Thank you. I did mean handsaw lol. But thanks for the link.