Anyone with tips for stacking rocks?

[Complexity]

I got my tank yesterday, and I'm working to get it set up. I have a plastic grill for the bottom of the tank.

The rocks I have are extremely heavy! And I want to stack them pretty tall. I intend on first putting down the grill, then stacking the rocks, and then adding the sand. I might put some sand in places as I go, but the idea is to make sure the rocks do not have sand underneath them so that the rocks can't fall when the fish move the sand around.

Other than that, are there any hints or tips for stacking the rocks? I'm a bit scared since the rocks are so heavy, and I can't even touch the bottom of the tank. I tried to get a few large, flat bottom rocks for the base of the stacks.

Is it okay to have rocks touching the glass in the back? Can I use the back glass as a support at all? Or do I need to keep the rocks completely away from the glass?

[myjohnson]

Can you post pictures of the rocks?

Depending on size, but generally I wouldn't use the back glass as support.

[Complexity]

I can post pictures later. Right now, they're still in tubs in the car. I need to sort out what I got, then that'll be a good time to grab some pics. I hope to get that done this afternoon.

[myjohnson]

I got 280 pounds of rocks in my 125g. The bottom glass with plastic grill over it makes the glass really strong.

When rockscape I like to buy 2 REALLY big rocks, some medium size rocks, and a lot of small rocks. When scaping, you can lay the rocks almost any which way and it comes out looking more natural with this combo nation of rocks.

It also depends on the type of fishes you keep. The above is what I would do for a tropheus tank.

If you are keeping something else then you can apply the Gold Rule of scaping and that will produce a even more natural look.

How big is the tank?
What you plan on keeping in it?
Where did you get the rocks?

[armthehomeless]

Depending on size, but generally I wouldn't use the back glass as support.

+1
I've seen a few too many tanks get scratched that way...

If you do do it, be certain that the rock will not slide down.

I'll admit that I have rock leaning against the back glass in all my tanks... but I'm certain that they aren't going to slide.

[Complexity]

I know I have at least twice as many rocks as I need. I wanted to have a good variety to work with so I kept grabbing rocks.

How big is the tank? 90g, All-Glass brand.

What you plan on keeping in it? Tang cichlids

Where did you get the rocks? nepco.cc I got what they listed as magma boulders. Looking on the internet, I'd say they may be basalt. They are the same rocks jmccalip has in the tank he's selling. He has a video you can see in this thread.

So is the problem of having rocks touch the back that they'll scratch the glass? Not something like having pressure points that commonly bust the glass? I will be careful to prevent sliding and to not put too much pressure on the glass, but I wanted to know if letting them touch was commonly known for busting tanks or not.

[myjohnson]

EK have those same rocks in his tank. Made his ilangi look really dark. Still a really nice rock. You might want to do a search for EK's ilangi thread and look at some of those pictures.

[Complexity]

I'll do that, thanks for the tip.

Pics are uploading as I type. I'm overheated from moving all of the rocks so I need to cool off. I am not in good shape to be doing all this by myself.

[Complexity]

Is this the post with the dark rocks you were talking about?

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?p=374137#post374137

I don't think those rocks are the same as the ones I got.

[Complexity]

These are the rocks. They look darker when wet. I tried to get some large rocks in addition to the small ones.

Largest ones:


Medium:


Small:


All of them:

[Nickintex]

How about the use of aquarium sealant or coral glue/epoxy to get them in a configuration that you would like?

[Complexity]

Here's a sketch of the design I have in mind:

[Complexity]

How about the use of aquarium sealant or coral glue/epoxy to get them in a configuration that you would like?

I know people have tried that with varied success. I thought of doing that, but I think the rocks would be too heavy for me to put in or take out afterwards. I can barely carry some of them just as they are. These rocks are extremely heavy. Very, very dense.

[Nickintex]

http://www.aquabuys.com/page/aqb/PROD/ss_epoxy

[Complexity]

Getting epoxy to work isn't the problem. The problem is the weight of the rocks. The rocks in the picture weigh a total of 400 pounds. Even if I only use half of them and break the design into two or 4 pieces, I'd still be looking at 50 pound pieces. I can't lift that.