Stacking Live Rock on a PVC Structure

[mccrtny]

Have any of you had any experience using a PVC structure to attach live rock to? I am setting up a 225 gallon tank with the overflow at one end and I want to stack my rock sloping down from the end but would like to keep the area under the rock open for fish to swim through. Any suggestions or experience would be greatly appreciated.

[grallster]

I've seen some decent PVC supports, but a seen a whole lot more that look fake and/or some PVC was showing. I've seen some nice setups with bent acrylic sheets that look alot better/less noticeable.

[aquawolf]

You can search for the DIY Acrylic Rock Lifts thread for details, but can also look at two of my threads to see them being installed:

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6...ed-116520.html

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6...re-116524.html

HTH

[mccrtny]

Here are a couple of pictures of my new tank that I want to to stack rock on a PVC structure. I want to start high at the overflow and slope down from there. Any suggestions?

[aquawolf]

Check out Fly Guys Hollow Reef thread: http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6...ef-111814.html

He used the acrylic rock lift system. You can cut the 3/4 inch rods to any length you want and will not have to worry about them flexing or breaking. That way you could have the rock be higher, but still not have it just resting on top of other rock. As you move away from the overflow you just use shorter lifts.

There are also other methods and threads out here where people have used PVC pipe or eggcrate structures and zip tied the live rock to those structures.

Another method is drilling the rock and using driveway marker rods to connect the pieces of rock together through the drilled holes.

You should be able to search for any of those methods on here and see which one will best suit your needs.

I like the sound of your idea and am looking forward to seeing how you make it work.

[ckusnierek]

I think there are a million diferent ways to do it and like Dave said the biggest thing is that it looks NATURAL!!!!

Are you looking to make rock lifts?

If I could do it over and have a large tank I would aquascape with the tank empty and use lots of epoxy to hold the LR together. just keep the LR moist for less die off...

[mccrtny]

Chris, I should also mention that I want to run this tank bare bottom. I was thinking of building a structure like the attached PDF file. And Maybe a couple of columns at the end opposite the overflow. What do you think?

[ckusnierek]

If it's barebottom I would definatly go with acrylic rods...