Tonga Shelf questions

[EHaddad]

I just got in the Tonga Shelf Rock I ordered from BRS. I have two large pieces with bases, but my question is with them being so top heavy how did you attach/glue them to other rock to keep them from flipping. Also if you have pictures of your aquascape with Tonga Shelf Rock please post them so I can get some aquascape ideas.

 

[User]

I ended up just setting it on top of some pukani

 

[EHaddad]

I ended up just setting it on top of some pukani

That looks really good the only problem I have is that mine still have the base attached. I do have some flat shelf like that so I will probably be stealing that idea as well.

 

[mta_morrow]

I have a bit of Tonga in my tank now and have more to add as I fill out the tank.

I have my base rock epoxied together for a strong base. The Tonga and other large rocks are merely placed in position.

 

[EHaddad]

The problem I am having is my rocks which I will post pictures tonight are so big up top that I cannot get them to stand up without falling over.

 

[EHaddad]

Here are the pictures of all the rock I have.

 

[EHaddad]

These two are the ones I would like to somehow use a a base structure to build off of but they are so top heavy I am having an hard time trying to figure out a way to make them stable without glueing a random brace under them. #aquascape

 

[EHaddad]

#Help

 

[mta_morrow]

Most people will attach the Tonga to a base rock with a reef cement or by drilling and using acrylic rods.

I’m not sure how to make that the base with another rock underneath.

One thing I may do in my tank as I keep adding rock work is take a piece of Tonga branch and cut to length and glue to the underside of the Tonga plate and make a “pillar”.

 

[mta_morrow]

#Help

#reefsquad

Does anyone have and ideas as to how @EHaddad can use the Tonga plate as a base?
I don’t know how you would attached it to the bottom of the tank without a “brace” or attaching to a base rock first.

 

[Fudsey]

I have seen a couple tanks that attached the rock to a piece of star board then just placed it in the tank that way.

 

[saltyhog]

My Tonga shelf had the base on the end of the piece not the middle. I just used the base as one "leg" and found a rock the same height for the other "leg". It's very sturdy and looks good to me.


Day after the tank set up.

 

[Anirban]

You can not use that tonga base without attaching it to a flat piece with reef cement. It just can not stand by its own.

 

[Reef-junky]

Would bonding it to the glass work? Could temporarily prop it up with something till the bond drys. Maybe it could be bonded to a long rock that will get covered by sand that’s another idea. Again prop it up till bond drys and see if it stays.

 

[EHaddad]

Could I possibly cut the base to make it stable?

 

[Katrina71]

I think it would still be top heavy.

 

[Reef-junky]

Could I possibly cut the base to make it stable?

Possibly

 

[EHaddad]

I think it would still be top heavy.

I was thinking of cutting it to make it easier to cement to another rock.

 

[Reef-junky]

If you make a base wide and long enough and cut the steam flat it should work. The shelf I made is about 1/2 the width of my 75gal and stands on its own. The base just has to be enough to make it stable. As long as you can get a good strong bond it should work. You may have to make an L bracket and cover it with what ever you use to bond the rocks together.

 

[EHaddad]

If you make a base wide and long enough and cut the steam flat it should work. The shelf I made is about 1/2 the width of my 75gal and stands on its own. The base just has to be enough to make it stable. As long as you can get a good strong bond it should work. You may have to make an L bracket and cover it with what ever you use to bond the rocks together.

How and what did you use to cut your rock to make it flat enough?