DIY PVC pipe aquascape

WDKegge · Dec 4, 2019

So after dealing with AEFW for the 2nd time and a ridiculously bad aptasia invasion I decided to do something I've had in mind for a long time.

A modular aquascape made out of PVC to mimic tonga branch designed specifically for SPS.

Here is what I came up with in the end and I am quite pleased with it, nothing is glued down and I am able to rotate and move things as I please. I have a large amount of siporax in my sump that will hopefully take care of the lack of live rock.

These were taken shortly after setting everything up and I am still working on cleaning up. the flow I can get through the tank is incredible.

Antics · Dec 4, 2019

I've been contemplating this but taking it one extra step by covering the pvc with rubble rock. This is one of those things that looks absolutely terrible at the beginning but I imagine it would look incredible once it was mature with coral and coralline. Hopefully you can be successful with the sipporax and keep it updated.

Katrina71 · Dec 4, 2019

Very cool idea!

WDKegge · Dec 4, 2019

Antics said:
I've been contemplating this but taking it one extra step by covering the pvc with rubble rock. This is one of those things that looks absolutely terrible at the beginning but I imagine it would look incredible once it was mature with coral and coralline. Hopefully you can be successful with the sipporax and keep it updated.

Oh I absolutely know it looks terrible right now, I considered glueing rubble to it but I wanted to keep it so I can move it as much as possible, eventually I imagine it will encrust with coraline and with time SPS fill in.

I don't think I will have much issues with water quality, I have a massive sump with a huge fuge that grows chaeto and other macros like crazy along with an oversized skimmer. After seeing all the crap that was built up under/around my live rock I can only imagine having a tank where there's nowhere for crap to build up can only be an improvement.

derekrstout · Apr 26, 2020

How is the tank looking. I have a design on paper and

WDKegge said:
So after dealing with AEFW for the 2nd time and a ridiculously bad aptasia invasion I decided to do something I've had in mind for a long time.

A modular aquascape made out of PVC to mimic tonga branch designed specifically for SPS.

Here is what I came up with in the end and I am quite pleased with it, nothing is glued down and I am able to rotate and move things as I please. I have a large amount of siporax in my sump that will hopefully take care of the lack of live rock.

These were taken shortly after setting everything up and I am still working on cleaning up. the flow I can get through the tank is incredible.

How is the tank looking now? I am about to do a 90 gallon peninsula with this kind of setup.

Papa_Fish · Nov 4, 2021

Very cool thought process. I might try something like this in Fresh Water but cover it in Moss.

G Santana · Nov 5, 2021

There is free form epoxy that can cover the pvc to make it look more realistic.
YouTube has a number of vids on it. One guy does phenomenal work transforming pvc into aqua scapes for salt water tanks

Leslie_Orphek · Oct 19, 2023

how did this turn out?

masterofstuff124 · Oct 19, 2023

Ooo this is an interesting idea. I would probably rough up all the surfaces and coat in cement, epoxy, CA, rubble. Maybe a bunch of Ts or drilled holes as i dont like the idea of stagnant water stuck in the pipe. Some caves. I find branch rock the hardest to replicate. I can get pretty close with fiberglass rod and rubble, but this seems much easier. Coated in coralline I could see this pvc tank being a very amazing and unique looking tank.