New rock layout for my 55gal (newbie)

Meeocky · 10-04-2005, 09:16 PM

I'm new to this so help me out. Comments are welcome...

I found these rocks by an old run down sugar mill.
They are really dirty. I plan on washing the rocks after i figure out the formation. So the color of the rocks will probably change...

http://tinypic.com/e9fdid.jpg
Something i just threw together. There are three tunnels/caves in this formation. The obvious ones are on the left and center. I also have a little cave in the back on the right for the fish to hide out. This formation is an estimated 11 inches tall.

http://tinypic.com/e9fdzc.jpg
This is somewhat what I'm trying to make. The length of the tank is roughly the width of the cardboard. I'll probably add a few loose rocks in the open spots throughout the sand

http://tinypic.com/e9g0fr.jpg
I have a lot of left over rocks to use. It's just hard to stack them. They slide off way too easily.

Help a newbie out with this. any comments and suggestions are welcome.

fishfreaks · 10-04-2005, 09:22 PM

If you can find bigger rocks they will be easier to stack. there is a silicone/glue type stuff you can get to help keep the rocks from tumbling over

Lydia · 10-04-2005, 10:03 PM

That looks really awesome!! You inspired me, lol. I want to make a cave now. But like fishfreaks mentioned, you should glue them together. Otherwise there is too big of a risk of them falling and trapping or killing a fish. They might seem sturdy but you probably shouldn't risk it. Hmmm now that reminds me why I haven't made something like that yet. I don't know what kind of glue to get. Are you planning on putting plants in there? I am just curious. I think the tank will look really nice either way!

IloveCichlids · 10-04-2005, 10:23 PM

However you stack them should look very nice. Those rocks will be very hard to stack and keep in place. I have some cobblestones in a tank and I cannot stack them so I use them as accent pieces to all of the flat rock I have. Check out some glue as fishfreaks said, just make sure it is aquarium safe.

TLM4x4 · 10-04-2005, 10:34 PM

You can get aquarium safe silicone or even use reg. clear silicone and stick the rocks together...just be sure to let it set up completely before adding it to your tank. I like the shape of the rocks...I went to my local river and got a bunch myself but got bigger ones that I can stack and didnt have to silicone together. Make sure you scrub them down good with a stiff brush should be all they need. Good luck!

mr.dark-saint · 10-05-2005, 05:11 AM

As long as the "found Rocks" are hard (if you can scratch it with a knife it's too porous and it might have soaked up some run off from the mill) but from the pic it looks like hard river rocks. Wash it with a good stiff brush and then soak it in cup of bleach to a bucket of water.

After drying for a few days (less in hotter days) use 100% silicone (if the rocks were dark I'd go with "black" silicone since if you ever have to treat the tank with Rid-Ich you'll never see the discoloration in the silcone.

You can also get Marine Putty used by Reefers (not the people who smoke) to keep the live rock in place. This works good if the rocks are dry and it just doesn't work well if wet (I know this). The putty is somewhat white and it might be able to blend in better with the rocks you are using (yes they do have some in purple-ish color).

Meeocky · 10-05-2005, 06:30 AM

Those are the biggest rocks I could find.

I'm going to Lowe's this afternoon to look for an "egg crate" and some silocone. Do you think I still need an egg crate even if there's no distinct edges of the rock? Thanks for all the comments and advice.

Georgia Peach · 10-05-2005, 06:38 AM

those are nice rocks! Good luck with your project, I cant wait to see the finished wall!

mr.dark-saint · 10-06-2005, 04:15 AM

I'd always like a buffer just in case you deside to rearange the tank and the rock slips and pings a gravel just right and blow out the bottom. That is if the tank is glass.

Meeocky · 10-06-2005, 05:30 AM

I FINALLY found an egg crate.

Lydia · 10-06-2005, 07:43 AM

Yay! Where did you find one?

Meeocky · 10-06-2005, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lydia

Yay! Where did you find one?

I found one on my own at Home Depot. I couldn’t seem to find one at Lowe’s. I even asked workers there and they didn’t know what I was talking about. I guess called it the wrong name.
Now all I need to do is start cleaning my rocks and get some strong epoxy so my rocks don’t tumble, and I’ll be ready to start cycling. I can’t wait!

Meeocky · 10-09-2005, 05:18 PM

Ok, I found some Silicone in my shed I can use for my rocks.

I read this thread...
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/v...ht=ge+silicone
and I have 2 full tubes of the silicone the above link said to use (GE Window & Door Silicone 1) and they don't say anything about "mildew resistant." So I'm assuming this will be good enough to use for my rocks.

