PVC risers for Live Rock with DSB

[Tankless in Dubai]

Hi guys! Thanks for all the replys.

I would love to see pics of your tanks that have PVR shelves or risers that you have used to form interesting rock formations. Any pics will do. I'd just like to see how the egg crate shelves were used and how some of you have attached the LR with cable ties to create overhangs and any other cool stuff you all have done.

Thanks.

 

[MiltonP]

I would take a picture but all those sandbed critters with their heads bashed in from running into the eggcrate are pretty disgusting :lol:

Actually, you can't tell I used it as it is all buried under another 1/2"-1" of sand. If the rock was flat and smooth as bricks I would maybe buy into the critters having blocked movement but I can't believe there is a spot in my tank they can't get to.

If asthetics aren't an issue, a riser 1" above the sand for rocks and corals creates an interesting environment that the dragonets love at my LFS.

 

[Anonymous]

To pipe, or not to pipe. I say, to each his/her own. I was comfortable with piping some, though not all. Tis better to have piped a rock to see, then de-pipe to see once more. And who's to say piping properly or improperly prompts the promotion of peculiar piping practices? Probably people with piping prejudices. 8O

 

[jimb432]

I piped, I used large PVC tubing (can't remember the size right now, 4.5" maybe). It's drilled very heavily, more open area than PVC, it's driven down to the glass and extends over the sand approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch. The supports are placed under the largest of the rocks in the tank and provide a very stable foundation. In addition, I have reason to believe these areas serve as in-tank refugiums (similar to pod piles perhaps). I recently needed to rearrange some rock in the tank and there were tons of critters (pods, bristle worms, snails) hanging out inside the pipe (between the sand and rock). They could easily get in an out through the holes or over the top of the pipe. Sure, don't build an entire flat foundation out of equal length pvc supports laid next to each other, that's a waste, but a few used to provide support where necessary go a long way.

jb

 

[Anonymous]

You guys are developing the science of lego's even as we speak. Seems like a lot of time wasted to support otherewise useless activity. But thats ok because you "BELIEVE"!

 

[Marrowbone]

Yeah, thats just atrocious. I own a hardware store and I'm not going to sell PVC to anyone that tells me they are going to use it as a riser for their DSB. :roll: :lol:

 

[bradsark]

ya...I am sure you are not going to sell it to them.

 

[Anonymous]

i read this a few nights ago and couldn't remember the thread name. after a few searches using key words and listing various people's names i finally found it easily by putting in "stupid" by "cwa46" in GRD :lol:

pops right up with a couple others...

anyway, i too thought this sounded like a waste of time when i first heard of someone doing it. i always put my rock right in the sand as it seemed the most natural way of doing things. but when breaking down this last tank i noted that the sand under the rocks was pretty foul stuff in comparison to the uncovered stuff around the tank's perimeter.

so this for this round i took the time to make a stand. at present it looks like hell but in the end i hope to have it hidden.

watching the flow inside this new tank, i can't help but wonder why i originally thought this was a goofy idea.

the flow along the bottom is more constant this way. solids floating in the breeze now will sail under the rock and keep flying until they are likely captured by an invert or thrown back into the open where they can be consumed by fish.

i don't know how i am going to pull this off but somehow i would like to completely conceal this stand while keeping the "bommie" style rockwork just barely above the sand's surface (like a half inch from the bottom of the eggcrate to the top of the sandbed).

anyone have any pointers?
i have only a couple ideas and they suck.

one is cut the crate away where it is exposed (this creates tons of little plastic shards :evil: )

another is to purchase a ton of base rock rubble and epoxy sticks and get creative :roll:

i sure as heck don't wanna pull the rock out again!