Used 125 gallon aquascape advice

[tmerritt]

I just purchased a used 125 gallon reef tank and I’m having a hard time with the aquascape. There are a lot of caves/holes for fish to swim through, but I just can’t help but to see it still as mostly two piles of rocks. I really like the minimalistic aquascapes, but the rocks that came with the tank are all fairly large. Would I be able to just break these rocks up and do a more minimalistic scape? Should I be concerned about a lack rock for filtration?

Thanks!

 

[redfishbluefish]

I struggle with aquascaping as well. And yes, you can break your rock up to make smaller pieces. What bit of advice that helped me was to think tripods. Three rocks down and a larger rock on top....and build from there. This gives you plenty of caves/tunnels for your fish. If you wish to go minimalist, you're most likely looking at gluing/cementing rocks together.

Here is my most recent pile of rocks....before fish and corals:

 

[ApoIsland]

I've always been a fan of a hammer and glue for most large rocks. I would keep a couple in tact for base rocks but would break the others.

 

[tmerritt]

I struggle with aquascaping as well. And yes, you can break your rock up to make smaller pieces. What bit of advice that helped me was to think tripods. Three rocks down and a larger rock on top....and build from there. This gives you plenty of caves/tunnels for your fish. If you wish to go minimalist, you're most likely looking at gluing/cementing rocks together.

Here is my most recent pile of rocks....before fish and corals:

Very nice! I hadn't considered the "tripods" but I could definitely see the rocks being a lot more stable with that idea in mind. Thanks!

 

[tmerritt]

I've always been a fan of a hammer and glue for most large rocks. I would keep a couple in tact for base rocks but would break the others.

Hammer only work or do you need to use a chisel too? Are you able to glue it up in the tank or do you pull it out and let it dry? Will be moving the tank within a year so I'm not sure if it's worth the effort to glue it up now or wait?

 

[ApoIsland]

Hammer only work or do you need to use a chisel too? Are you able to glue it up in the tank or do you pull it out and let it dry? Will be moving the tank within a year so I'm not sure if it's worth the effort to glue it up now or wait?

Yes I do use a chisel also. You can pull out of the tank and glue when wet and then put back in. Use the Gluemasters thin superglue and sand as a bonding agent.

This is a good video on the subject. Can make some really nice formations.

 

[ApoIsland]

When you move the tank it will be so nice to have the rock formations glued together. I moved frequently and always got so frustrated trying to put the rocks back together and get the corals mounted.

My tip would be to not glue formations that won't fit in a 5g bucket or a 10 gallon plastic bin though. It makes it so much easier when it comes time to move.

 

[tmerritt]

When you move the tank it will be so nice to have the rock formations glued together. I moved frequently and always got so frustrated trying to put the rocks back together and get the corals mounted.

My tip would be to not glue formations that won't fit in a 5g bucket or a 10 gallon plastic bin though. It makes it so much easier when it comes time to move.

Thanks! I also have the 2 braces above the tank that space it in thirds so I have to make sure that the rocks will fit in through there. That'd be pretty disheartening to spend a while on a creation just to not be able to get it into the tank lol.

 

[redfishbluefish]

One more bit of advice to stabilize rock formations......

Using a correct sized masonry drill bit, drill holes opposite each other in the rock and insert a plastic rod to help hold the structure together....and can include glue. What I've used for plastic rod are plastic clothes hangers. When the wife isn't looking a couple just disappear.

 

[ApoIsland]

Thanks! I also have the 2 braces above the tank that space it in thirds so I have to make sure that the rocks will fit in through there. That'd be pretty disheartening to spend a while on a creation just to not be able to get it into the tank lol.

oh yes that would be disaster. I actually just had a similar failure. I recently moved my reef from a 120g with 24'' width into a 90g with 18'' width. My 2 favorite rock formations I spent so much time on and really became attached to won't fit. That's a bummer...

 

[Eagle_Steve]

One more bit of advice to stabilize rock formations......

Using a correct sized masonry drill bit, drill holes opposite each other in the rock and insert a plastic rod to help hold the structure together....and can include glue. What I've used for plastic rod are plastic clothes hangers. When the wife isn't looking a couple just disappear.

OMG, I am so glad I am not the only one guilty of this. Just do not tell my wife lol.

 

[tmerritt]

oh yes that would be disaster. I actually just had a similar failure. I recently moved my reef from a 120g with 24'' width into a 90g with 18'' width. My 2 favorite rock formations I spent so much time on and really became attached to won't fit. That's a bummer...

Ah! That's rough!