First time aquascaping

[dvlpr]

If you've got an spare rock maybe add a tiny bit more into the centre of the left tower and I think it's looking awesome !

Thanks! To make it a bit more like a pyramid shape?

6 more days till the tank gets here... 5 more designs or stop here? ;)

 

[dvlpr]

Stop the presses - breaking news, lol :eek:

Moved a couple of rocks as JoshO suggested and my wife signed off on the layout - I can't believe it ;Nailbiting

 

[dvlpr]

Next question - do I cement it top to bottom or vice-versa? Seems easier to go top-to-bottom, as I can lift off one rock, cement it, place it back, wait, then take the bunch off, etc... Right?

 

[JCMelski]

If you have an internal overflow tape that out also. I have two in my tank and wish I got a tank with out them. They take up a lot of room.

 

[JoshO]

Next question - do I cement it top to bottom or vice-versa? Seems easier to go top-to-bottom, as I can lift off one rock, cement it, place it back, wait, then take the bunch off, etc... Right?

I think top to bottom, move the ones you can and cement, wait for it to cure fully then lift then next layer and so on!

 

[dvlpr]

If you have an internal overflow tape that out also. I have two in my tank and wish I got a tank with out them. They take up a lot of room.

I don't even have a tank yet :) So, I'll cement this all out of the tank (probably in 2-3 large bits) and then put it in.

I think top to bottom, move the ones you can and cement, wait for it to cure fully then lift then next layer and so on!

Yep, otherwise I'm never getting structure back together again, as the last posts have proved ;) Thanks!

 

[Streetlamp]

Stop the presses - breaking news, lol :eek:

Moved a couple of rocks as JoshO suggested and my wife signed off on the layout - I can't believe it ;Nailbiting

Looks good, can you remove the joining bit to create too islands to see what it would look like?

May as well try one more scape while you have time.

 

[dvlpr]

Looks good, can you remove the joining bit to create too islands to see what it would look like?

May as well try one more scape while you have time.

The bridge is something my wife is set on, so... no ;) she wants it there and I have to give in there. I think it may work well in the future with some small colonies (of something that I don't know yet about) or just for shrimp to hang out on and have a beer or two. Basically the concept is to have an interconnected landscape. But thanks for your input - always happy to hear different ideas!

 

[JoshO]

I don't even have a tank yet :) So, I'll cement this all out of the tank (probably in 2-3 large bits) and then put it in.

Yep, otherwise I'm never getting structure back together again, as the last posts have proved ;) Thanks!

I'd possibly cement it in a few larger chunks and construct them in the tank, rather than try and go for one big structure, if you ever need to disassemble, move things around etc it gives more flexibility, plus there's less chance of it coming apart when you move it and possibly cracking the glass!

 

[dvlpr]

I'd possibly cement it in a few larger chunks and construct them in the tank, rather than try and go for one big structure, if you ever need to disassemble, move things around etc it gives more flexibility, plus there's less chance of it coming apart when you move it and possibly cracking the glass!

Thank you - that's a great idea! It does make sense and will definitely make it easier to at least put it in. I was thinking of just having the bridge on its own, but having 5 smaller structures is easier to maintain in the long run.

 

[JoshO]

Thank you - that's a great idea! It does make sense and will definitely make it easier to at least put it in. I was thinking of just having the bridge on its own, but having 5 smaller structures is easier to maintain in the long run.

The last thing you want is to drop or have one of the larger structures break apart as you are moving them into the tank so hopefully it'll help minimise that risk!

 

[sp1187]

is it cemented yet?

 

[dvlpr]

is it cemented yet?

Not yet - it was late last night, so I am going to cement it today... why? ;)

 

[sp1187]

wait till you have the tank.
make sure it fits.
if the tank has a center brace that could create problems getting it in the tank.
put it in the tank and than sit where you'll be viewing it to see how it looks.
get the wife's approval.
:cool:

 

[dvlpr]

wait till you have the tank.
make sure it fits.
if the tank has a center brace that could create problems getting it in the tank.
put it in the tank and than sit where you'll be viewing it to see how it looks.
get the wife's approval.
:cool:

Ah, got it. Yes, good advice!

I do know exactly what tank I am getting and there is no center brace and this will fit, because I have dimensions on the table :)

The tank will be in this same spot, so I have been looking at this structure from my usual spots (I'll be dining pretty much across the table looking straight into it and looking at the left corner from the couch). It's pretty much spot on where it'll be...

I only have one chance at a wife's approval and it's in writing in WhatsApp too :) so might as well go for it.

 

[dvlpr]

4 days later and I've got a cemented structure! :)

There were some tweaks along the way, so the final product does not look like the previous one, but I was almost expecting that. I've added another arch and decided to keep the bridge skinny for now. There may be final touches once it goes into the tank, but I'd rather concentrate on other stuff.

Took longer than I expected, but I doubled up on some joints and had to wait for pieces to properly bond before turning them around and applying cement from the other side.

Will introduce coralline algae as soon as I can, so that it covers cement and any other oddly colored bits.

... and it comes apart into 6 manageable pieces, that are still heavy enough to be left on their own.

Thanks for watching and participating :)