Rock Pool Aquarium

[zephi]

Hi everyone.

I need some help and ideas for a new tank I want to create. It's a rock pool environment with some rocks partially submersed. Planning to buy a 3ft tank to house all this in.

I've been thinking of some ideas on making waves and small tidal movements. But I'm not too concerned with that atm. My current issue is creating this rocky environment without overloading the tank with rocks and cracking the glass. I'm getting all my ideas and plants from the ocean near where I live. The rocks in that area is sandstone.



The image attached is the just a basic layout of how I'd like the tank to look like. I need some ideas on how to raise the level of the rocks without adding too much excess weight... I"M NOT sure how to raise the rocks. >.<

So far I plan to get slabs of rocks and silicone them together (especially for the underwater cave). But if anyone has better ideas to share please I would like to hear them.
I'm not too sure about the substrate either. But in the rockpool there is crushed up shells, rocks and sand. I will have small crustaceans, starfish, anenomes, molluscs and gobies. Basically anything that I may come across in the rock pools. (it doesn't contain corals).

Thanks everyone.

Edit: I know this doesn't look like I need much rocks at all, but IF my tank is about 60cm high, I would require just over 30cm of rock.

 

[minnnt]

Sorry, no help from me, but them pictures are great! Looking forward to this becoming a reality! Love it!!!!

 

[mtbdean]

Use some beach single, and to raise the rocks, use some egg crates

 

[baldeagle]

use the fake rocks people hide keys in, no weight to them

 

[zephi]

Would anyone recommend using silicone to stick rocks and/or fake rocks directly to the fishtank?
Fake rocks is a really nice option but it's quite expensive to get it sculpted the way I want it. Unless I get small pieces and join them together somehow.

As for the egg crate idea, can they be stacked on top of each other to create the contours I need for the tank? How long will they last in a saltwater environment?

 

[Mowbz]

use the fake rocks people hide keys in, no weight to them

And how do you suppose we keep them "sunk" in this case.....?

As above, use eggcrate to get the "terrain" right, put several peices on top of eachother where you want a raised portion, and sit the rocks on these. It shouldnt degrade in Saltwater, but ill be put straight if im wrong....

 

[ian]

have a quick look at this thread (the UK version)

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/338620-my-cold-water-marine-rockpool-tanknorth-wales-coast/

 

[baldeagle]

use the fake rocks people hide keys in, no weight to them

And how do you suppose we keep them "sunk" in this case.....?

As above, use eggcrate to get the "terrain" right, put several peices on top of eachother where you want a raised portion, and sit the rocks on these. It shouldnt degrade in Saltwater, but ill be put straight if im wrong....

LOL, with rocks of course

 

[zephi]

have a quick look at this thread (the UK version)

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/338620-my-cold-water-marine-rockpool-tanknorth-wales-coast/

Yep exactly the sort of thing I'm doing. I sorta want a shoreline with exposed rocks as well. And If possible I would like to make some stronger currents in the tank to imitate wave surges.


Yeah i'll definitely use egg crate to create the desired terrain. As for creating that underwater cave, chances of coming across a rock like that would be extremely rare. How would I go about creating an artificial one using several rocks instead?

 

[zephi]

Would this tank setup be difficult to maintain?

Does anyone know how well marine safe silicone will adhere to rocks? and whether it's wise to attach rocks directly to the glass or egg crates?

 

[MBOU]

Use Milliput or Epoxy Putty to fix rocks together, dries like cement

What water/salt are you using? Would you not be better off using liverock thst the marine keepers use as its an important part of the filtration etc...

 

[bae1994]

I may be stating the obvious but you do know eggcrate is not literally the plastic cartons eggs come in right ( just the way your saying it gives me this idea )

But otherwise sounds good I'd try heat carving polystyrene and painting it with pond paint then silicone them in

 

[zephi]

Use Milliput or Epoxy Putty to fix rocks together, dries like cement

What water/salt are you using? Would you not be better off using liverock thst the marine keepers use as its an important part of the filtration etc...

Well basically the water I will be getting will be directly from the source. I haven't got any instruments to measure salinity yet, nor do I have any kits for testing water. But I simply want to get the tank basics setup before I consider getting anything else.
If I picked up a rock at the rockpools which is covered in marine life and plants, is this considered a live rock as well?

I may be stating the obvious but you do know eggcrate is not literally the plastic cartons eggs come in right ( just the way your saying it gives me this idea )

But otherwise sounds good I'd try heat carving polystyrene and painting it with pond paint then silicone them in

The plastic egg crates, aka light diffusers. Is that correct? I've been looking around on the forums.
Just wondering though, wouldn't polystyrene leak some chemicals into the water? I'm not too familiar with the pond paint. But I'm just curious, would this affect biofilm or plants to adhere properly to it?

 

[bae1994]

Hmm well ive used in fresh ( never in marine but think it would be fine ) but the pond paint may not be saltwater proof when I think about it so you probably best forget I said that lol

But yeah the light diffuser egg crates the stuff

The live rock thing would be live rock in however unless it was a porouse rock it wouldn't filter the tank much at all so if you gotba pebble it would ad very little to the filtration but if it was a light porouse rock then it would be full blown live uk rock (I presume your in uk without looking correct me if I'm wrong )

Bae

 

[zephi]

True about being porous, I guess in time I might consider getting some of that, when the tank has been established,
nah lol I'm all the way down in Australia.

Just wondering though, IF you got let's say a couple of rocks from the rockpools, then added a porous rock, it would eventually establish and become a live rock right?


The reason why I want to stick rocks together is to prevent anything from getting into the eggcrates and being unable to escape then dying in there.