10-04-2005, 09:16 PM	#1
Meeocky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Louisiana Age: 26 Posts: 113	New rock layout for my 55gal (newbie) I'm new to this so help me out. Comments are welcome... I found these rocks by an old run down sugar mill. They are really dirty. I plan on washing the rocks after i figure out the formation. So the color of the rocks will probably change... http://tinypic.com/e9fdid.jpg Something i just threw together. There are three tunnels/caves in this formation. The obvious ones are on the left and center. I also have a little cave in the back on the right for the fish to hide out. This formation is an estimated 11 inches tall. http://tinypic.com/e9fdzc.jpg This is somewhat what I'm trying to make. The length of the tank is roughly the width of the cardboard. I'll probably add a few loose rocks in the open spots throughout the sand http://tinypic.com/e9g0fr.jpg I have a lot of left over rocks to use. It's just hard to stack them. They slide off way too easily. Help a newbie out with this. any comments and suggestions are welcome.

10-04-2005, 09:22 PM	#2
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,303	If you can find bigger rocks they will be easier to stack. there is a silicone/glue type stuff you can get to help keep the rocks from tumbling over __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

10-04-2005, 10:23 PM	#4
IloveCichlids Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 29 Posts: 456	However you stack them should look very nice. Those rocks will be very hard to stack and keep in place. I have some cobblestones in a tank and I cannot stack them so I use them as accent pieces to all of the flat rock I have. Check out some glue as fishfreaks said, just make sure it is aquarium safe. __________________ When you feel like this... , just watch your fish, & have a tasty beverage (of your choice, I like Kool-Aid)!

10-04-2005, 10:34 PM	#5
TLM4x4 Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southern Oregon Coast and love it! Age: 55 Posts: 37	You can get aquarium safe silicone or even use reg. clear silicone and stick the rocks together...just be sure to let it set up completely before adding it to your tank. I like the shape of the rocks...I went to my local river and got a bunch myself but got bigger ones that I can stack and didnt have to silicone together. Make sure you scrub them down good with a stiff brush should be all they need. Good luck! __________________ Nice to be here? At my age it's nice to be anywhere... ---------------------------------------------------- Kathy

10-05-2005, 06:38 AM	#8
Georgia Peach Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gray, Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 1,610	those are nice rocks! Good luck with your project, I cant wait to see the finished wall! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Cichlids have more personality than most people I know !*

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10-04-2005, 10:03 PM	#3
Lydia Ichthus Owner Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: FL Posts: 1,907	That looks really awesome!! You inspired me, lol. I want to make a cave now. But like fishfreaks mentioned, you should glue them together. Otherwise there is too big of a risk of them falling and trapping or killing a fish. They might seem sturdy but you probably shouldn't risk it. Hmmm now that reminds me why I haven't made something like that yet. I don't know what kind of glue to get. Are you planning on putting plants in there? I am just curious. I think the tank will look really nice either way!

10-05-2005, 05:11 AM	#6
mr.dark-saint Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 36 Posts: 177	As long as the "found Rocks" are hard (if you can scratch it with a knife it's too porous and it might have soaked up some run off from the mill) but from the pic it looks like hard river rocks. Wash it with a good stiff brush and then soak it in cup of bleach to a bucket of water. After drying for a few days (less in hotter days) use 100% silicone (if the rocks were dark I'd go with "black" silicone since if you ever have to treat the tank with Rid-Ich you'll never see the discoloration in the silcone. You can also get Marine Putty used by Reefers (not the people who smoke) to keep the live rock in place. This works good if the rocks are dry and it just doesn't work well if wet (I know this). The putty is somewhat white and it might be able to blend in better with the rocks you are using (yes they do have some in purple-ish color).

10-05-2005, 06:30 AM	#7
Meeocky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Louisiana Age: 26 Posts: 113	Those are the biggest rocks I could find. I'm going to Lowe's this afternoon to look for an "egg crate" and some silocone. Do you think I still need an egg crate even if there's no distinct edges of the rock? Thanks for all the comments and advice.

10-06-2005, 04:15 AM	#9
mr.dark-saint Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 36 Posts: 177	I'd always like a buffer just in case you deside to rearange the tank and the rock slips and pings a gravel just right and blow out the bottom. That is if the tank is glass.

10-06-2005, 05:30 AM	#10
Meeocky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Louisiana Age: 26 Posts: 113	I FINALLY found an egg crate.

10-06-2005, 07:43 AM	#11
Lydia Ichthus Owner Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: FL Posts: 1,907	Yay! Where did you find one?

10-09-2005, 05:18 PM	#13
Meeocky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Louisiana Age: 26 Posts: 113	Ok, I found some Silicone in my shed I can use for my rocks. I read this thread... http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/v...ht=ge+silicone and I have 2 full tubes of the silicone the above link said to use (GE Window & Door Silicone 1) and they don't say anything about "mildew resistant." So I'm assuming this will be good enough to use for my rocks.

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