creating a pile of rocks

[Paul]

The post further down by Alan reminded me of an idea. I'm getting a 500L tank soon and I plan to stock Australian natives. As I will be getting a mangrove Jack, Australian Bass etc, they will be very predatory fish. I want them to be able to find a little part of the tank to call their own. I want to create a loosely stacked pile of rocks in the middle of the tank, so the tank might look like this:
| ~~~~~~~~~~ |
| >o /\ o< |
| / \ >o |
|___ /___\___ |

cool drawing hey... anywayz, I've realised this would be a big stack of rocks, and there will already be about half a ton (thats a metric ton, 500kg) of water and glass, and so I don't think I want to go adding all those rocks, even if they are stuck together.

there might a few ways round it:

1. I could use fake rocks made out of a lighter material.. can you buy fake rocks??

2. perhaps I could set them up in some formation so that it's not such a solid pile.

3. I could just get a piece of wood I suppose.. Is it possible to get wood that won't taint my tank with tanons? can anyone recommend any other forms of structures that would work well? I want it to look really natural, like a native creek situation.

If anyone has any ideas or previous experience with this I would be really greatful.

[Paul]

>>>>
>The bottom stones could be made of styrofoam (carved expanded polystyrene
>coated in 2 part epoxy with sand finish), and the middle and upper stones
>are real (and holding down the fake stuff down). Keeping in mind that
>styrofoam is very light, every piece must have at least one real stone on
>top of it. I'd suggest putting down a sheet of styrofoam across the
>bottom (1/2 to 3/4" expanded polystyrene) and siliconing your fake stones
>to the sheet (you can drive some long stainless steel screws through from
>the bottom for added security). Then install it in the tank and dry fit
>all your real stones over & around your fake structure. Then add your
>substrate. If you are planning a thin layer of substrate, or have areas
>where there is no stones, then I suggest you silicone the bottom sheet
>directly to the glass bottom. If you have a heavy substrate, and random
>stones scattered uniformly, then the styrofoam will be weighed down
>adequately. Add water slowly to test this hypothesis ;o)
>
>NetMax
>

hey that sounds pretty cool. thanks netmax, you are the man (?) with all the
answers!!

[Paul]

where in the world do you live netmax?

[~Vicki ~]

I have a suggestion that may work. Try the man made lava rock (no sulfa
i it) sold at many LFS stores. The stuff is very light and porous so
there is plenty of space for bacteria to live. I use it in my salt tank
but I am not sure about it in a fresh water tank. What do you think
NetMax?

Vicki

[Paul]

~Vicki ~ wrote in message
>...
>I have a suggestion that may work. Try the man made lava rock (no sulfa
>i it) sold at many LFS stores. The stuff is very light and porous so
>there is plenty of space for bacteria to live. I use it in my salt tank
>but I am not sure about it in a fresh water tank. What do you think
>NetMax?
>
>Vicki
>

yeah I have tiny little chunks of that stuff in my trickle filter! I didn't
know I could buy a big chunk. it costs me $10 per litre though!!

[~Vicki ~]

I have a suggestion that may work. Try the man made lava rock (no sulfa
i it) sold at many LFS stores. The stuff is very light and porous so
there is plenty of space for bacteria to live. I use it in my salt tank
but I am not sure about it in a fresh water tank. What do you think
NetMax?
>
>
Vicki
>
>
yeah I have tiny little chunks of that stuff in my trickle filter! I
didn't know I could buy a big chunk. it costs me $10 per litre though!!
>
>
>
I buy it in larger pieces. Fist sized for $4 and two fist sized for $9.
Look on line on some of the marine sites and check out petsmart.com.
The stuff is great and most of it already has big holes in it for fish
to hide. Also it is very light and does not displace much water. I
think it is inert and will not hurt your ph any. I am not sure tho and
I hope NetMax knows a little more about it. All I know is that it s
perfectly safe for my marine tank and that it is sold at every LFS
around here in Virginia USA.

Vicki

[Paul]

~Vicki ~ wrote in message
>...
>I have a suggestion that may work. Try the man made lava rock (no sulfa
>i it) sold at many LFS stores. The stuff is very light and porous so
>there is plenty of space for bacteria to live. I use it in my salt tank
>but I am not sure about it in a fresh water tank. What do you think
>NetMax?
>>
>>
>Vicki
>>
>>
>yeah I have tiny little chunks of that stuff in my trickle filter! I
>didn't know I could buy a big chunk. it costs me $10 per litre though!!
>>
>>
>>
>I buy it in larger pieces. Fist sized for $4 and two fist sized for $9.
>Look on line on some of the marine sites and check out petsmart.com.
>The stuff is great and most of it already has big holes in it for fish
>to hide. Also it is very light and does not displace much water. I
>think it is inert and will not hurt your ph any. I am not sure tho and
>I hope NetMax knows a little more about it. All I know is that it s
>perfectly safe for my marine tank and that it is sold at every LFS
>around here in Virginia USA.
>
>Vicki

I don't think I can spend that much :-( I want a pile that's about 2 1/2
feet high, at ~ $8 Australian per chunk times maybe 50 chunks is about
$400 Australian!!! sheesh!

but thanks for trying to help me :-)
>

[~Vicki ~]

I don't think I can spend that much :-( I want a pile that's about 2 1/2
feet high, at ~ $8 Australian per chunk times maybe 50 chunks is about
$400 Australian!!! sheesh!
but thanks for trying to help me :-)
>
>
>
You think that is bad! I pay $10 a lb for fiji live rock for my marine
tank. One lb is a little larger than a base ball. You should be happy
that you don't have to add that to your tank!!!! LOL

Vicki