I like the way that my aquascaping turned out on my new 185 that I am going to aquascape my 125 gallon tomorrow. This time I am using 1/2 in CPVC which will allow me to use a 5/8" masonry bit rather that using whole saw bits. The whole saw bits constantly get clogged and you have to have a lot larger rocks to successfully drill such large holes. Masonry bits zip right through the rock and can be used on smaller pieces without them coming apart. 1/2 CPVS is about 33% smaller in diameter than 1/2 PVC and just as ridged with the short lengths that I am using. I have included a before picture. Oh, I also purchased several nylon screws for an idea for attaching some of the corals. I have several large plating corals (cup, oxypora, and another unkown species) and plane on drilling a hole through them and into a pieces of rock and screwing them into the rock like you would a washer. Tissue should grow back over the screw head in time - I will let you know how it goes. I am sure several of you will wince at such a thing but I like experimenting with new techniques. Another benefit of aquascaping is that you use less rock, which saves money and allows for much much better water flow through out the aquarium. I keep forgetting this in mentioning the benefits of aquascaping an aquarium. No more dump truck method for me.
After helping you Chris, I decided to do the same. Here are some pics before during and after. I also added a super sucker siphon overflow and two maxijet1200 with mod kits and removed the emporer400 and old powerheads,and put the skimmer in the sump after it went nuts on me and dumped 12 gallons on the floor. I plumbed the display to the frag tank sump so I will be able to move coral around easily.
1000 percent better. i am glad we had a speaker come and motivate us all to. otherwise we would still be looking at rock walls every where lol. great job. if you want to drill some more head my way and ill keep you busy for a while
Do you need me to come help with some drillin? I would have to find a good time to get over that way.
There is no substitute for aquascaping. I would never thought that it would make such a difference until I saw Paul Whitby's lecture last year at Reef Fest. I hope that he brings some great new ideas for the workshop next month.
Paul and Chris has inspired us all. Grimmett has volunteered to help me with mine. Now I just got to figure out how I wanna do it and get some free time. I cant wait. Heck after we get done with my 135 I might just get inspired to do the rest of them.
I was looking through posts and noticed that I forgot to post the results of my aquascaping project for my 125g thanks in large part to the help that I got from Sam.
Here is a picture of the aquascaping that I did on my newly set up 180g. This time I used CPVC that was only 1/2 inches so that I could use a 1/2" concrete bit. This made all the difference in the world with ease of use. Paul Whitby in his lecture last year talked about using whole saw bits and this does work but extracting the coral from the whole saw bit is quite difficult and results in having to take the bit apart about every other drilling session on a rock. This can get very frustrating. 1/2 CPVC has all of the fittings that you will need at any local plumbing or hardware store. I have yet to glue any of my structures together.
I would also like to do something like this with my new 135. It would be perfect oppurtunity as I do not have fish right now. I would like some help with this. If someone volunteers it would need to be during the week as I work weekends.
I may just have to look at what everyone else has done and get a few tools and get after it! Everyones aquascapes look really good that have used this method. Thanks for the offer screwslose
